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**ehib8yPc** · 03-22-2009, 09:02 PM

Stewart, I've got to the age where I immediately feel, without having to read eight hundred turgid pages of sadism or waffle, whether an author is worth my reading time. I'd rather watch "Not Going Out" on telly than convince myself that I have to read Littell, because of huge peer pressure.

I remember when people were queueing round the block to watch the cult film "Amadeus", or for a book-signing by Donna Tartt. I don't want to live in a world where the price of belonging to the in-crowd of book fetishists is having to read books you don't want to, just to be able to show off to people at the London Book Fair drinkies parties how with-it you are.

"Have you read the Littell book?"
"What little book?"
"The big book."
"Well, is it big or little. Make up your mind!" If I want to show off at drinkies parties, the best way (after having consulted the Stephen Potter manuals on one-upmanship) is to sidle up to people and mention Finland-Swedish authors they've never heard of. If they're interesting and interested people, they will ask more. If they're trendy bores, or books pages journos, they'll steer the conversation to Littell and the rest.

03-22-2009, 09:02 PM	#28
ehib8yPc Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 564 Senior Member	Stewart, I've got to the age where I immediately feel, without having to read eight hundred turgid pages of sadism or waffle, whether an author is worth my reading time. I'd rather watch "Not Going Out" on telly than convince myself that I have to read Littell, because of huge peer pressure. I remember when people were queueing round the block to watch the cult film "Amadeus", or for a book-signing by Donna Tartt. I don't want to live in a world where the price of belonging to the in-crowd of book fetishists is having to read books you don't want to, just to be able to show off to people at the London Book Fair drinkies parties how with-it you are. "Have you read the Littell book?" "What little book?" "The big book." "Well, is it big or little. Make up your mind!" If I want to show off at drinkies parties, the best way (after having consulted the Stephen Potter manuals on one-upmanship) is to sidle up to people and mention Finland-Swedish authors they've never heard of. If they're interesting and interested people, they will ask more. If they're trendy bores, or books pages journos, they'll steer the conversation to Littell and the rest.
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