Finnegans Wake and Fifty Shades of Grey are at two extremes of the incomprehensible: one is a classic that befuddles; the other a plastic that bewilders. Many feel guilty about not having read the books of the first kind. And most of these would be unwilling
Do you have a classic novel youve always meant to read but havent? Most readers have their own story about book guilt and how they handle it. PHOTO: F. MARTIN RAMIN/THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
to expiate themselves in any shade or variation recommended by the second. So what should we do? Erin Geiger Smith of The Wall Street Journal has set herself up for solving this knotty problem. She has asked the well-read in all their shades–publishers, teachers, editors–whether they had any advice, confessions, or comeback stories to inspirit the awry. The results? Heres one:
Curtis Sittenfeld, author of Eligible,the 2016 best-selling retelling of Pride and Prejudice, says readers disclose to her at nearly every book signing that they haven’t read the Jane Austen classic. Her reaction depends on the readers level of guilt. Sometimes the readers are sheepish, she says, essentially asking me if its legal to read Eligible without reading Pride and Prejudice. She gently encourages them to give it a shot. But Eligible readers who exhibit no remorse for bypassing Pride?
It makes me a schoolmarm, Ms. Sittenfeld says. Well, you should!
She handles her own book guilt with a similar mix of forgiveness and tough love. This is shocking and appalling, but I have not read Beloved, Ms. Sittenfeld says of Toni Morrisons prizewinning novel. She hasnt read Moby-Dick, either. But unless someone she considers brilliant invites her to read it together, she has no plans to.
Another:
Penguin Classics vice president and publisherElda Rotorbelieves small bites reading a chapter at a time and not being obsessed with finishing can be a satisfying way to approach the classics. Her imprint, celebrating its 70th birthday this year, also tries to attract new readers by tapping artists and graphic designers to reinterpret covers that may feel too stuffy for the modern reader.
But what about those who pled not guilty? Should the ambitious reader honor as classic any book that is shoved as being so, or may he justifiably resist? For what its worth, Infinite Jest was mentioned. But has this very long punch line endured long enough for us to be able to say guiltlessly that it has earned classic status, to be placed among the ranks of Austen and Dickens? Potentially, the answer is equally deserving of guilt.
