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Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2009 > November > 01 > Entry
How to talk about books you haven’t read…
When I hosted a book show on WYSO I interviewed authors about their work. Hour long interviews. There was no faking it. You read the books. Hard to have an hour long conversation by faking it. What did I know?
I hadn’t yet read “How to Talk About Books You Haven’t Read” (Bloomsbury) by Pierre Bayard. You have to read this book to understand how to talk about books you have not read. Confused? Join the club.
The author explains our failing to actually read books should not impede our ability to talk intelligently about books we have not read.
He actually suggests that having read the book could be a liability. What do I know? Apparently, not very much. I read the books…wishing I had not read this one.
Vick Mickunas
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: confessions of a galley slave
Comments
By Blowfly
November 3, 2009 1:01 PM | Link to this
What made this guy think that people who don’t like to read books would want to read a book about people who don’t like to read books? What’s his next book going to be about - people who didn’t read his first book? Great marketing idea (not).
By vick
November 2, 2009 11:07 AM | Link to this
Insider, I was kidding you about being “nosey.” I’m actually thinking about adding (subtracting) a nose for Jack…I’ll post a post-surgery photo if I do! Thanks…
By Insider
November 2, 2009 10:51 AM | Link to this
Didn’t mean to be ‘nosey’ (sorry) Pumpkey looks just fine! I thought of building an igloo in my room of books I’d collected that I was meaning to read but never did. I used to collect blank books and never write anything in them. Never been to a cocktail party. If that’s what they do there I guess I’m lucky. Often the lonely are mistaken for boring, though.
By vick
November 2, 2009 10:32 AM | Link to this
Kind of a nosey question? Where is the nose? Well, this one is implied. If I had been carving a pumpkin to represent say, Nostril-damus it would definitely have a nose. I guess I can still add one? Or in this case, remove enough pumpkin to suggest a nose…
By Insider
November 2, 2009 10:25 AM | Link to this
Well, it’s an intriguing concept but it wouldn’t be necessary to read his book to discuss it. I imagine he might say the very title of any book might serve as a springboard of creativity that could possibly cultivate another literary work somewhere in the cosmos. :-) where is your pumpkin’s nose?
By Mark from St Paul
November 2, 2009 9:45 AM | Link to this
Magazines like Spy used to run articles on this topic all the time. Sometimes they’d be coaching you on how to become tiresome, other times it would be a guide to protecting yourself from cocktail party bores. I cannot, however, imagine an entire book on how to fake being well read.