Here are the top five books men insisted I should read after I mentioned Jane Austen.
It’s so weird, I never even asked!
I’m still not sure what they have to do with the Regency period or Austen’s themes. And, somehow, I end up listening to them waxing poetic about these works. But then only get a short huffy-puffy “I don’t get Jane Austen”.
Here are some of the books that I still need to read instead of Jane Austen, for reasons!
1. Infinite Jest – David Foster Wallace
You knew it was going to be here.
This book seems infinite, I’ll give it that.
Maybe Austen people like footnotes, and I missed that. I like footnotes, but I’m low-key put off by huge names to title ratios. I’ll get there.
2. From Hell – Alan Moore & Eddie Campbell
You know what book I should read after reading about women surviving (and often thriving) using their wits in a rule-bound patriarchy?
Women very much not surviving in that same culture decades later. And not even with the camp of Spring-heeled Jack, I assume.
3. The Witches of Eastwick – John Irving
New England. Witches. I should be into this, so fair enough on the recommendation.
But I’m petty. I can’t get past this quote I’ve seen floating around. :(
Men, they were able to conjure it up immediately, that was one of their powers, that thunderous splashing as they stood lordly above the bowl. Everything about them was more direct, their insides weren’t the maze women’s were, for the pee to find its way through.
John Updike, Witches of Eastwick
I’m open to being convinced that the pros outweigh that.
Also, these god-level locks are in the process of convincing me.
4. The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath
A female author! I probably would have enjoyed this in my deep, sad-girl high-school days.
People have been very insistent on proposing this one. And yet…I’m not convinced by the first few pages. Convince me!
5. Naked Lunch – William S Burroughs
I honestly don’t want to read this.
I’m sure it’s very creative and respect to that, but nah.
It doesn’t help that my ex was obsessed with him so much that he would randomly blurt out BURROUGHS!, which was somehow worse than his JOYCE! phase.
