The blog of The Top Ten author J. Peder Zane.
Jonathan Lethem
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
I had the great pleasure of sharing a cup of coffee with Jonathan Lethem on Tuesday (fear not germaphobes, we each had our own mugs of shade grown, free trade, organic Joe). (Interesting story: One of the early owners of my paper, The News & Observer of Raleigh, was Josephus Daniels. While serving as Woodrow Wilson's Secretary of the Navy, he banned alcohol in the service. The next best form of stimulation became known as a Cup of Joe, or so the story goes.)
In any event, Jonathan was in town promoting his new novel, "You Don't Love Me Yet" (what a great title). And he was gracious enough to sign the bookstore's copies of "The Top Ten" on page 91, where his list appears.
Jonathan Lethem
1. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
2. The Trial by Franz Kafka
3. The Man Who Loved Children by Christina Stead
4. The Red and the Black by Stendhal
5. A Dance To The Music Of Time by Anthony Powell
6. Alice in Wonderland/Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
7. The Black Prince by Iris Murdoch
8. New Grub Street by George Gissing
9. Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne
10. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Not only is Jonathan one of the smartest people I've met — his mind works in higher gear — but he's also one of the most generous. Before "The Top Ten," he contributed a lovely essay on "The Loneliest Books I Read," to my first book, "Remarkable Reads." Check it out here.
Posted by J. Peder Zane at 11:37 AM
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A man after my very own bookish heart. But you might've guessed that from my username.
'Motherless Brooklyn' blew me away as few other contemporary books have ever done. I picked it up reluctantly, thinking "New York.... What do I know of New York?" Books set there have a hard time getting through to me. There's a specific character to the city that doesn't always translate, though I've been in the Chicago area more than half my life and know what cities are like. But this book is not defined by being set in New York City. It way transcends that. There is that gritty, urban element, but it's positively one of the most sweet, charming, scary and often hilarious books I have ever read. I thoroughly envy you the chance to know Jonathan Lethem, but the insight of his top ten list is just invaluable. And, to top off my book hoorish joy, I find we share quite a number of favorites. Go figure! The one book on his list I haven't managed to get through is 'Tristam Shandy.' Its popularity alludes me, but maybe I should consider giving it another shot at some point. I'm mystified as to why so many have included it on their lists.
Your book takes book lovers to fascinating places, Peder, it truly does.