Title: Shakespeare Wrote For Money
Author: Nick Hornby
Acquired: Purchased Used
Publisher: Believer Books/McSweeney’s
Published: 2008
This is the last in Nick Hornby’s series of collection from his Believer column Stuff I’ve Been Reading. I loved the other two books, Housekeeping Vs. The Dirt and The Polysyllabic Spree and garnered a few recommendations from both. I didn’t feel like reading very many of the books he mentions in this collection, but I did find a few great observations on reading within the pages.
“The Polysyllabic Spree, the three hundred and sixty-five beautiful, vacant, scary young men and women who edit this magazine, have never really approved of me reading for fun, so after several warnings I was taken by force to the holding cells in the basement of their headquarters in the Appalachian Mountains and force-fed proper literature. It’s a horrific place, as you can imagine; everywhere you can hear the screams of people who don’t want to read Gravity’s Rainbow very much because it’s too long and too hard” (41).
I quite liked this quote because it got me thinking about how we feel pressured to read certain books, but why do we really feel that pressure? I mean, what is really the worst thing that will happen to me if I never read Gone With the Wind? I won’t understand Gone With the Wind references? I will stand idly by at a party while everyone raves about that Scarlett woman? I think I’ll survive. In general Hornby has a pretty average view on reading, and I’m always amazed when he attempts to read something long and hard and either doesn’t finish it, only reads one book that month, or finishes it but reads absolutely nothing the next week. I suppose it’s all about what you want, and there is nothing wrong with reading a long or hard book, but I’d rather not force myself into reading fatigue over it.
Funnily enough, this book reminded me that I still have not read The Road (please don’t stone me), and should probably do that pretty soon. Hornby discovers YA fiction in this book, which great to read about and he raved about this book called Weezie Bat, which I think I’d like to read.
Read this if you’re interested in reading some great writing about literature and not so interested in the recommendations part. If you’re looking for more recommendations you might want to try either of his other books.
If this sounds like something you might like buy this from a bookstore near you. Please note, I receive a small percentage of your purchase.
