Great Essays by Novelists

tetw:

A Tetw reading list

My Secret Life of Crime by Geoff Dyer - Narrow esacpes from death, imprisonment and grevious bodily harm. A trio of life changing events that never were.

The Rise of the Essay by Zadie Smith - Why novelists love writing essays, explained by a novelist in an essay.

The Rumor by John Updike - A rumour takes on a life of its own. A great story that manages to feel both real and imagined.

The Ecstasy of Influence by Jonathan Lethem - A plagiarism

William and I by Michael Chabon - Why it’s easier to be a great dad than a great mum.

The Capital-T Truth by David Foster Wallace - DFW offers a stark but hopeful perspective on life’s fundamental questions.

Liking Is for Cowards by Jonathan Franzen - Is clicking buttons a way to avoid real commitment?

Living With Geese by Paul Theroux - As well as getting to the heart of Goose psychology, the author launches a scathing offensive against the needy, anthropomorphising animal lover.

Riding the Rays by Douglas Adams - Heading out on a Bond-style submarine moped in search of a giant manta ray to surf. (Yes, it is nonfiction)

The Autumn of the Multitaskers by Walter Kirn - Easily the best of the slew of essays about multitasking is making us stupid that appeared a few years ago.

Colombia: The Return of Death by Martin Amis - The brutal reality of life in a Colombian favella.

And, of coure, no list of essays by novelists would be complete without some Orwell: Politics and the English Language, Shooting An Elephant and Books vs. Cigarettes all pretty much do what they say on the tin.

Yay I love The Electric Typewriter’s lists!!

(Source: tetw, via tetw)

  1. indubitablymarie reblogged this from disharmonious and added:
    Reblogging so I have these on hand when needed (soon).
  2. disharmonious reblogged this from yeahwriters and added:
    It’s cold and dreary outside (boo German weather) so I’ll make myself some tea and read through these.
  3. circulation reblogged this from tetw
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  6. loonachic reblogged this from standardgrey and added:
    for my future reference.
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  9. standardgrey reblogged this from tetw and added:
    probably won’t get around to.
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