Best Selling Author -- Leave me OUT!

Consider the graphic below. Don't just glance at it, read it. Read what's written under each picture.

You smiled, didn't you? At least at a couple...the ones you've actually read.

Me? If we count across the top from left to right, I've read numbers 1, 2, 3 & 5. I've read plenty of other Hemingway, so number 4 will have to wait. As for James Joyce's Ulysses - I'm not sure I'm smart enough to read that one.

Show of hands: Who has read 1984

I create in the dystopian and post-apocalyptic genres. As such, Orwell's classic is the standard-bearer for me. But, this doesn't mean everyone loves the novel. Look at these quotes:

"I read it in (high) school, but I didn't really like it. It was weird." -Former Neighbor

"I think Orwell was on drugs when he wrote that book. It's so far-fetched." - College Buddy

"Kinda boring. I prefer Brave New World." 

That last quote comes from my beloved wife of nearly 36 years. How dare she! It is well known that Huxley was an alien from some distant planet, only sent to earth to confuse us. (Okay, I made that part up; but I get irrational when defending George Orwell).

When I ask people about Moby Dick, the reactions are the same

And this is my point. People find a master like George Orwell weird. Herman Melville is boring in their opinions. James Joyce...who even knows. Way beyond the normal person.

Yet, these books are classics. I mean full fledged, 100 percent classics. Even dissenters agree with that thinking. As for people admitting to actually wanting to read these epics... crickets.

I'd love to write a classic, the next Great American Novel

But I don't want people to think I'm dull, or boring. For me, I would rather have a nice group of fans who enjoy the fiction I create. I'm not looking to be forced upon teens in high school. NO! That would give us an entire generation that would read only one of my books, and then say something stupid like this:

"Oh yeah, the teacher made us read e a lake in high school. WWIV or something like that. She said it was a classic. Classic dullsville!"

Selling a few more books would be great. But I don't want to end up in the trash heap of literature! No sir, thank you. I'd hate to be relegated to the likes of Orwell, Melville, Joyce, and Steinbeck. Geez, that would be just awful...right?

Until next week, tell me how many of the six highlighted books you've read. Has anyone had the courage, time, and stamina to read all of them? Let me know.

e a lake

(books below are interactive, so go ahead and click on any of them)