On the Campaign Trail

Published Jun 05 2008, 01:21 PM by Sharon Steel

In the NYTBR's Summer Reading supplement, some famous writers suggested a few books they thought the Presidential candidates ought to read in between all the flesh-pressing and promise-making. (When this ran, Hillary Clinton was still in the picture. Er, technically.) Anyway, Loorie Moore and Junot Diaz had some excellent ideas. Several authors believe Clinton needs to re-read Macbeth. In particular, John Irving's Lady Macbeth/Hillary comparison made my skin crawl (she's Carrie Bradshaw! no, she's a Shakespearean femme-villian!), and Francine Prose makes it all sound too much like a freshman seminar. But I particularly enjoyed Scott Turnrow's suggestion:

More seriously, I would recommend the same three books to each. The first is “Anna Karenina,” the fullest rendering I know of the complexity of human motivation and thus a precious warning against seeing the world as full of villains.

Nailing it.

Filed Under: Essays, NYT

For the Twitter Addicts...

DFW on McCain

Follow the Boston Phoenix

All Blogs

Phlog (1,416)
Outside The Frame (303)
Dont Quote Me (516)
On The Download (2,157)
Talking Politics (1,518)
Laser Orgy (31)

Filed Under: Essays, NYT

Boston Phoenix
On the Campaign Trail
Published 6/5/2008 by Sharon Steel
In the NYTBR's Summer Reading supplement, some famous writers suggested a few books they thought th...

Boston Phoenix
He's Just Not That Into Your Library
Published 3/31/2008 by Sharon Steel
Did you read Rachel Donadio's NYBR back-page essay about literary dealbreakers yet? Or her subsquent...

more by Sharon Steel

Interview: Leanne Shapton | March 24, 2009

Interview: Joss Whedon | February 09, 2009

Review: Dollhouse | February 09, 2009

Faking it | January 06, 2009

Bad girls | October 16, 2008

See all articles by: Sharon Steel

Latest Comments

The Globe, Scott Brown, and abortion - Was Chicago School Board President Michael Scott Snitching On Valarie Jarrett? Tuesday, November 17,...

By publius on 11-21-2009 in Dont Quote Me

Tisei, Gay, By The Way - Although it might be news to Boston news reporters who don't talk to Republicans, the Senator's orientation...

By Peter Porcupine on 11-21-2009 in Talking Politics

The Globe, Scott Brown, and abortion - Spilot, can you elaborate?

By Adam Reilly on 11-21-2009 in Dont Quote Me

The Globe, Scott Brown, and abortion - Oh, puh-leese Adam, give it a rest.

By spilot113 on 11-21-2009 in Dont Quote Me

Obama's Fort Hood screw-up - First of all, the only thing that will "save" this country are free thinking individuals, not...

By Thomas on 11-21-2009 in Dont Quote Me

Latest Comments from WordUp

On the Campaign Trail

Leave a Comment