Top 5 Books I Lie about Reading
Come on, admit it, you do it too. When that conversation turns to the classics (zzzzz) or the latest scientific study book (uhhh, what?) or whenever anyone says “Oprah’s Book Club” you instantly think back to what you’ve read about the thing on wikipedia and chirply say, ‘Oh yeah I’ve totally read that!’
Here’s my Top 5 Books I’ve totally (not) read:
1. Cerebus by Dave Sim. Setting aside that Dave Sim is a bit of a misogynist. This work is supposed to be groundbreaking or something. I wouldn’t know. The cover was enough for me to be like, ‘next!’ But if you ask me on the street, I’ve totally read and thought deep thoughts about it.
2. Ok, this next one might shock a few people and before I even say it I’m going to preface it with this: I have read the first volume and you know what? Meh, it was ok but not enough held my interest to continue but I will swear up and down that everyone is right it’s the greatest graphic story ever told – I assume? And the book is – Bone.
Close your mouth. Moving on.
3. Complete Essex County – I actually come back to this one, pick it up off the shelf and set it back. What’s stopping me? I don’t know. Am I really missing a lot if I don’t read it? Tell me please because I’m conflicted.
4. Asterios Polyp – The artwork just does not appeal to me, at all. Plus the story is a bit too Philip Roth which, let’s be honest – barf. But people act like this is going to change the world or something so I nod and agree with them then wonder if maybe they haven’t read it either.
5. Anything by Will Eisner. That’s right. Remove my blogging rights. I’ve never read a full Eisner book. Not really sure why…
and honorable manga mention:
Emma
HORRORS! So, let me know – what books do you lie about? What on my list should I really take the time to read?
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Comments
[...] Thought! Interesting post about 5 graphic novels Sadie Mattox lies about having read. I never say I've read something that I haven't, preferring to fall back on a couple of different [...]
League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Every time I get ready to read it I feel like I’m about to perform heavy lifting so I always end up reading something by Warren Ellis instead. I find him as good as Moore but more entertaining.
Well, this was sort of a tongue in cheek post and because I have a feeling that at some point in their life most people have lied about reading something. People lie about books for several reasons: they feel like they don’t want to look stupid for having not read it or (this is a bigger reason) they don’t want to go through the hassle of hearing the plot points, the character analysis and all the other stuff that comes along with someone trying to convince you to read a book.
As for “oh noes I have to read comics” – this whole blog is about the comics and manga I read.
It was a fun post for me.
Surely it’s too early to have to lie about Asterios Polyp! It just came out last year, and I haven’t seen a paperback edition or a copy in my library yet. I still have so much else to read. Just last month I was able to stop lying about having read Fun Home. Still hoping no one asks me probing questions about Ghost World and, yes, Cerebus.
Oooh, good admit with Ghost World! At least there’s a movie 
We’ve got Asterios Polyp in my library, you’re welcome to interlibrary loan it if you want…
[...] Sadie Mattox has a great post called “Top 5 Books I Lie about Reading”. I understand the impulse — there are certain books, like Sandman, that everyone expects a blogger or critic to be familiar with, and my list of such is here — but I can’t think of any I’d be shy about saying, “No, I haven’t read that.” Heck, if I can discuss movies with my brother while saying “No, I still haven’t watched The Godfather,” I can say which comics I’ve skipped and why, even if the reasons are idiosyncratic. (Luba: the humongous breasts distract me; all I can think about is how painful they’d be.) [...]
Great topic – on my newly minted blog I touched on my confusion why I haven’t yet read any Love & Rockets. I’d also include Jimmy Corrigan, Fun Home, Black Hole, and Blankets. Some I’ve tried and disliked, others I haven’t tried yet.
[...] already talked about my embarrassment regarding Love & Rockets, and Sadie Mattox has a ponder-producing piece about the comics we should have read, but haven’t yet and [...]
*laughs*
I set out with Cerebus about, ooh, ten years ago and after getting as far as volume 5 it all ground to a halt. This year I’ve decided to get on with it, and have embarked on a sort of new years resolution to complete the journey. So far…groundbreaking? No, but most certainly fascinating.
And Will Eisner? I’ve never bothered either, but universal praise always goes some distance to discourage me. Everyone else seems to like it, why not try something else?