Last year, for the first time, I challenged my book club members to read Roberto Bolano’s 2666, way outside our customary range of size and ‘literary’ nature. Four of us took six months, much longer than anticipated, to master the book. Our discussion, over a red-wine-soaked dinner, proved to be scintillating.
As to why take the trouble, Laura Miller from Salon magazine puts it so well: ‘Read a book you think you’ll hate in 2010′.
I’ve just issued this year’s less daunting Fat Book Challenge. Over the last decade, I’ve consistently read the winners of the Booker Prize, but last year I simply couldn’t make myself tackle Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall. Why? Partly the length of 600 pages, but mostly because it’s a historical novel set in 16th century England, a period and place I could care less about. Ever since, I’ve felt guilty because Mantel is one heck of a writer.
Now I will read it. And am looking forward to the challenge.