Mental Floss: The Curious Reader

Erin Mccarthy

Description

"With sumptuous, visually stimulating spreads, this book delivers on its promise– to unearth strange stories, bizarre facts, or unexpected details about the books on our shelves. Good for curious readers, whether they want to delve into authors and books they love, feel competent faking knowledge about books everyone else seems to have read, or just dip into and out of literary worlds" – Library Journal
Readers rejoice! From Mental Floss, an online destination for more than a billion curious minds since its founding in 2001, comes the ultimate book for lovers of literature. From Americanah to War and Peace, from Chinua Achebe and Jane Austen to Jesmyn Ward and George R.R. Martin, learn surprising facts about the world’s most famous novels and novelists.
The Curious Reader will delight bookworms everywhere. This literary compendium from Mental Floss reveals fascinating facts about the world’s most famous authors and their literary works. Readers will learn about George Orwell’s near-death experience during the writing of 1984; meet the real man who may have inspired Pride and Prejudice’s Mr. Darcy; discover which famous author kept her husband’s heart after he passed away; and learn about the influence of psychedelics on Dune. The Curious Reader also contains the most-loved book-related articles from 20 years of Mental Floss, including “Cat-Loving Writers,” “Famous Authors’ Unfinished Manuscripts,” “Literary Characters Based on Real People,” and “Books You Didn’t Know Were Self-Published.”
This literary miscellany is certain to inspire book lovers, aspiring writers, students, and teachers alike to discover a diverse selection of curated literary works—leading to an expansion of their library!

Sujets

• Literary Criticism
• Books
• Mental floss
• Reading

Informations

• Publié par: Weldon Owen
• Date de parution: 25 mai 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9781681888071
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 52 Mo

Extrait

EDITED B Y
ERIN McCAR THY
AND THE
TEAM A T
THE CURIOUS READER A LITERARY MISCELLANY
OF NOVELS & NOVELISTS
CURIOUS READER_011321.indd 1 CURIOUS READER_011321.indd 1 1/13/21 5:33 PM 1/13/21 5:33 PM
CURIOUS READER_FINAL.indd 2 CURIOUS READER_FINAL.indd 2 12/22/20 5:44 PM 12/22/20 5:44 PM
EDITED B Y
ERIN McC ARTHY
AND THE TEAM A T
MENT AL FLOSS
CURIOUS READER_011321.indd 3 CURIOUS READER_011321.indd 3 1/13/21 5:34 PM 1/13/21 5:34 PM
CEO Raoul Goff
PUBLISHER Roger Shaw
ASSOCIA TE PUBLISHER Mariah Bear
CREA TIVE DIRECT OR Chrissy Kwasnik
SENIOR EDITOR Ian Cannon
PO Box 3088
San Rafael, CA 94912
www .weldonow en.com
© 2021 Sportority Inc.
ISBN 978-1-68188-755-5
Produced by Indelible Editions
Printed in China
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
2021 2022 2023 2024
W eldon Ow en w ould like to thank
Katie Moore for editorial assistance.
PICTURE CREDITS
Erin McCarthy: 8 Shutterstock.com: 4 PM production, 96 ; ABO Photography, 34 ; Ahmed Alharthi, 52–53 ; Alberto P, 47 ; Alesikka, 90 ; alex74, 140 ; Alhovik, 79 ; alslutsky, 134 ; Anki Hoglund, 202 ; Anna Golant, 98 ; APHITHANA, 142 ; Arm001, 14 ; ArtMari, 79 , 98 ; Artur Balytskyi, 274 ; badahos, 180 ; basel101658, 143 , 144 ; bastinda18, 184 ; Benoit Daoust, 151 ; berez_ka, 239 ; bergamont, 167 ; Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH, 273 ; Billion Photos, 41 , 174 ; Boiarkina Marina, 119 ; boykung, 223 ; Butterfly Hunter, 99 ; byggarn.se, 186 ; caimacanul, 10 , 100 ; Callahan, 249 ; chonlasub woravichan, 208 ; Chubarov Alexandr, 288 ; Cultura Motion, 173 ; Dan Thornberg, 19 ; Daria_I, 54 ; dariatroi, 162 ; David A Litman, 252 ; ddok, 251 ; Delpixel, 67 ; Dikas Studio, 223 ; dimair, 261 ; Dimart_Graphics, 225 ; Dmitriy Sudzerovskiy, 175 ; donatas1205, 125 , 175 , 221 ; DrObjektiff, 82 ; eakhludentsova, 212 ; El Nariz, 10 ; Elena Komleva, 32 ; Ellika, 237 ; Enka Parmur, 51 , 106 ; Eric Isselee, 162 , 226 ; ESB Professional, 139 , 230 ; Eugene Partyzan, 184 ; Everett Collection, 38 , 146 , 172 ; evgeny freeone, 136 ; Fabio Pagani, 178–179 ; faestock, 198 ; Farhad Bek, 236 ; FooTToo, 256 ; FOTOKITA, 42 ; fotorawin, 230 ; Freeda Michaux, 208 ; Galina Sorokina, 44 , 113 ; Gayvoronskaya_Yana, 74 ; George J, 252 ; godfather744431, 150 ; goir, 209 ; Graphic Compressor, 104 , 105 ; graphixmania, 260 ; GreenBelka, 111 ; GrigoryL, 270 ; grop, 228 , 260–261 ; Halay Alex, 96–97 ; Hayk_Shalunts, 234–235 ; Hein Nouwens, 248 ; iamseki, 39 ; icemanphotos, 194 ; iCreative3D, 264 ; ID1974, 74 ; Igor Stramyk, 212 ; Ines Behrens-Kunkel, 260 ; irin-k, 180–181 ; Iryna Mel, 115 ; jaboo2foto, 234 ; Jan Zwolinski, 128 ; Jeffrey B. Banke, 123 ; Jiri Hera, 57 , 189 ; Joe Techapanupreeda, 206 ; JordiVendrell, 100 ; JosepPerianes, 273 ; JRC-Stop Motion, 86 ; KathySG, 82 , 132 ; Kris Mari, 202 ; Lazhko Svetlana, 73 ; Lenorko, 22 ; LiliGraphie, 136 ; lolloj, 71 ; Magnia, 25 , 26–27 ; Malivan_Iuliia, 151 ; maman, 164 ; Marcin Perkowski, 245 ; Margaret Jone Wollman, 151 ; Margrit Hirsch, 171 ; Mark Carrel, 25 , 90 , 199 , 200 ; Martina Badini, 117 ; Maslova Larisa, 183 ; Matej Kastelic, 162 ; Matteo Galimberti, 159 ; meunierd, 144 ; Michael Kraus, 175 ; Michael Vigliotti, 108–109 ; michelaubryphoto, 16–17 ; Mihai_Andritoiu, 245 ; Mike Chappazo, 245 ; Mikvika, 108 ; Militarist, 147 ; Millenius, 52 , 53 ; Moloko88, 108 ; MongPro, 226 ; moopsi, 61 ; Morphart Creation, 110 ; Nadin Koryukova, 241 ; Nadya Dobrynina, 202 ; NASA, 142 ; Nataliya Hora, 186 ; Natalya Rozhkova, 171 ; Nataniil, 53 ; Natwick, 266 ; Natykach Nataliia, 266 ; Nikola Markovic, 81 , 104 ; njawko, 13 ; Noel V. Baebler, 126 ; Northern Owl, 85 ; Nosyrevy, 128 , 129 , 226 , 227 ; Olga Korneeva, 82 ; ommus, 27 ; ONiONA, 216 ; P Maxwell Photography, 54–55 , 66 , 76 , 94–95 , 141 , 150 , 153 , 158 , 183 , 197 , 201 , 240 , 259 , 272 ; P-fotography, 166–167 , 168 ; pamas, 61 ; pandapaw, 194 ; Paul Craft, 107 ; Pelevina Ksinia, 199 ; Phant, 88 ; phatymak’s studio, 47 ; phipatbig, 17 ; photomaster, 14 ; Picsfive, 120 , 121 ; Piter Kidanchuk, 242 ; popcorner, 22–23 ; Potapov Alexander, 175 ; Prapasri T, 242 ; Preto Perola, 137 ; Protasov AN, 249 ; rangsan paidaen, 80–81 ; researcher97, 11 ; richardjohnson, 256 ; Roberto Sorin, 113 ; RomanYa, 65 ; RTimages, 161 ; SahruR, 69 ; Save Animals and Nature, 117 ; Senoldo, 202 ; Shafran, 135 ; Shebeko, 56 ; ShutterLibrary, 100 ; silm, 28 , 29 ; sirtravelalot, 64 ; Sloth Astronaut, 44 , 91 ; Sonate, 14 ; Stefan Holm, 278–279 , 280–281 ; StockWithMe, 132 ; Suzanne Tucker, 18 ; Tithi Luadthong, 223 ; tkemot, 159 ; TKGGP, 187 ; TrashTheLens, 223 ; tunejadez, 100 ; Undergroundarts.co.uk, 30 ; urfin, 36 ; valkoinen, 139 ; Vasilyev Alexandr, 221 ; Vecster, 140 ; Vector FX, 228 ; Vetrof, 154 ; Vitaly Titov, 216 ; xpixel, 166 ; xveron90x, 257 ; Yanushevskaya Victoria, 273 ; yougoigo, 37 , 45 , 59 , 93 , 99 , 116 , 129 , 138 , 139 , 149 , 157 , 165 , 169 , 205 , 238 , 239 , 247 , 251
9

INTRODUCTION

by Erin McCarthy
10

1984
GEORGE ORWELL + T he Origins of F amous Authors’ P en Names
14

A Game of Thrones
GEORGE R .R. MARTIN
+ W ays the Show is Different f rom the Nov el
18

A Pra yer for Owen Meany
JOHN IRVING + W riting Advice from Nov elists
22

Americanah
CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE
25

As I Lay Dying
WILLIAM F AULKNER + Books That Have Been Banned
30

Beloved
TONI MORRISON + Amazing Books by Blac k W riters
34

Brav e New W orld
ALDOUS HUXLEY
38

Catch-22
JOSEPH HELLER + Classic Novels Most Often Abandoned b y R eaders
42

Crime and Punishment
FYODOR DOSTOEVSK Y

+ F amous Nov els Penned in Less Than a Month
47

Don Quixote
MIGUEL DE CERV ANTES

+ The Best-Selling Books In Histor y Minus R eligious T exts
52

Dune
FRANK HERBERT + Books That Hav e W on Both the Hugo and Nebula A wards
56

F ahrenheit 451
RA Y BRADBUR Y + Famous A uthors’ Fav orite Books
61

F rankenstein
MARY SHELLEY + Her Dead Husband’ s Hear t
64
Giovanni’ s Room
JAMES BALDWIN
67

House Made of Dawn
N. SCOTT MOMADA Y + Nativ e American Novels Y ou Shouldn’ t Miss
71

In Search of Lost Time
MARCEL PROUS T

+ What W riters W ould Ha ve Bought to a Literary P otluck
74

Infinite Jest
DA VID FOSTER W ALLACE
77

Invisible Man
RALPH ELLISON + Authors on Overcoming W riter’ s Block
82

Jane Eyre
CHARLOTTE BRONTË + Cat-Loving W riters
86
Kindred
OCT A VIA BUTLER + Novelists Who W on the MacAr thur “Genius Grant”
90

Little W omen
LOUISA MA Y ALCOTT + Ruthless R ejection Letters
COnteNtS
CURIOUS READER_FINAL.indd 5 CURIOUS READER_FINAL.indd 5 12/22/20 5:44 PM 12/22/20 5:44 PM
96

Lolita
VLADIMIR NABOK OV + W hen Nabok ov Met Dr . Seuss
100

Lord of the Flies
WILLIAM GOLDING + Harsh Early Reviews of Classic Nov els

104

Midnight’ s Children
SALMAN RUSHDIE + Famous A uthor F euds

108

Moby-Dick
HERMAN MEL VILLE + Inspirations for Fiv e Famous Literary Animals

113

Murder on the Orient Express
AGA THA CHRIS TIE

+ The Ag atha Christie Book Link ed to R eal Murders

117

My Brilliant F riend
ELENA FERRANTE + Book Series to Binge Read

120

Never Let Me Go
KAZUO ISHIGURO + Nobel Prize-Winning A uthors

+ What’ s the Difference Betw een a Novella and a Short Stor y?

125

On the Road
JACK KEROUAC + Y oung Kerouac’ s Reading List

128

One Hundred Y ears of Solitude
GABRIEL GARCÍA MÁRQUEZ

+ Magical R ealism Books Y ou Need to R ead

132

Outlander
DIANA GABALDON + Other Great Love Stories in No vels

136

Pride and Prejudice
JANE A USTEN + The Real Mr . Darcy

+ Pride and Pr ejudice ’ s Greatest Critics
142

Salvage the Bones
JESMYN W ARD + National Book A ward Winners
146

Slaughterhouse-Five
KURT V ONNEGUT + V onnegut Quotes
151

Sons and Lovers
D.H. LAWRENCE + Lawrence Quotes
154

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
MARK TW AIN

+ Things T wain Didn ’t R eally Say
159

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
162

The Alchemist
P AULO COELHO

166

The Bell Jar
SYL VIA PLA TH + Impor tant No vels About Mental Illness

171

The Call of the Wild
JACK LONDON + Homes of F amous Nov elists Y ou Can Visit

175

The Catcher in the Rye
J.D. SALINGER

+ Authors Who Hated Movie V ersions of T heir Books

180

The Color Purple
ALICE WALKER + Quotes From The Color Pur ple

184

The Girl with the Dragon T attoo
STIEG LARSSON
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187

The God of Small Things
ARUNDHA TI RO Y + Why Do W e Love Old Book Smell?
190

The Grapes of W rath
JOHN S TEINBECK
+ Steinbec k’