It covers the years 1930 to 2016. I'm not sure how many babies born this year are already reading popular literature, but for those who are, you best get your chubby little hands on a copy of Ron Chernow's biography of Alexander Hamilton, pronto.
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| There's so much more than his famous duel with Aaron Burr! Also, I made poopie! |
The most popular book the year I was born was John Updike's Couples. I've never read it, although I've read a couple of Updike's Rabbit novels. So I'll be seeking that out pretty soon. The most popular book the year Precocious Daughter was born was Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. She was amazed to learn that the Harry Potter books predate her. Apparently the universe began when she was born, which I guess is a pretty normal attitude for a 16-year-old.
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| I'll let her believe it while she can. |
How about it? Let me know the name of the book that defined your birth year, and whether it defines you or just seems like a sign that you were born in messed-up times. (Spoiler alert: We were all born in messed-up times.)
Ready, set...go.
Jaws by Peter Benchley (1974). Not only have I not read the book, I've never seen the movie. I should probably rectify that.
ReplyDeleteProbably. :)
DeleteThe movie is less bad than the book, whose cgaracters are so unsympathetic that you actively want the shark to kill them all. Hooper sleeps with Brady's wife, Brady himself is a whiny wimp, A uint is a dolphin-murdering psycho, etc.
DeleteNot that the film is better - people are still massacring Great White Sharks to this day using it as an excuse.
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I understand Benchley has said if he knew then what he knows now about sharks he never would have written Jaws and now contributes to education and conservation efforts. But I'm not sure that's enough to offset a book and film that portray sharks as accurately as Star Wars portrays NASA.
DeleteJonathan Livingston Seagull (1972). Yes, I've read it. My mom gave it to me (maybe in high school?) and told me it was born the same year I was. I remember be confused by it. Maybe I should give it a second try..
ReplyDeleteI need to give it another try, too.
DeleteI went through a phase in my late teens when I read everything by Bach and thought he was a genius. Now I despise him and his solipsistic philosophy with more hatred than I used to worship him.
DeleteOh great, the year I was born the most popular book was Love Story. I guess being forty-five means never having to say you're sorry.
ReplyDeleteHated the book, hated the movie. Hated Ali McGraw ever since.
DeleteChris and I were born the same year. No, I haven't read Love Story.
DeleteI haven't read Love Story either. That's two things Bill and I have in common. I hope it doesn't end there.
DeleteI haven't seen the movie either.
Wow! Rosemary's baby. I've never read the book but I have seen the movie. That being the most popular book the year I became a baby is kind of creepy. Then again, if my father was actually Satan that might explain a lot.
ReplyDeleteThe book is really good and just as creepy as the movie.
DeleteWhat a fun idea! We must be the same age because mine was also Couples. I haven't scanned past my year yet - but so far, I've read at least nine and saw a few I'd like to read.
ReplyDeleteFunny that your daughter thinks the universe started with her - mine is convinced that his birth brought color to the earth. Before that we were like a black & white movie.
Does that make your birth canal like the tornado in The Wizard of Oz that changes everything from B&W to color? That's pretty cool, actually. :)
DeleteReminds me of Calvin and Hobbes.
DeleteTropic of Cancer. Not my cup of tea. And yes, I am an old.
ReplyDeleteI went through a phase of reading everything by Henry Miller I could find. It's depressing, actually, that it took approximately 10,000 pages for me to realize he was writing the same thing over and over and that it wasn't that interesting to begin with.
DeleteI've always wanted to read that! Perhaps in your honor, I will. :)
ReplyDelete(1964) You Only Live Twice (Ian Fleming)
ReplyDeleteWay cool even if I am way old!!!
Seriously, that freaking slideshow took forever, so I googled most popular books of 1961. (Yeah that's right. 1961) Catch-22 and James and the Giant Peach topped the list. Also Harrison Bergeron by Vonnegut, my favorite story by him. And further down on the list one of my fave books as a young reader - Go, Dog, Go! Nice to be reminded of that book. Thanks Chuck!
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