- Moby Dick
- Great Expectations
- Les Liaisons Dangereuses
- Anything by Robert Benchley
- Anything by James Thurber, except his late stuff
- Ditto by S.J. Perelman
- “The Young Immigrunts,” by Ring Lardner
- Archy and Mehitabel, by Don Marquis
- Nonsense Novels, by Stephen Leacock
- The Once and Future King, by T.H. White
- Lucky Jim, by Kingsley Amis
- Portable Prairie, by M.J. Andersen
- Skinner’s Drift, by Lisa Fugard
- Anything by David Sedaris
- Anything by Tobias Wolff
- We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families: Stories From Rwanda, by Philip Gourevitch
- “The Ledge” by Lawrence Sargent Hall
- “The Best of Betty,” by me
The Third Policeman, by Flann O’Brien
Any one of the Series of Unfortunate Events books by Lemony Snicket (you only have to read one)
Critique of Pure Reason, by Immanuel Kant (Just kidding! You really don’t have to read this one.)
The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon.
And, no, you pervy-pants, it is not about sex!
Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
(Jenny and the Jaws of Life, of course.)
Dear Jincy Willett,
I think you’re quite brilliant.
A friend recommended your collection of short stories to me a couple of years ago, and I have been forever grateful, because every story in it is delightful.
I have since recommended it, “as well as Winner of the National Book Award…” to everyone I know, writer or not.
And, I just wanted to say that.
-LaTanya McQueen
Ok, now I’m addicted to leaving posts on this site. Jincy, you rock!
On to my suggestion for books. While I’ve harrassed almost everyone i know about reading your books, I’ve also discovered a Canadian author who now lives somewhere in the states (I’m too lazy to look up where). Anyways, she wrote this hilarious book — George Bush, Dark Prince of Love.
I laughed so hard when reading it, I nearly peed my pants. Don’t you just love it when a book does that to you.
c.
Feh. and her name is Lydia Millett.
an anatomy text. it’s imperative. when you’re done, reward yourself. Fishboy by Mark Richard. or take a gander at George Saunders.
I can’t believe it took me so long to find this site. Google Deutschland doesn’t have you listed. I finally found you while visiting my parents in the US a few weeks ago.
Jincy, you are one of the best writers on this planet–above or below ground. Every time I see Winner of the National Book Award in a bookstore, I buy it for a friend.
I hope your life is going well. Very well.
The Uncommon Reader, by Alan Bennett