Curiosities of Literature

April 20, 2009
Author and literature professor Sutherland collects a sundry list of literary fact and trivia into a chaotic assortment of narratives. Organized under a stream-of-consciousness list of themes ("Literary Baked Meats," "Better Than Sex, Some Say," "Mammon and the Book Trade"), Sutherland has set few boundaries for himself regarding subject matter: irritable bowel syndrome, the wedding night, and Rose of Sharon's absurdly generous gift in the conclusion of The Grapes of Wrath all come into play. Though he might be self-indulgent, Sutherland delves into the minutiae with grace and good British wit, bringing humor and appeal to even the most (seemingly) dull subjects. Average readers don't need to worry about comparative illiteracy; Sutherland is so thorough that prior knowledge isn't necessary. A lively read for anyone who wants to learn more about their favorite classics, and a lively cheat sheet for those who want to impress their friends in the lit crowd.

March 1, 2009
Sutherland (English, Univ. Coll., London) presents a collection of little-known facts and literary trivia that should appeal to fans of "Jeopardy!", Trivial Pursuit, and the like. Categories include writers' gastronomic preferences, oddities of body parts and illnesses (e.g., brain size and the relationship of asthma to genius), who really wrote what, and the recent practice of "product placement" (i.e., naming actual brands of merchandise) in literary works. The section on reading preferences of U.S. presidents is of particular interestfor instance, we learn that Reagan enjoyed the techno-thrillers of Tom Clancy, while Eisenhower read westerns by Zane Grey. Although the concept of this book is appealing, it is not well suited to American readers since it contains many references to obscure British concepts, writers, and works. In addition, topical references will limit its shelf life, and occasionally convoluted sentences make sections difficult to read. The main problem is that the book is too academic for most public libraries but not scholarly enough for academics. Buy if needed.Denise J. Stankovics, Rockville P.L., Vernon, CT

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2009
The fact that Sutherland is British, an author, and a professor of literaturedelightfully informs this collection of literary miscellany across the ages and the Western world. He begins with foodreferences, including speculation on how the shortbread cookie came to be named for the classic Victorian novel by Lorna Doone, and villainy involving victims forcedto dine on their own brains. Sutherlandexpounds oncontests for the worst novels, the shortest, the fastest and slowest written, and exposes famous misquotes. Writersfavorite drugsincludeKerouacs love of Benzedrine inhaler drops in his coffee. Bitter cases of love gone bad in real life are found innovels by Philip Roth, Norman Mailer, and Saul Bellow. Sutherland notes that Jane Eyres presence on essential reading lists didnt keep editors from rejecting it when it was submitted under a fake name, and he pondersname changes: Joseph Conrad was born Jzef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski, and Pride and Prejudice was originally titled First Impressions. True to its subtitle, this book is indeed a feast for book lovers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)