American Foreign Policy & Book Buying

I usually buy books for one of five reasons

- It’s by a favourite author (I’m a “completist”)
- It’s been recommended
- It’s been favourably reviewed
- It’s my Book Club turn
- It’s got a connection, however tenuous, to Philip K Dick

There’s never usually much overlap ( it shouldn’t come a too great a surprise that some of my Book Club choices may well have received less than flattering reviews ) but in order to rein in my spending I’ve decided to screen future purchases via reviews.

It was working rather well. I’d managed the volume down to 3 so far this year -
Eric Hobsbawm’s “How To Change The World”, Julian Barnes’ “Pulse” and Rebecca Skloots “The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks” - all justified by, for the most part, rave reviews. It’s axiomatic really - Your favourite authors are bound to get favourable reviews. So it’s not much of a restriction. It’s even less so when your definition of rave can be flexed so accommodatingly.

Then along came “Bird Cloud” by Annie Proulx and my quasi resolution is in tatters. A savaging in a New York Times didn’t stop me ordering. I’d like to offer up a “mistrial” in defence but, sadly, a few pages confirm the substance of the review.

The events of the last few weeks have opened my eyes though. Taking a lead from Hilary Clinton I’ve realised my statements don’t leave any wriggle room. They need to be sufficiently lithe to admit any interpretation whatsoever. So I’ve no need to feel down-hearted I just need to re-draft. In fact with the right set of words it might even be possible to pick up William P Young’s next one. Now there's a scary thought for you all