Roger L. Simon: A Service for Presidential Candidates

Here's another reason (if you need one) for why I shouldn't be running for high office. Evidently, you're supposed to have a favorite novel. Even though I have published a number of the critters myself, I can't imagine having a favorite one. It seems almost vulgar. I don't have a favorite painting or film either. Or a favorite poem. But I do have a favorite ice cream flavor - dolce de leche, if you're interested.

If I did have a favorite novel, however, I doubt it would be L. Ron Hubbard's"Battlefield Earth," apparently the choice of Mitt Romney. (I haven't even read it ...or considered reading it, for that matter). I interjected "apparently" because Romney supporters are evidently now distancing their man from the sci-fi thriller by the father of Scientology. [As well they might.-ed. Indeed.]

Even so, since this "favorite novel" thing seems to be (for some unknown reason) of interest in the presidential race and since we have a fairly literate audience on this blog, I am throwing out this challenge to you, dear reader. What novel would you advise the ambitious presidential candidate say was his favorite? "Remembrance of Things Past," for example, is probably not a good idea - too pretentious and too French. And someone might actually ask you a question to see if you read it.

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Something classically American like Moby Dick, or some _good_ SF such as Asimov or Heinlein. Actually, "Battlefield Earth" is fun in a sort of 13 year old kid way, and I almost wonder if this was Romney's attempt to _not_ come off as a pretentious "suit".

I am a dedicated Lord of the Rings fan, but I think that "Fahrenheit 451" is more "important". But then again I am astounded by Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" being so predictive in electronic pets. I am a huge fan of British Mystery, but I wouldn't classify any as a great work. I find Agatha Cristie's failure to actually solve a great crime far more moving than anything she actually wrote.

But in the end, I suspect that I like stories that become great Opera. I am blessed with a daughter who likes Opera like I do. This summer we are going to see La Boheme (as she puts it "Rent" done right) and Cosi Fan Tutte at the Santa Fe Opera.

As an interesting side note, my daughter found the plot of "Peter Grimes" very compelling, but didn't like the music. I, on the other hand liked Brittain's music, and was nuetral on the plot.

If anyones cares this is my favorite night at the Opera: http://infrequent.blogspot.com/2005/06/night-at-opera.html

A twofer: "I Claudius" and "Claudius the God" by Robert Graves. Any president that had read those books would never be surprised by any political intrigue while in office.

One more suggestion: "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold" by John Le Carré. Probably the best spy story ever written and a valuable reminder to that things are not alway as they seem.

In light of topical popularity of 300, I'd recommend Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield. Of course, one might lose a few Persian voters that way.

Um, why not tell a reporter what they should be told -- "None of your business"?

I'd rather have a president who reads SF than one who doesn't. SF, and Battlefield Earth in particular, is generally forward looking, optimistic and assumes that people can solve problems instead of moping around feeling sorry for themselves.

And as I just wrote at my blog Battlefield Earth is a book I enjoy myself so I guess I'm safe from anyone trying to make me a politician.

How about Starship Troopers? Unfortunately, the movie spoiled it and many people would get the wrong idea...

I'm not sure I could decide on a single book as my favorite either. I had such a thing in High School, but there are so many amazing authors that I don't think I could pick now.

As there is no general-purpose favorite novel that will get you all the votes, I suppose we could imagine which ones best reinforce the various images. McCain would have to have a twofer, one being LeCarre but the other being chick lit. Children of the Corn would be perfect for Clinton. Guiliani could choose at random one of the Dirk Pitt swashbucklers. There are endless possibilities for reinforcing or harpooning the candidates.

Indeed, this may be a good conversation opener for the duration. Nice idea, Roger!

As a pol, I'd have to go the Al Gore maximum pretension route (Gore chose Stendhal's "The Red and the Black") and pick something French, that everyone has not only never read, but that everyone has never even heard of.

Betcha that "Love Story" author Erich Segal was annoyed over that pick, since Gore says he (Gore) was Segal's inspiration for the novel's hero.

On Segal, I think Gore had the wrong book--he more likely inspired another Segal bestseller, "Johnathan Livingston Seagull".

But seriously, "Catch 22" is a good pick. Heinlein is a great, but if you're trying to get elected you'd probably go for 'the Greatest Generation in WWII' over anything branded as sci-fi. And it helps that it's a great book, very funny, very modern--and lots of voters are familiar with it.

Very simple. "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" by Robert Heinlein. When you have a problem just throw rocks at it...

I was going to say the bible (I read it) but then I read that a hotel chain is replacing it's bibles with Al Gore's "Earth in the balance".

I have to suspect that Romney did it to create this fuss and is silently laughing at all the pretense going on about his literary taste. At least I hope it was that. Maybe he should have said the WEB Griffin "Presidential Agent" series in which Griffin makes the case that Putin is at the heart of the oil-for-food scandal. That would have thrown the cat amongst the chickens.

I have to say that in these times I'd be quite happy with a Harry Potter fan. There are 3 types of people in the Harry Potter books:

I figure that the only way that we are going to survive in our world is to get the people in class #3 to feel ashamed of themselves, and if they can't find the courage to convert themselves into class #2, at least STFU. Reading Harry Potter might just teach a few of the otherwise uneducable.

The best answer would be something along the lines of: "Well let me think a moment. I've read too many books to pick a favorite, and why would a novel necessarily be the top one? I'd talk to you about literary criticism, but I don't want to put your readers to sleep. Next question."

I think it's quite rare that US presidents read much at all, fiction or otherwise. GWB and Clinton are readers, but I don't think you can say that of Bush 41. I doubt JFK ever had the patience to read a book straight through, nor LBJ. Nixon and Carter are among that odd sort who write books without ever seeming to read any. As for the also-rans, Hubert Humphrey actually used to brag about the fact that he hadn't read a book during his entire career in Washington. Dukakis was a reader though - recall his taking a book on Swedish land planning or something for his vacation. He was a decent man, but his reading material might have been part of the problem.

I'd go for a book that has popular appeal but still intellectual heft and even not-so-subtle political value:
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro.

Wasn't he responsible for James Bond becoming popular by reading the Ian Fleming books? The *sophistication* of Camelot!!

Not being a politician I would choose " Catch 22," but that might not be the best political choice.
The can't miss political selection would be "No Time For Sergeants."

It's an open question, I suppose, as to whether or not the modern presidency is or isn't a Catch-22, but the only thing I could think of that works against that great novel being the best choice in this day and age is the mediocrity of the movie into which it was adapted. To Kill A Mockingbird has a huge advantage in that regard and was the only other novel I seriously considered.

I think as a politician, you want to go American. Going the more high-brow route, Moby Dick. A little more populist, maybe Huckleberry Finn. If you do go the Euro route, War and Peace would be a nice choice. Hemingway or Faulkner might get you some brownie points with reporters.

Nobody's picked up the answer I would have given: The Great Gatsby. That's the honest answer for me, but I think it also has political expedience along the lines discussed here: Sharp, satiric disdain for corrupt, stupid and vain Eastern elites; nostalgia for the Heartland that the main characters left behind; longing for a time when it was morning in America. You could almost kinda put a Reaganesque spin on it.

I was astounded by Romney's answer. Anything that would associate you with the founder of Scientology is a bad answer to any question if you want to prove that you're worth trusting with the Presidency. I don't know much about Romney; is he just that dumb or just that flakey?

Roger, I would have thought you'd give "bonjour tristesse" a shout out, too bad the country is so anti-french, but Id love to vote for a guy (or gal) who went with that.

Gatsby is dagerous because the question of self identification will come, does that make you Gatsby? etc...

But I think modernism is the right direction, nobody will believe you if you say Moby Dick, and unless you are cornball enough to show some evidence for previous interest, Huckleberry Finn, or the even safer choice of Tom Sawyer sounds too pat.

That's why I suggest "A Farewell to Arms," sappy, macho yet sensitive, and it shows an understanding of the "true cost of war," but it is still Hemingway, so as long as you are enough of a hawk it won't make you look like a wuss, just a little romantic (which has to be good for some votes). Also since most people have read it (or at least seen a movie version), it is not to hard to remember the plot details, and anyone who criticizes it will come across as pretentious.

Oh and just to be careful mention that you are assuming this is't including religious scripture.

The Great Gatsby it is.
If asked for a second novel: Under Western Eyes by Joseph Conrad. Not only because the central theme is terrorism, but also because it's about the dangers of seeing other cultures through "western eyes."

And if asked why, simply respond with "Why do you think it is my favorite book?"

In fact, maybe that should be the topic of the next debate (Since we are about twelve years out from the election anyway....)

Assign a book to the candidates and have them all discuss what they think it means.

People won't back out because it would look like they don't read books. Even if they don't, they won't want to admit it.

Inevitably their staffs would create a series of position statements. Imagine the poll questions - or, even better, the responses from people who haven't read the book either.

The spin on the relevance/meaning of Scout's wearing of a ham costume alone would make the event worth watching.

How do you define a favorite novel? Is it one you mention most often, one you read more than once, or some other criteia?
The one I mention most in teaching is The Foundation by Asimov. (Usually when dealing with the Rule Against Perpetuities.)
Screwtape Letters by Lewis is one I have not read in awhile, but should read again. That may get some comments.
Other ones I like: Lord Pete Whimsey series. Cadfael series.
There are so many books. Some are entertaining (equivalent of popcorn movies). Others are entertaining AND have something memorable in them. (e.g. Lemon tarts as defined in Bonfire of the Vanities.)
Others are more than simply entertaining. Lord of the Rings, Hamlet, Gates of Fire, and others.

Well, I think that religious scripture is off the table by the use of the word "novel" rather than the more emcompassing "literature."

It seems like some people (*cough*HughHewitt*cough*) are dismissive of science fiction. Frankly, I would be more confident of a presidential candidate who was familiar with science fiction than one who had no use for it. Science fiction is primarily a genre concerned with ethics; in fact, I dare say it may be one of the most moral of genres. Beneath its wires and blinkies, sci-fi is concerned with forming an ethical approach to future technologies and situations that we may face as a culture, as a nation, and as a species.

Novel hmmm? When I'm in the mood for fiction I just turn on CBS news. But if has to be a book, then One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. If it had to be SF, then The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.

The Universal Baseball Association, Inc., J. Henry Waugh, Prop. (1968) by Robert Coover.

May 1, 2007: A Service for Presidential Candidates - The Favorite Novel Survey

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