Recently, literary critic John Carey complained that foreign literature is neglected in Britain. Experts have selected 10 overseas writers that should not be missed. Actually, I don’t think they have been “neglected” solely in Britain. I have never heard of these writers either.

I know I’m taking note of them and hope to find some of their books here. Coming up in September my foreign authors book group selects books for next year so I may have some new authors to suggest.

Our group has read writers from many countries. Some of our favorites have been J.M. Coetzee, Haruki Murakami, Barry Unsworth and Kazuo Ishiguro.

So, have you read any of the writers mentioned in the list? Can you recommend a wonderful writer who is not from the U.S. who you think I should definitely read? Let me know. I do need to work on my nominations list and it’s never too early to start compiling it.

Vintage Books is preparing a list of the 15 modern classics that will still be read in 100 years. They have asked forty-eight reading groups and affiliated libraries to help select the books.

For once, here’s a list which boasts many books I’ve read. There’s Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Disgrace, The Time Traveler’s Wife, Possession and many others. One very nice surprise was seeing Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach make the list. That’s one book I really liked that seemed to have been overlooked here in the States.

But, no Gabriel García Márquez? No Isabel Allende? No Carlos Fuentes? You are seeing a trend right? I didn’t see a single Latin American author in this list. Did I read this right? ¿Qué paso Vintage?

Of course, these lists always seem to miss our favorite books don’t they? If you have a chance to look through it let me know if they overlooked one of your favorites.

I’m immersed in my new book, Edges by Leora Skolkin-Smith so tonight I’ll just do a quick meme that I copied from Susan.

List five books you liked well enough as a teen to read again as an adult.

1. The Pigman by Paul Zindel
2. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
3. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
4. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
5. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

The other part of the meme had to do with listing five books or authors you’ll never read unless someone pays you at least a thousand cash in advance to do so and even then you might be tempted not to do it. I can’t think of any books or authors that I’d outright not try but how about five authors I won’t read again because doing so would be torture?

Also, let me apologize if I impugn your favorite authors’ literary worthiness, but these are just not for me.

1. John Grisham
2. Alice Walker
3. Ayn Rand
4. Dan Brown
5. Richard Bach

P.S. There are new links!