The Twenty Five Sexiest Novels Ever Written?
Playboy, the magazine everyone reads for the articles, has compiled a list of the twenty five sexiest novels. I happen to come across this the same week that the New York Times Review of Books published their list of the “Best Work of American Fiction of the Last 25 Years”.
On quick glance I notice that only one author, Philip Roth, made it onto both lists (although not for the same book), and that while the New York Times list is topped by a woman (Toni Morrison for Beloved), she is practically alone (only one other woman) whereas there is greater female representation in Playboy’s list.
Further proof of the Times judges lack of imagination, many of the greatest works of fiction are by the same two or three guys. Whereas Playboy has spread the wealth, from D.H. Lawrence to Judy Blume, from Harold Robbins to Georges Bataille.
I don’t know if it’s a good or bad thing that I’ve read more titles from the sexy list than from the greatest fiction list (I could argue that it's all work related), but both lists have definitely set my summer reading for the next three years.
Check out the complete list of the 25 sexiest novels ever written.
At least one of John Norman’s Gor novels should have been included. I would nominate Tribesmen of Gor but Slave Girl of Gor or any of his later works should certainly at least be considered.