Obviously tough to find time to crack the binding of a good book or two between golf games and vacations.

"Dear Yann - thanks for the TP, we were running short. Best, Steve."

Yann, I want my $5.50 back.

Personally, I'd rather know what Yann Martel is reading.

Any narcissism made powerful enough to propel an evangelical moral relativism must have had university-level training.

huh?... I fail to see Yann's logic. Appears to be some sort of smug attempt at passive-aggressive condescension?

Maybe Yann is getting the books from the Bush library. Because now we all know those books are gathering dust, thanks to Paul McCartney’s snide remarks about “THIS President” Obama being sooo much more blah blah blah. I’ll bet one book in the library has a pile of dust on it ….The Life of Pi.

I have made it to about page 15 of Life of Pi. I already know way more about his ego than I need to. War and Peace was a quicker read, that only took me about 6 years. It could take me that long to reach page 20. Still or comatose?

Speedy I actually read Pi and convinced myself at the time it was OK. It came out around 9/11 and I was trying to put myself in a “Kumbayah let’s all hold hands and get along” mood; so we won’t all get blown up. I didn’t know the difference between a Hindu or Muslim before 9/11, so Pi served some purpose.

I’ve evolved since then. Yann hasn’t!

He should read that Philip Roth book. Better spent time that chatting with ol empty head.

I’ve evolved since then. Yann hasn’t!
Yann is typical of most starving lefty artists - their art may evolve but their brains are stuck in a weird late teens thinking pattern.

Dear Mr. Martel,

Thank you for compiling a list of books that I should have no interest in reading. It is appreciated to know that when I go into McNally Robinson, there is a list of books to avoid available for me.

Regards,

Re: "I fail to see Yann's logic"

Actually Yann's logic was to sell his own book. He now has a book of essays about various books sent to the PM. Because of the publicity he got for his stunt, he is selling many more copies than this book would normally attract. Can you imagine the same book titled: "Yann Martel Recommends?" Would not go very far. So, clever Yann. This was going to be a winner for him whether or not the PM ever took any interest in his book. I think Harper can comfortably withstand the intended criticism.

Why am I reminded of the song by the Police (Every breath you take, every move you make--I'll be watching you).

This goes back a year. Yawn sent a books to Mr. Harper and to the POTUS. He received a warm thank you note from Obama and nothing from Mr. Harper. He made a big deal of this. (Did he believe the note was actually written by Mr Obama?)

A few years back, several friends who all enjoyed reading, decided to hold a book burning to express our loathing for books that promised much and delivered little. Two of us (independently) chose Yawn's book. I thought the gimmicks irritating rather than original.

I remember coming across that book of Martel's at Chapters quite a while ago and being disgusted by the arrogance of it.

Here's neo-neocon on the subject of what, if anything, Obama reads:

"It’s not been my impression that Obama is especially interested in most books, though, except for political strategy books, or books about other matters highly relevant to his goals and agenda. That perception of mine is based on his interviews; he almost never makes a literary reference in passing conversation, only when directly asked about his reading tastes, and then his remarks about the books he’s read seem to be rather general."

"This is what I propose to do: not to educate—that would be arrogant, less than that—to make suggestions to his stillness."

Egad. What a pompous ass.

Odd juxtaposition: a sitting Prime Minister vs a presidential candidate on the campaign trail.

Never mind, since the election we've learned that President Obama is an avid reader.

Coincidentally:
'Obama sends Yann Martel Life of Pi appreciation letter'
National Post, 7 April 2010

Read more: http://network.nationalpost.com/NP/blogs/afterword/archive/2010/04/07/obama-sends-yann-martel-life-of-pi-appreciation-letter.aspx#ixzz0woTWk3Ur

Oh, and LindaL, Mr Martel has said he did not send books to the American President.

I hope nobody is implying that Harper actually read any of those books.

I was wrong. (Should never rely on my memory.) Apparently Obama sent him an unsolicited note saying how much he and his daughter enjoyed the book Life of Pi.

http://www.abebooks.com/blog/index.php/2010/03/01/yann-martels-personal-note-from-barack-obama/

Still doesn't make me like it any better.

Yawn Martel talks as if "the arts" involves anything more than sitting on one's pompous ass and condemning the productive. Grasshopper-Ant syndrome.

BTW- I'm willing to bet Yawn did not fulfill his pledge. Of course that's artistic licence.

Artistic licence = lying, sloth.

I'm pretty certain Harper is reading "How to Control Your Associates and Underlings" as well as "The Ignatieff Files" and perhaps "Outcoach Don Cherry in Three Easy Lessons."

'Yann is typical of most starving lefty artists'

Yeah, 'typical' in that he is a douche-bag. No, I don't mean that. Seriously, I love reading and I love books. I would venture to guess most people who read this site also read a lot of books. But here is the thing: I detest people who act like Yann Martel. I detest him because he thinks that he is in the position to suggest reading material to our Prime Minister. He is attempting to equate lefty and artsy with being well read and as far as I am concerned, nothing can be further from the truth.

Also, his website makes me gag. That is quite a hatchet job he has done to the blog format. No comments, no user input of any kind. It's like I am back in the 1990s reading new fandangled "web" pages while connected to the "Internet" with Trumpet Winsock.

Yann Martel? Who cares? If this pretentious hack thinks he is so bloody important, how about doing something useful?
Remember when the popular press attacked Mrs. Palin for not reading the rags that attacked her children?
Give me the classics any day!

He is a Quebecker who has chosen to write in English, unlike his father who wrote in French and won many prizes. This is his right, but as far as I can tell he has only recommended two Quebec books to Stephen Harper.

Anyway he seems to be a typical multicultural twit.

Imagine if Yann Martel had talent.

Harper should have returned the favor and bought Yann a subscription to The National Review magazine and Fox News on satellite TV (I can't think of any unapologetic conservative MSM in Canada). Then send him every book by Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, Sarah Palin and all other female conservative writers. Progressives insane hostility and misogyny towards female conservatives is always amusing.

I'm curious how Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" is a book that "expands stillness". About the only "stillness" I remember from it is the stillness of the various corpses.

I am not surprised that Mr. Martel sends a long-winded letter with each book, but I doubt those do much to "expand stillness" either.

Man, don't even get me started on expanding stillness in our cultural elite. I wish they would all become perfectly still.

Who is Yann Martel?
Who cares?

Here's a question for Kate:

Both Yann Martel and Mark Helprin put Dante's Divine Comedy at the top of the heap for their influence on them.

Well, ok, the question answers itself.

Why doesn't he stick to playing the Pan flute? It is that guy, isn't it?

who wants to bet that Harper's book on hockey will ultimately garner more money and reads than all of Yawns books combined?

What an ass. Perhaps Yann could instead what Harper is reading - economic forecasts, policy white papers, Bank of Canada updates, Ministerial reports, etc.

Kursk I think Harper's Beatles performance has already garnered more views than all of Yanns books combined. That said though, it'd be nice if someone sent me free books everyday. Some might actually be good! :(

Wouldn't it be hilariously ironic if Harper opened a small public library filled only with the books this dude sent him?

Actually some of them ARE good. Yeah he's self aggrandizing and mildly condescending but free is free!

the bear: "Yann is typical of most starving lefty artists - their art may evolve but their brains are stuck in a weird late teens thinking pattern."

What would you expect, bear? Martel's an alumnus of Trent, a lefty, stuck-in-the-sixties, uni. And perhaps "starving lefty" is hyperbolic. Like so many leftards before him (Pierre Trudeau, Stephen Lewis, Bob Rae, Iggy et al.) he seems to have been born with a silver spoon in his mouth: You know the schtick: I love giving other people's money away "to help them," especially when I've got a personal stash in the bank, holidays assured at my cottage and ski chalet, and lots of air miles should I feel like some fun in the sun come February.

From Wikipedia: "Martel was born in Salamanca, Spain. As an adolescent he attended high school at Trinity College School, a boarding school in Port Hope, Ontario. He grew up in Costa Rica, France, Mexico, and Canada [which kind of suggests a father/mother in the diplomatic corps?]. As an adult [well, if you say so], Martel has spent time in Iran, Turkey and India. After studying philosophy at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, Martel spent 13 months in India visiting temples, churches, mosques and zoos, and then two years reading religious texts and castaway stories."

Hmmm. I wonder how he supported himself while visiting temples, churches, mosques, and zoos and while reading those religious texts and castaway stories?

I wonder who Martel knew -- or who his parents knew -- at Random House, the publisher of Life of Pi? And, guess who he gets a cover blurb from? None other than Canada's most celebrated literary icon, Margaret Atwood: "Life of Pi is a terrific book. It's fresh, original, smart, devious, and crammed with absorbing lore."

Thank you, Peggy.

Yann Martel is your typical Canadian left-libtard, who feels justified in looking down his nose at Prime Minister Stephen Harper who, I'll bet, could clean his clock on any number of topics.

I wonder what books Martel is reading? Heather Reisman's Picks?

http://community.indigo.ca/profile/Heather-Reisman/92932.html

Why so serious? Some books are great classics. One is Ayn Rand I had to buy my own animal farm. Yeah he's a bit of a jerk but the selection is good. It not like it's a compendum of Chompsky lol. Mostly Harmless.

Oh, so here we find another fine example of peer review, eh batb? Well, I'm sold...NOT!

Atwood, Schmatwood! pfft.

I'm with you, Snagglepuss.

CanLit is an incestuous you-scratch-my-back-I'll-scratch-yours cesspit. I avoid it like the plague, especially the soulless, spiritually barren Peggy-I-can't-be-bothered-to-open-my-mouth-to-talk Atwood!

Last thing: Why didn't the CanLit Crowd pester Jean Chretien, who probably was more in need of a general education than PMSH? I mean, if all you read is Mario Puzo for bright ideas, your mind could use a little expansion, non?

Can I send yann a couple of recommended reads?

"Basic Economics"/"Economic Facts & Fallacies" (Sowell)

"Black Rednecks & White Liberals" (Sowell)

"Liberal Facism" (Goldberg)

"Liberty and Tyranny" (Levin)

"Lights Out" (Steyn)

"Economics in One Lesson" (Hazlett, and this is even a FREE read, online)

"A Slobbering Love Affair: The True (and Pathetic) Story of the Torrid Romance Between Barack Obama and the Mainstream Media" (Goldberg)

There. That should keep him busy for a time, and he might actually learn something in the process.

mhb23re at gmail d0t calm

But Yann, you DO come across as arrogant - as well as condescending, pretentious and patronizing.