America’s Expensive Novel Habit

November 11, 2006

In the New Yorker, Ian Frazier shares some stories about how the modern novel is threatening to bring down the American economy.

Right now, it’s costing me forty-five dollars to fill up my 4Runner, which is about two novels. Tough decisions are going to have to be made. I’m used to having a newly released hardcover on the dash of my vehicle, another in the back seat for the kids. At home, we’ve got a novel in each bedroom, two in the family room, one in the laundry room for my wife when she’s down there, and a novella in the john. We go through a couple of dozen novels in a year without even noticing. I hate to say it, but this can’t go on.

created The Millions and is its publisher. He and his family live in New Jersey.