Reading The World

The Royal Society of Literature recently asked authors to suggest ten books that every child ought to have read before he or she leaves school. And while suggestions ranged from Dickens to Joyce, this is what Ben Okri did:

"[He] avoided nominating books but sent in a 10-point list instead. It contained such advice as: 'Read the books your parents hate; Read the books you're not supposed to read' and 'Read the world. It is the most mysterious book of all.' "

Thanks a heap, Ben. Last time one checked at the local bookstore, they said they didn't stock "the world".