The Polysyllabic Spree
The Polysyllabic Spree is a 2004 collection of Nick Hornby's "Stuff I've Been Reading" columns in The Believer. The book collates his columns from September 2003 to November 2004, inclusive. It also includes excerpts from such authors as Anton Chekhov and Charles Dickens.
In it, Hornby lists the books he bought each month, and the books he actually read. For instance, he might buy Dickens, but read J.D. Salinger. He then writes a column revolving around what he read, bought, and what he intends/intended to read.
The title is a reference to the choral symphonic-rock group The Polyphonic Spree. In the book, Hornby describes the people who run The Believer as being "all dressed in white robes and smiling maniacally, sort of like a literary equivalent of the Polyphonic Spree."
There are three follow-up books, Housekeeping vs. The Dirt, Shakespeare Wrote for Money and More Baths Less Talking.
List of books
September 2003
Books bought:Robert Lowell: A Biography – Ian HamiltonCollected Poems – Robert LowellAgainst Oblivion: Some of the Lives of the 20th-Century Poets – Ian HamiltonIn Search of J. D. Salinger – Ian HamiltonNine Stories – J. D. SalingerFranny and Zooey – J. D. SalingerRaise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction – J. D. SalingerThe Ern Malley Affair – Michael HeywardSomething Happened – Joseph HellerPenguin Modern Poets 5 – Corso/Ferlinghetti/GinsbergBooks read:
- All the SalingersIn Search of Salinger and Lowell
- Some of Against OblivionPompeii by Robert Harris
October 2003
Books bought:A Tragic Honesty: The Life and Work of Richard Yates – Blake BaileyNotes on a Scandal – Zoë HellerBooks read:Being John McEnroe – Tim AdamsStop-Time – Frank ConroyThe Fortress of Solitude – Jonathan LethemDesperate Characters – Paula FoxNotes on a Scandal – Zoë HellerWhere You’re At – Patrick NeateFeel Like Going Home – Peter GuralnickThe People's Music – Ian MacDonaldA Tragic Honesty – Blake Bailey How to Stop Smoking and Stay Stopped for Good – Gillian RileyQuitting Smoking – The Lazy Person's Guide! – Gillian Riley
November 2003
Books bought:Bush at War – Bob WoodwardSix Days of War – Michael B. OrenGenome – Matt RidleyIsaac Newton – James GleickGod’s Pocket – Pete DexterThe Poet and the Murderer – Simon WorrallSputnik Sweetheart – Haruki MurakamiLie Down in Darkness – William StyronLeadville – Edward PlattMaster Georgie – Beryl BainbridgeHow to Breathe Underwater – Julie OrringerBooks read:A Tragic Honesty: The Life and Work of Richard Yates – Blake Bailey Wenger: The Making of a Legend – Jasper ReesHow to Breathe Underwater – Julie OrringerBush at War – Bob Woodward Unnamed Literary Novel Unnamed Work of Nonfiction No Name – Wilkie Collins
December 2003/January 2004
Books bought:Moneyball – Michael LewisSaul and Patsy – Charles BaxterWinner of the National Book Award – Jincy WillettJenny and the Jaws of Life – Jincy WillettThe Sirens of Titan – Kurt VonnegutTrue Notebooks – Mark SalzmanBooks read:No Name – Wilkie CollinsMoneyball – Michael LewisGeorge and Sam: Autism in the Family – Charlotte MooreThe Sirens of Titan – Kurt Vonnegut
February 2004
Books bought:Old School – Tobias WolffTrain – Pete DexterBackroom Boys – Francis SpuffordYou Are Not a Stranger Here – Adam HaslettEats, Shoots and Leaves – Lynn TrussBooks read:Enemies of Promise – Cyril ConnollyWhat Just Happened? – Art LinsonClockers – Richard PriceEats, Shoots and Leaves – Lynn TrussMeat Is Murder – Joe PerniceDusty in Memphis – Warren ZanesOld School – Tobias WolffIntroducing Time – Craig Callender and Ralph Edney
- PLUS: a couple of stories in You Are Not a Stranger Here; a couple of stories in Sixty Stories by Donald Barthelme; a couple of stories in Here's Your Hat What's Your Hurry by Elizabeth McCracken.
March 2004
Books bought:The Amateur Marriage – Anne TylerThe Eclipse – Antonella GambottoThe Complete Richard Hannay – John BuchanSelected Letters – Gustave FlaubertVietnam-Perkasie – W. D. EhrhartBooks read:Some of Flaubert's lettersNot Even Wrong – Paul CollinsHow Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World – Francis WheenLiar's Poker – Michael LewisSome of Greenmantle – John BuchanHow to Give Up Smoking and Stay Stopped for Good – Gillian Riley
April 2004
Books bought:Hangover Square – Patrick HamiltonThe Long Firm – Jake ArnottAmerican Sucker – David DenbyBooks read:Hangover Square – Patrick HamiltonThe Long Firm – Jake ArnottThe Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Mark HaddonTrue Notebooks – Mark Salzman
May 2004
Books bought:Random Family: Love, Drugs, Trouble, and Coming of Age in the Bronx – Adrian Nicole LeBlancWhat Narcissism Means to Me – Tony HoaglandDavid Copperfield – Charles DickensBooks read:David Copperfield – Charles Dickens
June 2004
Books bought:Donkey Gospel – Tony HoaglandI Never Liked You – Chester BrownWe Need to Talk About Kevin – Lionel ShriverBooks read:Random Family – Adrian Nicole LeBlancWhat Narcissism Means to Me – Tony HoaglandBobby Fischer Goes to War – David Edmonds and John Eidinow
July 2004
Books bought:The Invisible Woman – Claire TomalinY: The Last Man Vols 1–3 – Vaughan, Guerra, Marzan Jr., ChadwickI Never Liked You – Chester BrownDavid Boring – Daniel ClowesThe Amazing Adventures of The Escapist – Michael Chabon et al.Safe Area Goražde – Joe SaccoNot Entitled – Frank KermodeThe author here inserts a footnote: "I bought so many books this month it’s obscene, and I’m not owning up to them all: this is a selection. And to be honest, I’ve been economical with the truth for months now. I keep finding books that I bought, didn’t read, and didn’t list."
Books read:Train – Pete DexterThis Is Serbia Calling – Matthew CollinThe Invisible Woman – Claire TomalinY: The Last Man Vols 1–3 – Vaughan, Guerra, Marzan Jr., ChadwickI Never Liked You – Chester BrownDavid Boring – Daniel Clowes
August 2004
Books bought:Prayers for Rain – Dennis LehaneMystic River – Dennis LehaneJesse James: Last Rebel of the Civil War – T. J. StilesThe Line of Beauty – Alan HollinghurstLike a Fiery Elephant – Jonathan CoeBooks read:Prayers for Rain – Dennis LehaneMystic River – Dennis LehaneLike a Fiery Elephant – Jonathan Coe