Literary Weakling

I admit it, with the exception of Life of Pi, I've never made it through a Booker prize winning novel - perhaps because every one I've picked up shares traits in common with this year's winner (and congrats to Anne Enright, but I won't be attempting her novel) - the story regarding the win contains such selling points as:

Howard Davies, the chairman of the judging panel, acknowledged the book was "a little bleak" in places, but praised it as "a very readable novel."

"Anne Enright has written a powerful, uncomfortable and, at times, angry book. 'The Gathering' is an unflinching look at a grieving family in tough and striking language," ...

Jonathan Ruppin of British bookstore Foyles called the judges' choice "a welcome boost for serious literature."

"Not everyone will be comfortable with this bleak account of conflict and despair, but the writing is undeniably exquisite," he said.

Hmmmm. I like non-serious literature. However, in an attempt to shore up my literary chops, I'm about to head over to Borders to get the new translation of War and Peace. And, no, I've never read that either - with the exception of Oblomov, I've never made it through a Russian novel.