Because everyone loves the books authors like.

[gildedcentury.livejournal.com]

Comments

[pikkewyntjie.livejournal.com]

This does have pretenious and elitist air. It's like, "You're too much of a dolt to select books on your own. Let people who know what they're doing picks books for you."

I'll bet Carl Van Doren is related to Charles Van Doren, the guy from the big quiz show scandal.