Revenge of the bloke

By Ed Biado

So there?s this never-ending talk about how ?he?s just not that into you? and having ?sex in the city? and spilling secrets told by Bridget and the nanny in their diaries. We?ve all heard that ?the devil wears Prada? (and Gucci, and Chanel.?) but have you heard of applying ?brute force?? Have you been caught in ?crossfire? while making your ?to-do list?? Gotcha there, didn?t I? Well, enough about chick lit for a while as it?s time for the guy to have his moment. The Daily 10 presents some testosterone-motivated literary attempts?the lad lits.

1. Riddley Walker (by Russell Hoban)?First published in 1980, this book is basically sci-fi and has won the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for best sci-fi novel. It is set 2000 years after a nuclear war and chronicles the experiences of its lead character and narrator.

2. Brute Force (by Andy McNab)?A story about a guy on the run, this is a fast-paced action novel?the 11th installment of the Nick Stone thriller series. There?s conspiracy, high-speed chases, and all the elements of heart-stopping guy fiction.

3. The Beautiful and the Damned (by F. Scott Fitzgerald)?A gripping morality tale, this unexpectedly makes the lad lit list. It?s one of those love stories that appeals to guys because, well, it?s written from a guy?s point of view.

4. The To-do List (by Mike Gayle)?This non-fiction novel is about the author?s own efforts to complete a 1,277-item to-do list. It?s described by critics as ?brilliantly funny? and the author as the ?male Bridget Jones.?

5. Finding Myself (by Toby Litt)?Set in the English seaside town of Southwold, this comedy talks about love, hate, friendship, and society. Called a ?compelling page-turner? and ?fascinating and dazzling,? this post-modern novel has a female character as its narrator, something unusual for a male-written story.

6. Street Fighter Tribute (illustrated)?A special volume of original illustrations from artists all over the world in commemoration of Street Fighter?s 20th anniversary, this book has 200 new portrayals of the cast.

7. Awaydays (by Kevin Sampson)?The author?s first novel, this 1998 book is about football, first and foremost. But on the sidelines, there?s also commentary on youth unemployment, pop culture in the late ?70s, and drug use. This is one for the serious boys.

8. Slam (Nick Hornby)?The High Fidelity author?s 2007 offering, Slam, is about a 16-year-old skateboarder who has to deal with his girlfriend?s teenage pregnancy. As opposed to Hornby?s recurrent theme of men who act like boys, The New York Times pointed out that this is about a ?boy who is forced to become, very quickly, a man.?

9. Ham on Rye (by Charles Bukowski)?Published in 1982, this is a semi-autobiographical novel about coming of age in Los Angeles during the Great Depression. Critically acclaimed, it explores the anti-hero?s inner conflicts, something that many men (and women) can relate to.

10. The Beach (by Alex Garland)?Yes, this is the same one that became the Leonardo DiCaprio starrer. It?s about backpackers in Thailand and describes the adventures of a guy in search of an undiscovered legendary beach. The movie adaptation is actually a little different from the book, although it tried to be faithful as much as it could.