The shortlist for the Literary Review’s annual Bad Sex in Literature Award has been released. Below, we’ve linked to free samples of all the books on the list.
Now in its 20th year, the award continues a tradition of “gentle chastisement of the worst excesses of the literary novel.”
Here’s more from the journal: “For a confessional account on Bad Sex judging by Literary Review‘s senior editor Jonathan Beckman, read his piece in the Financial Times. You will also be able to read a more detailed report on this year’s shortlist in Literary Review‘s December / January double issue. For snippets from the shortlist, follow Literary Review‘s twitter account, @lit_review. The tweets are tagged as #LRBadSex2012.”


Free Samples of the 2012 Bad Sex in Literature Shortlist

 The Yips by Nicola Barker
The Adventuress by Nicholas Coleridge
Infrared by Nancy Huston
Rare Earth by Paul Mason
Noughties by Ben Masters
The Quiddity of Will Self by Sam Mills
The Divine Comedy by Craig Raine
Back to Blood by Tom Wolfe

Below, we’ve embedded a video of Jon Beckman, professional huntsman of literary fornication, in action as he scouts for the contest. (Via Michael Orthofer)