BEST AUTHOR BEST : JOHN DARNIELLE [ PART 2 ]

The musician and novelist sets out reading goals - '' only books in translation '' but enjoys  '' transgressing when something juicy turns up.''

.-  What's your favorite book no one else has heard of ?

Paola Drigo's novel '' Maria Zeff '' is flat-out incredible. Everybody should read it.

.-  What's the most interesting thing you learned from a book recently?

That Edith Sitwell was a prude, which I learned reading '' Swinburne : A Selection,'' which she edited.

.-  How do you decide what to read next? Does it depend on mood or do you plot in advance?

One year I did '' only books by women,'' and another year I did '' only books by translation.''

I like coming up with a direction and following that, and then transgressing when something juicy turns up.

.-  What's the last great book you read ?

I struggle with '' great, '' as '' interesting '' is more my priority, but when I read Wolfgang Hilbig's '' Under the Neomoon '' last month, I was bouncing all around the house.

.-  What book might people be surprised to find on your shelves?

Maybe this copy of '' A Grammar of Middle Welsh,'' which was given to me by a friend who thought, rightly, that I would be pleased to have a book like it on my shelf.

.-  You're organising a literary dinner party. Which three writers, dead or alive, do you invite?

I have been reading this column for years and now the moment is upon me to actually decide who will be at this party. I avoid parties! 

It's a hard question! Is this question about keeping good company, or good conversation? Or fireworks?

A lot of the books I read are not so much fun, but dinner parties are supposed to be fun.

I need Louise Erdrich there because I think she is wonderful and seems like great company.

I want Marie NDiaye there because her work is so singular. And because I don't want to just prioritize the 20th and 21st centuries, I'm bringing Francois Villon, who will bring the party to the party.

The World Students Society thanks Scott Heller.