Lost...In Translation

From the 'art imitating art' category (which, by the way, has nothing to do with 'Jeopardy' though you can check out a new blog all about said show via my profile), we find this interesting item. Producers of hit ABC show 'Lost' have admitted that eagle eyed viewers who spotted a copy of obscure Irish novel 'The Third Policeman' did so on purpose - indeed, it was chosen "very specifically for a reason". Flann O'Brien's book has seen an unprecedented spike in sales since the sighting: 10,000 copies were sold in two days and in three weeks, more books were bought than over the previous six years! Those rather "intense" (that's the word Matthew Fox used last night on 'The Daily Show', before you write in to complain) fans are pouring over its pages and pouring seems the apt word: if an Irishman is responsible for the crucial plot twist, then my guess is that alcohol is also involved and the last episode of 'Lost' will show the entire run to have been the product of a pub landlord's dream, following a particularly severe drinking session.

I've actually studied the text as part of a course I took on Irish literature at university (it's the tale of a tender but brief unrequited love affair between a man and his bicycle) and if you're planning to delve into the world of Irish fiction, I would suggest you start with 'The Dubliners', 'John Bull's Other Island' or a night out with my friend Aileen who will provide you with enough source material to write your own novel. That said, don't you think the makers of the show missed a trick here? Wouldn't it have been far more satisfying to send all those 'Lost' aficionados into a spin over James Joyce's 'Ulysses'- a piece of work notable for not originally containing any punctuation whatsoever but plenty of printing errors?!?forasyouknowalackofcommasorfullstopscanmakeforextremelydifficultreading whichisattheveryleastwhatthesepeopledeserve