We’ve been reading too much frivolous lady fiction around here, so we had to make time to read a Serious Book by an Important White Man. Our guest Amy used her human skills of persuasion to get us to read Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan, Finally, someone has dared to ask the questions: what if robots could have emotions and also working penises and also what if the UK had lost the Falklands War?

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “Archana and Chandni” by Iona Datt Sharma

“Ian McEwan: ‘Who’s Going to Write the Algorithm for the Little White Lie?'” by Tim Adams

“In McEwan’s Latest, The ‘Machine’ Is Too Much Like You” by Heller McCalpin

Candy Pairing:  Amy says Fry’s Turkish Delight, Kait says a potato battery, Renata says Mystery Airheads.

Coming up next: American Royals by Katharine McGee.

* Worst Bestsellers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)