The most boring title for a novel?
The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders, &c. Who was Born in Newgate, and during a Life of continu’d Variety for Threescore Years, besides her Childhood, was Twelve Year a Whore, five times a Wife (whereof once to her own Brother), Twelve Year a Thief, Eight Year a Transported Felon in Virginia, at last grew Rich, liv’d Honest, and died a Penitent. Written from her own Memorandums.
Attributed to Daniel Defoe and subsequently abbreviated for the movie version to Moll Flanders.
Noel Bird, Boreen Point, Queensland, Australia
• The Hole Driller.
Joan Dawson, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• A Small Town in Germany didn’t win me over, and it remains the sole book by John Le Carré that I’ve tackled. Marina Lewycka’s A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian sounded so tedious that it couldn’t possibly be. It certainly wasn’t. Perhaps the same could be true of the immensely dull-sounding Something Happened by Joseph Heller – I must try it!
John Ansell, Thame, UK
• Dust, by Martha Grimes (a New York Times bestseller!)
RM Fransson, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, US
Sisyphus wouldn’t have
Why is it easier to pull a load uphill than to push it?
Because there is more friction against motion if you push rather than pull.
Ursula Nixon, Bodalla, NSW, Australia
• Because pushing it is the preserve of Sisyphus.
R De Braganza, Kilifi, Kenya
• Because your biceps are bigger than your triceps.
Jane Perry, Wellington, New Zealand
• Because pulling your weight makes for a lighter load.
Richard Orlando, Westmount, Quebec, Canada
• Depending on the load, hill and means of haulage, it may not in fact be easier.
Lawrie Bradly, Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia
Honesty is the best policy
Which advice should you take with a pinch of salt?
That throwing sodium chloride over your shoulder brings luck.
Warwick Murray, Wellington, New Zealand
• All except the advice you give to yourself.
Diane Doles, Seattle, Washington, US
• Any that’s hard to swallow.
Mac Bradden, Port Hope, Ontario, Canada
• Always tell the truth and you will have nothing to fear.
Paul Wentworth, Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
• You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs.
John Caryl, Orillia, Ontario, Canada
You can just take a hike
What do we do when we can’t charge the battery?
Take public transit. Better still, walk or ride a bicycle. It’s much healthier.
Reiner Jaakson, Oakville, Ontario, Canada
• Call in the Light Brigade.
Paul Broady, Christchurch, New Zealand
• We use our charge card.
Kevin Prince, Trieste, Italy
• Light a candle!
Doreen Forney, Pownal, Vermont, US
• Either call the AA or the shrink.
Philip Stigger, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Any answers?
What would the role of Renaissance man entail nowadays?
RM Fransson, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, US
Why do we have rituals?
Ned Edmonds, New York City, New York, US
Send answers and more questions to weekly.nandq@theguardian.com
