Leonard Michaels Uber Alles!
Monday, August 13th by ShaneIf you don’t believe that, you haven’t seen this article from The Millions talking about Michaels‘ brilliant style in his tragic book Sylvia while also once again lamenting the deceased author’s lack of popularity. I haven’t read anything by the guy, but after this article I think I’ll be heading to my local bookstore.
Another talented soul is James Wood, but his gift is more in hating books than writing them. Considered by some to be the best literary critic in the business, Wood has just moved from The New Republic to The New Yorker, and The New Republic isn’t very excited about it. In this N.Y. Times article, there is only one quote from Leon Wieseltier, literary editor for The New Republic, but it’s not pretty. Stay tuned to see if Wieseltier slashes David Remnick’s tires.
The Complete Review picks apart Andrew Baruch Wachtel’s Remaining Relevant After Communism, and it looks as though Wachtel has put together an interesting and thorough take on authors dealing with life in a new political and social atmosphere. The most interesting (and sad) part is now that Eastern European writers aren’t behind the wall of an oppressive government, most U.S. publishers couldn’t care less about what they have to say.
And The Guardian wants you to know that no one wants to publish your book because you’re an awful writer. Well, that’s not exactly what they’re saying, but an employee of a major publisher is happy to tell you that 50 years ago no one probably would’ve published your book either, so stop complaining. Ok, what they’re actually saying is that there was no “golden age” of publishing and that publishers have always just wanted to sell good books. Why they keep ignoring your Siamese triplet crimefighters book I have no idea.
December 30th, 2007 at 1:08 am
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[…] addition to Smith, many American lit bloggers (eNotes Bookblog, Wet Asphalt, Black Garterbelt , Return of the Reluctant, Comparative Reading ) took exception to […]
January 15th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
[…] addition to Smith, many American lit bloggers (eNotes Bookblog, Wet Asphalt, Black Garterbelt , Return of the Reluctant, Comparative Reading ) took exception to […]