I'm reading 'A heartbreaking work of staggering genius', and being blown away by his wrinting.
Not read it I'm afraid but one of my friends was talking about it just the other day. He said that he found the author too impressed with himself and the book too clever by half but I look forward to making up my own mind as soon as I've read through the pile in my bedroom."I'm reading 'A heartbreaking work of staggering genius', and being blown away by his wrinting."
He said that he found the author too impressed with himself.
but he is about to release his next 'What is the What?' (or something like that) with a central character from the Sudan - it sounds interesting and well worth checking out.
Not read it I'm afraid but one of my friends was talking about it just the other day. He said that he found the author too impressed with himself and the book too clever by half but I look forward to making up my own mind as soon as I've read through the pile in my bedroom.
Ha, funny you should say that about Zadie Smith 'cause I just read On Beauty and quite enjoyed it at the time - afterwards however I kept thinking about how many annoying bits in it there were and the more I think about it the less I like it. You're right, I certainly don't think I'll be reading that again."I classify him with Zadie Smith, and Safran Foer. They are the literary equivalent of junkfood. A fun read, if you like that sort of thing, but its the kind of book you would never want to read a second time because theres nothing worthwhile going on below the surface (IMO)."
I classify him with Zadie Smith, and Safran Foer. They are the literary equivalent of junkfood. A fun read, if you like that sort of thing, but its the kind of book you would never want to read a second time because theres nothing worthwhile going on below the surface (IMO).
Can't let that one slide.
The junk food analogy just does not hold water. You may not like them but they do have literary merit, they are all more tana merely fun reads - Jewish extermination in The Ukraine, post 9/11 trauma in apserger's child, the total decimation of one's family and how you might possibly cope for example are all interesting 'issues'.
And this notion that nothing is going on beneath the surface - just patently not true.
say you don't like them but be fair when you damn stuff
You're right, I certainly don't think I'll be reading that again.
Yeah me three, I really enjoyed reading it and then immediately thought "what was the point?"
in comparison David Foster Wallce in my opinion does circles around Edgars in terms of ambition, wit, vision, bad-boy extremism, show-off literary acrobatics, and just sheer insanity of the mind-fuck factor.
generally like what he does (publishing, compiling, editing, etc) and support the whole Mcsweeny's scene... but that novel is neither heartbreaking, staggering, or genius. but one thing for sure it is, is over rated.
in comparison David Foster Wallce in my opinion does circles around Edgars in terms of ambition, wit, vision, bad-boy extremism, show-off literary acrobatics, and just sheer insanity of the mind-fuck factor.
Souns worth checking out. What would you recommend startnig with? Does anyone know of any writer's groups/ workshops in London?
True enough, I meant that more as an expression of how I felt rather than literally. Pretty much the only times I really re-read a book are if I'm stuck somewhere where I've read anything or else it's a real childhood favourite such as Three Men In a Boat which I must have read a million times."Seriously, though, how many books do we re-read?"