Ughh that movie made me want to take a shower after I watched it.Originally Posted by Sweetstop
Ughh that movie made me want to take a shower after I watched it.
Well, to combine the last two posts, Bleak House is good, but yes, a bit dry at times. But Tale of Two Cities is AMAZING, it's a good introduction to Dickens even though some people claim it to be the most un-dickenslike of Dickens. Flawed, but great. I hated it in high school, picked it up again as an adult, and couldn't believe how good it is. I finished it on a flight, just as it was landing, and was crying so much that the guy next to me flagged down a stewardess to get me tissues.
It's not his best book -- the girl character in particular is like a cardboard cutout -- but it's very emotional and covers a lot of ground. So yes, I think you should read it. Plow through it if it gets tough, because the end is great.
I highly recomend it. Winters also has his own autoboigraphy out. I can't remember the name of the book. It just came out and I just got it. I will read it later this summer or fall and let you all know what it's like.
I pulled out Winters book last night,It's called Beyond Band of Brothers, The memiors of Dick Winters.
Last edited by cumberlandreds; 04-21-2006 at 07:04 AM.
Reds Fan Since 1971
I mostly despise contemporary MFA fiction, but one of the greatest and most underrated books I've ever read is a book called State of Grace by Joy Williams (she's a mad genius and a brilliant teacher, btw--I speak from experience).
“And when finally they sense that some position cannot be sustained, they do not re-examine their ideas. Instead, they simply change the subject.” Jamie Galbraith
Reading the "The Iron Heel" by Jack London. It's London's little-known (buried?) dystopic novel of a future capitalist police-state. The Iron Heel predates Looking Backward, Brave New World and 1984.
Honestly, its not a great novel but still fascinating.
Borges - Collected Fictions.
I have some weird dreams.
I'm currently working on Game of Shadows about the organzied African American baseball.
What is considered contemporary MFA fiction? Anyone who has a masters in fine arts?
are there particular authors that you are thinking of when you say this? Just curious.
School's out. What did you expect?
That comment is pretty reductive, pedro, on my part. Sorry if it offended anyone. I guess I feel I can say it, having graduated from an MFA program. And it mostly applies to the poetry end of things, which I know much, much better than the current fiction scene.
It generally applies to extraordinarily careful, "little" books that eschew difficulty, complexity and most of all earnestness for flippancy, cynicism, and dullness. My wife and I call it "chucklehead" fiction. Too many people think that they're humorous. And they're just not. So they really need to stop trying.
“And when finally they sense that some position cannot be sustained, they do not re-examine their ideas. Instead, they simply change the subject.” Jamie Galbraith
Por ejemplo?
I have a bit of a complex around MFA as well. When I first moved to San Francisco, some girl told me she was moving back to NYC to pursue her MFA. "What's that?", I said. She looked at me like the propeller had just fallen from my beanie.
Padgett Powell, Denis Johnson, and their legion of imitators. (Though, to be fair, Denis Johnson has written some beautiful poems).
Last edited by Falls City Beer; 04-20-2006 at 09:54 PM.
“And when finally they sense that some position cannot be sustained, they do not re-examine their ideas. Instead, they simply change the subject.” Jamie Galbraith
Criticizing MFA fiction from Philadelphia. Is that you King Wenclas?
I agree with what you said, but was surprised you mentioned Denis Johnson (I thought Angels was a pretty great book). I thought you would be talking about the preciousness of McSweeney's and all those followers.
Yes, McSweeney's and their ilk. I just don't like Johnson's little gimmicks in his fiction--he should have stuck with poetry. I understand why people like Johnson's fiction, it just does nothing for me.
But strangely, I really love Stanley Elkins, a proto-chucklehead, but a damn great mind; something about him I trust completely.
King Wenclas? Good one. No, I don't deride the program I went through--there's nothing wrong, in and of themselves, with MFA programs. Not in the least. And I don't begrudge rich folk for being great writers--Merrill was one of the greatest writers of the last 50 years.
Last edited by Falls City Beer; 04-20-2006 at 10:13 PM.
“And when finally they sense that some position cannot be sustained, they do not re-examine their ideas. Instead, they simply change the subject.” Jamie Galbraith
Have you ever read George Saunders? He probably falls right into your chucklehead categorization, but is probably my favorite living writer (at least of short fiction). If you haven't, I would recommend the book Pastoralia and more specifically the story Sea Oak.
In all seriousness, being in Philadelphia do you know of the Underground Literary Alliance? I will refrain from commenting on it just in case.
I've heard of ULA, sure. But I have nothing to do with it? Please don't refrain from commenting.
I've read some George Saunders. He's not odious. There are some fine practitioners of fiction out there, no question. I don't want to leave the impression that I chuck it all out the door. I quite love Kathryn Davis' work.
“And when finally they sense that some position cannot be sustained, they do not re-examine their ideas. Instead, they simply change the subject.” Jamie Galbraith
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