I hate navel-gazing fiction. I like fiction that places its characters and themes within the context of a living, breathing world. With that in mind, I suggest you read this non-fiction article regarding our current financial crisis by Mr. Liar's Poker, Michael Lewis. After you are done, ask yourself why American writers aren't creating great "of this age" novels based on the people, events and lives here and now.
http://www.portfolio.com/news-markets/national-news/portfolio/2008/11/11/The-End-of-Wall-Streets-Boom#page9
That Nobel Prize person from Sweden was right. Our novelists are self-absorbed pussies.
2 comments:
I hate to get all factual on ya, but again, the Nobel Prize dude accused American authors of being exactly what you castigate them for not being- fixated on their own culture. Hell, he would have loved nazel-gazers, determined as they are to represent themselves as universal in their suffering. His attack was on American authors' fixation on ephemeral culture, which is what you want them to focus on.
Again, Tom Wolfe agrees with you completely and has written three novels as you demand. Read them and report back- one is even about coed sex- it's running wild, they say
great article; lewis is the opposite of gladwell--smart, curious, and a good writer.
is this the revolution? why are there no dead rich people lying in my street with their heads scalped? where's glanton and the judge?
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