I got tired of what Meyers was saying. but I will say that White Noise actually intrigued me. Actually, the real complaint seemed to be that there is a big division between 'literary fiction' and genre fiction. and by using example of what she considers bad and unappealing language to make the point. of course, I never reached any example of great language in genre fiction, because I go tired of the rant...

( and since when is language the only point of judgment for a great literature? story, appeal, brain-shaking, character development - all have places. Language is obviously impt, but there is more to great lit than that)

and since when is language the only point of judgment for a great literature?

Since Joyce? Proust? Eliot? Woolf? Pick an icon of Modernism. Do people even think about Modernism anymore? I'm surprised that people don't get that's when cultural standards were recalibrated. The 19th century got the bum's rush. That was the last revolutionary erasure and it hasn't been eclipsed yet. I mean, you can disagree with it, but that's the default, as taught and understood for a long time now.

Hate him so much, even though he had interesting stories buried in that fucking mess of prose.

Heh. Ple should rewrite LoTR with all the sex and at 25,000 words.

I really don't care about the sex, but the 25,000 words might be a good idea. I had to force myself to slog through the last book. How can gigantic epic battles be so damn boring ?

The end of Elephants = best payoff ever.

Oh, hell yes. I haven't enjoyed a book quite so much in years.

I had to force myself to slog through the last book. How can gigantic epic battles be so damn boring ?

I don't understand you people at all. t hugs her worn-out copies of LotR tightly

cf Raq, if every novel read like Hemingway, I'd never read a book.

Oh, hooray, somebody else who liked Elephants! (high fives Anne). That book made me want to read up more about Elephant Tramps. I'm certain there are many interesting stories in there.

I just finished the Tad Williams Otherland series and...pfft. I got caught up somewhat in the Sam and Orlando story, but not enough. Rennie and !Xabbu were completely and utterly flat. No emotional resonance whatsoever.

I can't believe (except that I totally can, because I'm compulsive like that) I got all the way through it. Grrr. And to think I owe a quarter in overdue fees on it...

I finished the last 200 pages of LIFE OF PI the day before I had to have it read, and I thought the ending was hilarious.