Heh. This is my favorite comment from the LKH wank:

When I see a professional author spell like that, it makes me think that I might have a chance at getting published.

But, when I see a professional author wank like that, I realize I've got such a long way to go.

Anybody here ever read any Colm Toibin?

I've read (and loved) The Blackwater Lightship. But I don't understand the question about underlying notions.

I'm just curious about what Toibin's shtick is. I'm almost halfway through the novel now, and I don't have any idea where he's headed.

Well, I mean, Henry James is not going to whip out a maxim gun and mow down English society, but, I got the book as a gift and don't have any context for the author. Which is disconcerting.

Well, blackwater Lightship is a beautifully written and observed study of the dynamics and emotions of an Irish family over a particularly stressful week. not muc happens, but his dissection of character is incredible. Toibin is one of Ireland's top literary writers, I think; he's got a few Booker noms, and many people think the master was robbed this year.

Thanks, Jim. Further along in the novel, I'm coming to see that it's primarily about "this life experience got transmogrified into that character in a novel," and also about how to keep one's mouth shut when one is being invited to participate in rudeness. Of which much, and much gossip about Oscar Wilde's trial.

Also, Oliver Wendell Holmes and his war trauma.

Nooo! Don’t take away the arduer Privaledges ! Hee hee hee. Comedy gold! I can just see LKH and Anne Rice sitting together and complaining about their ungrateful fans.

Perhaps dissatisfied fans should change tactics to exploit her darned contrary nature, and start complaining about the well-thought-out plots and believable characterizations that they hope she'll drop.

Wrod.

Apparently Anne Rice's newest project is a life of Jesus.

Oh, dear lord, no.

Yes. [link]

Pretty sure that's one of the signs of the end times.