I've read a couple of Lethem's novels, and definitely liked the more real-world ones much much better than the more fantastic stuff. But I'm seriously almost as low-brow as a person can get and not get all of her books at the drug store. Some of the short stories in this collection (Men and Cartoons) feel like mostly playing with an idea, but in a way that I can enjoy.
Wesley: Perhaps the whole point of this experiment is hair. Gunn: I vote he's not in charge.
'The Cautionary Tale of Numero Cinco'
We're Literary 2: To Read Makes Our Speaking English Good
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
Jesse - Dec 29, 2005 10:43:52 am PST #9712 of 10002
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.
Strega - Dec 29, 2005 10:53:00 am PST #9713 of 10002
Girl in Landscape is a western in space, if you're into that sort of thing.
In a "Little House on Altair" way.
Nutty - Dec 29, 2005 10:55:11 am PST #9714 of 10002
"Mister Spock is on his fanny, sir. Reports heavy damage."
The weird part is trying to compare Eggers with Lethem at all -- in so many ways, they are nothing alike. And then you realize that they are grouped together, in a lot of people's minds, as are ten other names that show up in McSweeney's and the Georgia Review and Zoetrope. Really, though, I think they all have their own tangents, and are compared so often because they're both youngish writers who have cracked the New Yorker set.
Which is like comparing people because they stand on the same commuter platform in the morning, waiting for a train. I guess it's a function of how small the short-fiction world is, in part; if five people are all dabbling in the same vague areas, they must be a Movement.
Jesse - Dec 29, 2005 10:56:32 am PST #9715 of 10002
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.
Really, though, I think they all have their own tangents, and are compared so often because they're both youngish writers who have cracked the New Yorker set.
Well, and for me because I was given books by both of them on the same day. Edit: And I don't tend to read short stories, so I'm especially noticing them.
erikaj - Dec 29, 2005 10:59:01 am PST #9716 of 10002
Always Anti-fascist!
I found 'Cartoons" a little masturbatory.(not in porniness, but, you know) Yeah...Eggers is funny, but the bitch is he knows it, too. Better than me. And if I forget, he'll remind me with a cute footnote.
- I'm a hoot and a half. Love, your friend, Dave.
victor infante - Jan 03, 2006 4:32:51 am PST #9717 of 10002
To understand what happened at the diner, we shall use Mr. Papaya! This is upsetting because he's the friendliest of fruits.
My newest column is up at GotPoetry.com: Your Mediocre Political Poem Is Hurting America. Usual Victor grumpiness.
erikaj - Jan 03, 2006 4:44:48 am PST #9718 of 10002
Always Anti-fascist!
No, actually, I thought it was much grumpier than usual. In another few years, you're headed for curmudgeon, babe. Then you'll wear shorts with long black socks and be a "Whatever happened to..." for some of us devoted followers.
victor infante - Jan 03, 2006 4:49:12 am PST #9719 of 10002
To understand what happened at the diner, we shall use Mr. Papaya! This is upsetting because he's the friendliest of fruits.
Heh. Actually posted this in the wrong forum, but anyway...
You may be right, except that I intend to remain a very visible curmudgeon...
erikaj - Jan 03, 2006 4:53:03 am PST #9720 of 10002
Always Anti-fascist!
And please don't really go around like...Neil Young. That would be a waste.(I really did like the column...I just thought "Whoa, bad poetry evening for Victor!")
Aims - Jan 03, 2006 8:38:40 pm PST #9721 of 10002
Shit's all sorts of different now.
I've just finished reading Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire.
I had a hard tme getting through Wicked. I don't care for his story telling style; He's a bit too developed for my shallow readingness. But this story, I really liked. There were a couple of things that could have been delved into a little more, and maybe I dug this more because the similarities between the Oz 10 years after Elphaba's death and our country are very much, almost beaten into you. But I enjoyed it. Enough that I might try Wicked again.
Anyone else read it yet?