Comments on: The Great American Novel http://www.pzed.ca/words/2006/08/18/the-great-american-novel/ what do you read, m'lord? Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:35:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: jodi http://www.pzed.ca/words/2006/08/18/the-great-american-novel/comment-page-1/#comment-290 jodi Fri, 18 Aug 2006 22:46:39 +0000 http://www.pzed.ca/words/archives/2006/the-great-american-novel/#comment-290 Ugh, don't remind me. This is why I've really never paid attention to American literature (other than the true greats who rise above, like Faulkner, Welty and O'Connor). Just can't bring myself to spend my time reading the work of Blandy McBlanderson when there's a whole world outside the US of people who can WRITE. At risk of sounding like an American-basher, what parallels can we draw between Wharton's description of how American novelists write and how many of the people here think? Because a lot of what you've quoted here seems to aptly describe some of the cultural quirks I've had so much difficulty getting accustomed to since coming to the States. Also, these quotes make me want to go home and knock on Alice Munro's door and give her a grateful hug (even though I know she would tell me to bugger off and slam the door in my face). Ugh, don’t remind me. This is why I’ve really never paid attention to American literature (other than the true greats who rise above, like Faulkner, Welty and O’Connor). Just can’t bring myself to spend my time reading the work of Blandy McBlanderson when there’s a whole world outside the US of people who can WRITE.

At risk of sounding like an American-basher, what parallels can we draw between Wharton’s description of how American novelists write and how many of the people here think? Because a lot of what you’ve quoted here seems to aptly describe some of the cultural quirks I’ve had so much difficulty getting accustomed to since coming to the States.

Also, these quotes make me want to go home and knock on Alice Munro’s door and give her a grateful hug (even though I know she would tell me to bugger off and slam the door in my face).

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