Comments on: American Literacy http://www.tuirgin.com/2009/11/12/american-literacy/ My soul in a lobster pot... Sat, 04 Sep 2010 22:37:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Tuirgin http://www.tuirgin.com/2009/11/12/american-literacy/comment-page-1/#comment-380 Tuirgin Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:23:05 +0000 http://www.tuirgin.com/2009/11/12/american-literacy/#comment-380 <p>I think it was clear enough—this particular comment had more to do with your thoughts on Potter, Twilight, and Beck.</p> <p>These are all soap box issues for me, anyway. It doesn't take much to get me mouthing off about them.</p> <p>As for Chesterton and the Penny Dreadfuls, who knows. A considerable amount of our current pulp (and mainstream) has dived into the perverse in an unhealthy way.</p> <p>Liquor sounds interesting. I've only recently learned about Brite and haven't read anything by her, yet. My wife and I are poor foodies, though, so that adds additional interest. And I'm always on the look out for books that both of us might like. She definitely has her books that I won't touch and I have mine which she won't touch, but there is an enjoyable overlap of things we both enjoy.</p> <p>Have you read any of Gregory Maguire? He comes to mind simply because Wicked was one of those overlap books. (The novel, not the musical. The musical took time from my life which I wish I could get back.) I'm not sure how soon I'll try any of his other books, but I did enjoy that one.</p> I think it was clear enough—this particular comment had more to do with your thoughts on Potter, Twilight, and Beck.

These are all soap box issues for me, anyway. It doesn’t take much to get me mouthing off about them.

As for Chesterton and the Penny Dreadfuls, who knows. A considerable amount of our current pulp (and mainstream) has dived into the perverse in an unhealthy way.

Liquor sounds interesting. I’ve only recently learned about Brite and haven’t read anything by her, yet. My wife and I are poor foodies, though, so that adds additional interest. And I’m always on the look out for books that both of us might like. She definitely has her books that I won’t touch and I have mine which she won’t touch, but there is an enjoyable overlap of things we both enjoy.

Have you read any of Gregory Maguire? He comes to mind simply because Wicked was one of those overlap books. (The novel, not the musical. The musical took time from my life which I wish I could get back.) I’m not sure how soon I’ll try any of his other books, but I did enjoy that one.

]]> By: Paul Mathers http://www.tuirgin.com/2009/11/12/american-literacy/comment-page-1/#comment-379 Paul Mathers Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:04:16 +0000 http://www.tuirgin.com/2009/11/12/american-literacy/#comment-379 <p>I would like to be sure I was clear in that Liquor by Poppy Z. Brite is also not exactly high art. It is an exceptionally good novel, but it is a contemporary novel which is to say "an entertainment." Maybe more of an infotainment, but none the less. Part of what I liked about it was that it sent me over and over to Google to see what some obscure dish or ingredient looked like. And that's how I take most of my "fun." I too have a difficult time sitting still for frivolity. I need to walk away with something from leisure time activities or I feel like I probably would have been better off taking a nap. I wonder if Chesterton would include something like Liquor in his penny dreadful category (although time and cultural shifts are too far to tell I'm sure.) I agree and well said. I think people in our culture as I've observed it tend to not take things seriously enough. Life's too short to read bad books.</p> I would like to be sure I was clear in that Liquor by Poppy Z. Brite is also not exactly high art. It is an exceptionally good novel, but it is a contemporary novel which is to say “an entertainment.” Maybe more of an infotainment, but none the less. Part of what I liked about it was that it sent me over and over to Google to see what some obscure dish or ingredient looked like. And that’s how I take most of my “fun.” I too have a difficult time sitting still for frivolity. I need to walk away with something from leisure time activities or I feel like I probably would have been better off taking a nap. I wonder if Chesterton would include something like Liquor in his penny dreadful category (although time and cultural shifts are too far to tell I’m sure.) I agree and well said. I think people in our culture as I’ve observed it tend to not take things seriously enough. Life’s too short to read bad books.

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