liguistic [sic] showoff

[Tim Strzechowski]

Jasper:

> Perhaps Dmitri took David's expression literally when DM wrote "VN is
> nothing if not a liguistic [sic] show-off," which common American
vernacular
> is meant to convey "he's *certainly* a liguistic [sic] show-off," rather
> than "if he's not a liguistic [sic] show-off then he's nothing."  I would
be
> pretty annoyed too if somebody implied my father was either a "showoff" or
> "nothing".
>

Somewhat ridiculously, David Morris suggests that his assessment of VN's
work shouldn't incur the sort of reaction it does from N-listers, and
likewise suggests that N-listers, whom he deems "worshippers" of Nabokov,
are somehow insecure by "bristling" at the mention of anything less than
laudatory toward their author.

Since the beginning of NPPF, I've made numerous visits to the N-List
archives and am again and again impressed by the level of scholarship and
discourse within their forum.  Yes, the presence of a moderator makes for a
somewhat stuffy and near-pedantic tone amongst many of the posts, but they
take their author quite seriously, have an obvious passion for and fluency
with the works of their author, and as a result make for an archive that can
supplement nicely the student, teacher, or reader of Nabokov who wishes to
research the archive's offerings and not be burdened with extraneous,
irrelevant rants. (BTW, if anyone wishes to "bristle" at the comparison of
the two list forums, only remember that it was certain P-listers who chose
to bring the N-list to *us*.)

Similarly, I don't find the oft-repeated "liguistic [sic]" the "childish"
item Mr. Morris would like us to believe.  In his post, Dmitri is making
obvious reference to the paradox of assessing VN's linguistic skills without
attention to one's own, a turn of irony that seems to perhaps escape some
folks. As someone who has lived with, known, and read the author in question
since youth, Dmitri is a far closer and more intimate resource for the study
of N than anyone on the P-list can ever hope for in our own author's
lifetime.  Although it may not seem valid to ALL readers here, methinks
*that*, to a degree, at least deserves respect.

While many of us on the P-list may not adore everything P's written, it's
pretty safe to assume that if someone came into this forum and expressed
"pale admiration" for, say, GR, there would undoubtedly be some cries of
contention in support of the work.  It's quite unfair to dismiss N support
as "worshippers" who "bristle at the slightest criticism of Nabokov";
frankly, I'd be quite surprised if they *didn't* support their author.
Nabokov is the very reason they subscribe to their List.

Supposedly, Pynchon is the reason we're here.

But maybe I'm wrong ...

Respectfully,

Tim Strzechowski