Best Novel of 2004

[Paul Mackin]

Richard Romeo wrote:

>In a way, yes but McElroy is far more optimistic in outlook vis-a-vis
>science and technology--he's way more interested in the way things
>work--his plots make DeLillo's look quite pale in comparison but
>DeLillo, on the level of the sentence, is a lot more intriguing
>stylistically (IMHO).
>
>I have tried to read some of McElroy's other books and haven't finished
>any of them (hard to get excited over a novel titled Actress in the
>House)
>  
>

Odd how reactions vary. I was intrigued by the title.  In spite of its 
difficulty Actress in the House seemed to me quite worth the effort.

In addition to what malign mentioned (The Plot Against America and Heir 
to the Glimmering World), which incidentally were each in very creative 
and distinctive ways "Holocaust novels,"  I also enjoyed The Line of 
Beauty, at heart but entirely unobrusively an "AIDS novel."   I tend to 
be put off by "topicality" but this year was an exception. (perhaps 
neither subject is that topical anymore or more likely these authors are 
better)

Also read  Colm Toibin's The Master, which  inspired me in turn to pick 
up The Wings of the Dove (half way through). The copy available was an 
old Modern Library edition. Forgotten how bad the printing was in that 
long ago invaluable series.  Also had forgotten what late Henry James 
was like.

Ain't novel reading a great activity.  Takes you away from Bush for 
hours at a time.

 

>Ratners Star is probably the closest DeLillo has come to writing a
>McElroy-type novel
>
>Richard 
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-pynchon-l at waste.org [mailto:owner-pynchon-l at waste.org] On
>Behalf Of Mark A. Douglas
>Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2004 6:29 PM
>To: 'Pynchon-L'
>Subject: RE: Best Novel of 2004
>
>I will continue to say that McElroy's closest descendant is DeLillo,
>DeLillo
>being a poor man's version of McElroy.  
>
>Peace
>
>Mark
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-pynchon-l at waste.org [mailto:owner-pynchon-l at waste.org] On
>Behalf
>Of Richard Romeo
>Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2004 11:33 AM
>To: Malignd; pynchon-l at waste.org
>Subject: RE: Best Novel of 2004
>
>One more note on mcelroy:  I think his closest descendant is probably
>Richard Powers
>
>Richard 
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-pynchon-l at waste.org [mailto:owner-pynchon-l at waste.org] On
>Behalf Of Malignd
>Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2004 12:29 PM
>To: pynchon-l at waste.org
>Subject: RE: Best Novel of 2004
>
><<Funny, I've read my share of fiction this year and
>can't seem to remember any of it being memorable or
>noteworthy ...>>
>
>Not a great year for fiction.  The Plot Against
>America was probably the best thing I read;
>second-tier Roth, but still better than most else.
>
>Heir to the Glimmering World by Cynthia Ozick is
>probably worth reading, although I haven't, yet.
>
>
>
>
>		
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