Tracking the ever-elusive Great American Novel

[jbor at bigpond.com]

Henry, you asserted that Toni Morrison was ignorant of the fact that 
the Venus de Milo originally had arms. You were adamant that was 
exactly what you heard her saying in the radio interview, and it was 
the sole basis of your criticisms that she was "ignorant", "ignorant of 
art history", and "miseducating and misdirecting the emotions of 
thousands of people" (the latter two statements offlist to me). Like I 
said to you initially when you got all riled up for being called on it, 
the ignorance you demonstrated in calling her "ignorant" on that basis 
was sufficient provocation to respond.

Just take a step back for a moment and consider how much your 
anti-feminist anger blinded you to common sense. Apparently it never 
occurred to you how unlikely it is that a public gaffe of that 
magnitude, from a Nobel Prize laureate and friend of Oprah no less, 
wouldn't have rated a mention somewhere in the media. And apparently 
you didn't find it odd that the interviewer didn't realise either that 
the Venus de Milo originally had arms. Or what, you thought you were 
the only listener, the only one paying attention, that she was speaking 
*only to you*? Good grief.

Maybe there is something to be said regarding Morrison's thoughts on 
the Venus de Milo, and, like I wrote, it'd be good to know what those 
thoughts actually were, not some blatant redneck misrepresentation of 
them.

$50 to waste, bud. Whenever you're ready.

best