authors under the influence

[David Morris]

On 10/17/06, Will Layman <WillLayman at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> I agree that the 12-step stuff is often tedious.  Again (and I refer again to THE ART OF EXCESS, which talks about this kind of technique, off-putting as it is), I think that is part of the art of it.   The book grinds on you, kind of saying, You think this is tedious, well that's REALLY what it is, and you can't sentimentalize it.

Pynchon can also be excessive, but his excess is beautiful to read.  I
mean, did GR or MD really NEED to be as long as they are?  But besides
the time they require to read (and their prose is much more DENSE with
content that IJ's) I never feel like I wish he'd stop droning on and
on.

> Read Shakespeare -- I'll join you.  Gonna skip the Faulkner, though.  For me the great Faulkner is a chore rather than a pleasure -- even though he's brilliant.

Faulkner is genius.  He may require a bit of work to follow, but the
payoff is worth every bead of sweat.  If you prefer DFW to Faulner,
then I think our differences are huge.

David Morris