The flattened American landscape of minor writers

[Carvill John]

Robin wrote:
 
<< Speaking only for myself [while suspecting that this also applies to  
others] us Pynchonites tend to get a tad insular and obsessive—a bit  
too focused on one author to the exclusion of others. It all sounds a  
lot like:>>
 
No, no, no, no, no, no, no!
 
I'm not focusing on Pynchon to the exclusion of anyone. Several of Roth's books have given me great pleasure, and left me in awe of his talent. Same goes for Bellow. I haven't enjoyed Updike as much, though I devoured the Rabbit books and have re-read a couple of them.
 
But I can't let McEwan get away with this:
 
"American letters, deprived in recent years of its giants, Bellow and Mailer, is a levelled plain, with one solitary peak guarded by Roth."
 
Sorry, but to claim that 'American letters', in the wake of Updike's passing, is now dominated by Roth and Roth only at the 'giant' level, is bullshit.
 
 
 
 
 

 
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