Now Augie March, was: TRP-related (by me at least)..from a review

[Carvill, John]

<< there was just an article in the London Review of Books about Yemen, a very small and very complicated place via its relations with British colonialism, Saudi interference, Egyptian hubris, etc etc. so, Tom Friedman of the Times flies in for a few days, talks to a few people and bam he's home writing articles like he knows the place inside and out, and that's what most people will think fo the place, a haven for Al Qaeda in Arabia because of that stupid dickhead with the underwear. Joe Lieberman thinks we should invade, god knows what they're saying on Fox News. (no doubt Saul Bellow would agree if he was among the living)
My point is that's the promise of America for many--ignorant, self-satisfied, afraid, self-righteous, think they know everything by talking to a few people over there. >>

All true. I remember reading 'Ravelstein' and enjoying the book but feeling shocked at the hypocrisy - all those discussions about the 'meathook' people, from public intellectuals who supported Reagan and the atrocities he committed in South America etc.....

Bellow's politics were exceedingly unpleasant, there's no disputing that. I like (some of) his books, and short stories, despite all that.

<< I couldn't even finish Augie March.  I lost interest when
he left Chicago, and quit reading when he started training that
eagle... >>

Heh. I wouldn't go that far, but yeah, the eagle stuff was a bit longueurish.

Still, whatever you think of the latter segments of the book, that can't detract from the fantastic opening sections.