Them’s fighting words.

5 comments on “Them’s fighting words.”

1. Fred says:
   July 6th, 2009 at 11:39 am

   While I can agree with the sentiment of championing the new over the copy-cat — especially when it’s “Patterson” and the like that’s being copied — I hardly think Seth’s new novel and the interest in it are the best examples. A Suitable Boy (which I’ll admit I haven’t read) was a widely popular and award-winning novel. A large advance and print run for the sequel — some sixteen years later — are to be expected, and far from “a reflection of our wasteful, celebrity-driven society.” There’s a lot that’s wrong with publishing, and heaven knows it’s not an industry that’s quick to take genuine risks, but I think it’s unfair to lump Vikram Seth in with this particular argument.

2. Sarah Statz Cords says:
   July 6th, 2009 at 11:45 am

   Fred!
   I was particularly thinking of you when I added the spoiler alert–I had noticed your comment on the Seth post. I agree, I thought it was a strange example to use, particularly when Pattersons and Evanoviches and Browns and all the vampire book copycats are around to pick on.
   But I did love the fighting sentiment. And I really did enjoy the “wasteful, celebrity-driven society” comment. Here in Madison, Wisconsin, we’ve just apicked a book for a “One Read, One City” type deal, and it’s Michael Pollan’s “In Defense of Food,” for which the university is purchasing 7500 copies. Now that to me seems just silly. Why not pick a few lesser known authors and spread the joy around? Maybe ask people to read a couple of shorter books, rather than this very well-known bestseller that’s doing fine on its own and will have no problem finding readers? That’s the sort of thing that makes me nutty bar. And it’s definitely “celebrity-driven.”

3. Fred says:
   July 6th, 2009 at 1:10 pm

   Well, Pollan’s book is relatively short, which may have been a deciding factor, as well as the belief that more people would participate in the program (and read the book) if it was by a popular author — one who, maybe, could even be convinced to put in an appearance. That’s a shame for lesser-known and newer writers, who do need the exposure and sales more, but those are practical concerns I’m sure Madison had to consider. It’s easier to get people excited about a known commodity.

   And there is a difference between cookie-cutter, copycat waste and the merely popular. Both of the Michael Pollan books I’ve read (The Botany of Desire and The Omnivore’s Dilemma) were genuinely really good.

4. miette says:
   July 6th, 2009 at 6:33 pm

   Right– I’ll put two bucks on ‘It’s true there are many worse than Seth to be laying this left hook.’

   And two more on ‘but it’s pretty damned astute and a punch worth throwing, and about time ‘publishing’ cans the excuses already.’

   i’d give a point to Fred vis Pollan, who’s a rare instance of a writer who became popular because he has something to say and says it very well.

   But I also think that paragraph’s hot-t-t, and while I’d let you marry it, I’d absolutely het it drunk and try to grope it in the bar.

5. Sarah Statz Cords says:
   July 6th, 2009 at 9:08 pm

   Fred, Miette,
   I know I’m in the minority on Pollan, but I think he’s pretty average as a writer. I do think he’s very astute as to the subjects he picks and the timing of his books–which actually indicates, I think, that he’s a pretty smart guy. Which is good. But I can’t get past my bias towards the “little” books–those on similar subjects that don’t get as much press–like Thomas Pawlick’s (a good Canadian author) “The End of Food”–which takes a somewhat different tack than Pollan’s but was also, to me, more interesting. Although Madison’s other choice was Thomas Friedman–who demanded something like 75 grand to come give a talk for the program. Yikes. So yes, it could have been much worse than Pollan.

   That is a hot little paragraph, isn’t it, Miette? It cleans up nice. Good luck getting your grope on!

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