Comments on: Writers Pick Their Favorite Books http://upperfortstewart.com/hankerings/tips-for-the-top-the-very-top/ Somewhat Amusing Ideas About Reading Books Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:19:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Ian http://upperfortstewart.com/hankerings/tips-for-the-top-the-very-top/#comment-84 Ian Tue, 23 Jan 2007 04:27:00 +0000 http://upperfortstewart.com/?p=40#comment-84 Yeah, that picture kind of surprised me too. Yeah, that picture kind of surprised me too.

]]> By: Imani http://upperfortstewart.com/hankerings/tips-for-the-top-the-very-top/#comment-85 Imani Tue, 23 Jan 2007 04:19:00 +0000 http://upperfortstewart.com/?p=40#comment-85 Well, it's just that the Times writer seemed to think something really great was happening. If they just covered the book in a pretty pink dust jacket and presented it as what it is I wouldn't be so annoyed.<br /><br />That Tom Wolfe picture looks like it belongs on match.com or something. Well, it’s just that the Times writer seemed to think something really great was happening. If they just covered the book in a pretty pink dust jacket and presented it as what it is I wouldn’t be so annoyed.

That Tom Wolfe picture looks like it belongs on match.com or something.

]]> By: Elliot http://upperfortstewart.com/hankerings/tips-for-the-top-the-very-top/#comment-86 Elliot Tue, 23 Jan 2007 00:48:00 +0000 http://upperfortstewart.com/?p=40#comment-86 LOL.<br /><br />I *can* imagine it in the discount bin, yeah.<br /><br />Ok, so maybe it's pretty pop after all. I just wanted to use the phrase "pretentious lit-crit wankery" in sentence. LOL.

I *can* imagine it in the discount bin, yeah.

Ok, so maybe it’s pretty pop after all. I just wanted to use the phrase “pretentious lit-crit wankery” in sentence.

]]> By: Ian http://upperfortstewart.com/hankerings/tips-for-the-top-the-very-top/#comment-87 Ian Mon, 22 Jan 2007 22:45:00 +0000 http://upperfortstewart.com/?p=40#comment-87 Don't get too down on subjectivity it's not entirely hopeless.<br /><br />As for pretensions, look at the list of authors: Alexander McCall Smith, Michael Chabon, Stephen King, David Foster Wallace, Tom Wolfe. It looks pretty pop if you ask me. I'll agree with you on the lowest common denominator concern but I think one would read <i>Top Ten</i> for mostly entertainment first. No one would really consider that list definitive. Would they?<br /><br />Don't worry <i>Top Ten</i>, you future 90% discount, I got your back. Don’t get too down on subjectivity it’s not entirely hopeless.

As for pretensions, look at the list of authors: Alexander McCall Smith, Michael Chabon, Stephen King, David Foster Wallace, Tom Wolfe. It looks pretty pop if you ask me. I’ll agree with you on the lowest common denominator concern but I think one would read Top Ten for mostly entertainment first. No one would really consider that list definitive. Would they?

Don’t worry Top Ten, you future 90% discount, I got your back.

]]> By: Elliot http://upperfortstewart.com/hankerings/tips-for-the-top-the-very-top/#comment-88 Elliot Mon, 22 Jan 2007 22:13:00 +0000 http://upperfortstewart.com/?p=40#comment-88 Not that the books on the TIME list aren't greats. (I don't think "The Canon" is valueless, just that it's too limited.) But what you're also getting is the lowest-common-denominator based on commonalities in the schooling, upbringing, cultural backgrounds, etc, of the authors interviewed. Not that the books on the TIME list aren’t greats. (I don’t think “The Canon” is valueless, just that it’s too limited.) But what you’re also getting is the lowest-common-denominator based on commonalities in the schooling, upbringing, cultural backgrounds, etc, of the authors interviewed.

]]> By: Elliot http://upperfortstewart.com/hankerings/tips-for-the-top-the-very-top/#comment-89 Elliot Mon, 22 Jan 2007 22:09:00 +0000 http://upperfortstewart.com/?p=40#comment-89 Lists like that are hopelessly subjective. It's just an exercise in pretentious lit-crit wankery. Lists like that are hopelessly subjective. It’s just an exercise in pretentious lit-crit wankery.

]]> By: Ian http://upperfortstewart.com/hankerings/tips-for-the-top-the-very-top/#comment-90 Ian Mon, 22 Jan 2007 21:12:00 +0000 http://upperfortstewart.com/?p=40#comment-90 Not so seriously: Are you suggesting that Euro-American authors, over 35, or better yet, dead, are not the most awesomest writers ever?<br /><br />More seriously: I guess it might be better if they said western canon. I'm always so insensitive about these things. I have enough trouble constructing my own sentences never mind deconstructing someone else's. Not so seriously: Are you suggesting that Euro-American authors, over 35, or better yet, dead, are not the most awesomest writers ever?

More seriously: I guess it might be better if they said western canon. I’m always so insensitive about these things. I have enough trouble constructing my own sentences never mind deconstructing someone else’s.

]]> By: Imani http://upperfortstewart.com/hankerings/tips-for-the-top-the-very-top/#comment-91 Imani Mon, 22 Jan 2007 17:44:00 +0000 http://upperfortstewart.com/?p=40#comment-91 It's "insanely rigorous" to ask a bunch of white men, with few below the age of 35 I bet, who are all *ahem* "big-name authors" (whatever the fuck that means), no doubt all residing in the US and Europe, their top ten lists to come up with a "greatest books of all time"?<br /><br />"International canon"? That's because a list had Borges, right?<br /><br />Why does "Time Magazine" still exist. Sigh.<br /><br />_______<br /><br /><br />Right, favourite books list. Too hard. I don't think my list would be static either. I have a list of albums, poems and books on my blog's "About" page but I tinker with them ever so often. It’s “insanely rigorous” to ask a bunch of white men, with few below the age of 35 I bet, who are all *ahem* “big-name authors” (whatever the fuck that means), no doubt all residing in the US and Europe, their top ten lists to come up with a “greatest books of all time”?

“International canon”? That’s because a list had Borges, right?

Why does “Time Magazine” still exist. Sigh.

_______

Right, favourite books list. Too hard. I don’t think my list would be static either. I have a list of albums, poems and books on my blog’s “About” page but I tinker with them ever so often.

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