tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329706.post5476385838433849392..comments2024-03-21T12:51:21.667-04:00Comments on Whisky Prajer: The Road by Cormac McCarthydpreimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09905531259256800022noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329706.post-64770291785382053552007-06-21T10:33:00.000-04:002007-06-21T10:33:00.000-04:00I won't be buying or reading it. I think In The Sk...I won't be buying or reading it. I think <I><A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/Skin-Lion-Michael-Ondaatje/dp/0679772669/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-6001312-2770249?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182436207&sr=8-1" REL="nofollow">In The Skin Of A Lion</A></I> is probably Ondaatje's best novel. After that, his fiction becomes increasingly refractive. He's said he's impatient with how little "growth" there's been in the modern novel, which is a sentiment that generally arouses my suspicion for M. Blowhardian reasons. Ondaatje writes evocatively enough to keep a reader charmed, but I think what I typically want from a novelist is a point of view I can argue with, and Ondaatje's approach is too amorphous for argument.Whisky Prajerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14076228013022881173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329706.post-77703284691325413292007-06-21T09:14:00.000-04:002007-06-21T09:14:00.000-04:00Dear Reviewer Sir,I'm tempted, but not enough, to ...Dear Reviewer Sir,<BR/>I'm tempted, but not enough, to pick up Michael Ondaatje's latest, <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/Divisadero-Michael-Ondaatje/dp/0307266354/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-1177794-6817510?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182431037&sr=1-1" REL="nofollow">Divisadero</A>. Other less renowned reviewers like the <A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com/pages/books/" REL="nofollow">NYT </A> and the<A HREF="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07154/790576-148.stm" REL="nofollow">Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</A> insinuate that a once through is insufficient. It will take multiple readings, perhaps even reading it backwards, at least once, to fully comprehend the story, the craft, the essence of the book.<BR/><BR/>I was wondering....since you sound as if you're still laid up, are you considering reading (and re-reading) <B>and</B> reviewing this book?<BR/><BR/>Just wondering, before I put my very devaluated American dollars down for this new tome. ThanksDarkoVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11572734667248592785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329706.post-42527685642580730452007-06-20T08:04:00.000-04:002007-06-20T08:04:00.000-04:00Wow!What a reading fiend. WP, you're shedding a n...Wow!<BR/>What a reading fiend. <B>WP</B>, you're shedding a new light for me on book reviewers. I could never figure out how they read so many books and then spent oodles of time writing about them. What possessed them?<BR/><BR/>Well, it seems the answer is a high fever, bedsores, and put-off medical care. If I happen to bump into any book reviewers in public, I'll be sure to spray myself with Lysol....unless, of course, I want to read 10 books in 10 days.<BR/><BR/>Hope you're feeling better and, yes, I've been enjoying your reviews immensely. You've got an inner curmudgeon that's been delightful to see.DarkoVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11572734667248592785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329706.post-23921230731354719302007-06-19T12:32:00.000-04:002007-06-19T12:32:00.000-04:00CP - it was effectively nightmarish. I'm not sure ...<B>CP</B> - it <I>was</I> effectively nightmarish. I'm not sure if McCarthy is the first to paint a post-catastrophe world in which a few grizzly humans are the only animal life left alive, but he was certainly was convincing in his portrait. Very sad, and very cold.<BR/><BR/><B>jim</B> - no sweat, man. You've got <A HREF="http://www.metacritic.com/books/authors/mccarthycormac/road?q=road" REL="nofollow">plenty of company</A> in your team.Whisky Prajerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14076228013022881173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329706.post-26909132316947123052007-06-19T11:13:00.000-04:002007-06-19T11:13:00.000-04:00Hey, you know I love you two, but you could not be...Hey, you know I love you two, but you could not be more wrong about The Road.<BR/><BR/>I'll leave it at that since I'm not about to troll as fine a writer as you Whisky, and that goes for CP too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329706.post-86614544076076297392007-06-19T10:56:00.000-04:002007-06-19T10:56:00.000-04:00By george, I think you've nailed what I couldn't p...By george, I think you've nailed what I couldn't put my own ball-peen on (as my mother always calls 'em "ball ping")<BR/><BR/>McCarthy has bought into his own fame with "The Road". Since when did he need to conk us over the head with in-your-face shock jock antics?<BR/><BR/>Everyone loses when someone like McCarthy goes "hollywood".<BR/><BR/>Still, the book certainly gave me a nightmare or two. As a school child of the 60's, I remember being terrified during our duck and cover drills (those dirty Russians/Cubans/black-hat wearers can't hurt <I>us</I> when we are all nicely lined up in the hallway tucked head to butt with our hands folded over our heads doncha know) that I wouldn't be able to find my mother should the "big one" actually happen. The fear would knot up in my stomach and I would have a mini panic attack complete with a few tears. <BR/><BR/>"The Road" brought back that childhood fear quite nicely.Cowtown Pattiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07384649567351202679noreply@blogger.com