U.S. writers too insular, ignorant

Originally posted by ChronicLeaky
The problem isn't insularity. The problem is that the best widely-known American writer just killed himself.

Yes, you're only supposed to do that after you're awarded the prize.

So that's two great American writers taking early retirement this year -- David Foster Wallace and Thomas Disch. Something in the air?

No problem. We got the chemistry prize.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081008/ap_on_sc/eu_sweden_nobel_chemistry

Originally posted by darvlay
DOGME, with an 'e'.

I won't dog you, even if you say pretty please.

Originally posted by Seitse
Oh, I didn't know that. It's my fav from von Trier, actually. Still makes me cry.

I foresee you and me having a fight over The Idiots, though.

Have you seen "The Element of Crime"? That's my favorite von Trier film.

Originally posted by der schwarze Ritter
Have you seen "The Element of Crime"? That's my favorite von Trier film.

Not I haven't. But if you recommend it then it's my next rental video!

Originally posted by ChronicLeaky
The problem is that the best widely-known American writer just killed himself.

I like a bunch of American authors: Don DeLillo, Thomas Pynchon, Cormac McCarthy, Paul Auster, Chuck Palahniuk.

These guys are all rather well-known, no? Are you just implying that they are not as good as Wallace?

Originally posted by darvlay
I like a bunch of American authors: Don DeLillo, Thomas Pynchon, Cormac McCarthy, Paul Auster, Chuck Palahniuk.

These guys are all rather well-known, no? Are you just implying that they are not as good as Wallace?

Hey, Darv, what's the name of the crime fiction writer you mentioned the other day?

Originally posted by Seitse
Hey, Darv, what's the name of the crime fiction writer you mentioned the other day?

James Ellroy?

Originally posted by darvlay
James Ellroy?

Yes!

I want to take a dive into it. What do you recommend?

Originally posted by Seitse
Yes!

I want to take a dive into it. What do you recommend?

American Tabloid. One of my favourite novels. It might take you a bit to get used to Ellroy's staccato style but I enjoyed it immensely. It gives it that real dark noir feeling.

Originally posted by darvlay
American Tabloid. One of my favourite novels. It might take you a bit to get used to Ellroy's staccato style but I enjoyed it immensely. It gives it that real dark noir feeling.

Sweet, sounds great!

Thanks, man. I'll order it in my next amazon basket*

* I gather 5 or 6 books in my wish list and purchase them together, to save on shipping. In this turn I have only Malcom X's bio and Pessoa's the book of disquiet (Bosse's rec), so I could very well put Ellroy. Any other you may have it's very welcome!

Originally posted by Seitse
Any other you may have it's very welcome!

I've been reading a lot of Martin Amis lately. Very cool author with a great narrative style

Time's Arrow and Money were both excellent books. Money, especially.

By the way, I don't know if you saw my post but I found a copy of "Hopscotch", which you recommended, at my local bookstore and bought it for the discount price of $8.

I haven't dove into it yet but I read the first few, I guess introductory pages they were, and it sounds incredible. It's next on the list!

Originally posted by Seitse
Pessoa's the book of disquiet (Bosse's rec)

Best Portuguese book EVAH!~

Originally posted by darvlay
I've been reading a lot of Martin Amis lately. Very cool author with a great narrative style

Time's Arrow and Money were both excellent books. Money, especially.

Martin Amis is excellent. He's one of those authors (IMO) who writes such beautifully crafted sentences that you're just humbled by his talent. Really enjoyed 'Money'. I'm currently listening to the 'London Fields' audiobook.

I also really like Kingsley Amis, Martin's father. Not quite the wordsmith that Martin is, but probably a better storyteller.