Subject: Re: Oh, well, somebody had to mention it ...
From: Jim Rovira (jrovira@drew.edu)
Date: Mon Nov 12 2001 - 10:42:50 GMT
Right...the point being, of course, that it's not a "given" that a book
is "schmalzy" and "one-dimensional" just because it's on the Oprah list.
The list reflects a pretty wide array of taste, so you can't really make
a judgment about a book simply by its inclusion on the list. The
mistake, then, consists in thinking that being on the Oprah list means
it's a "one-dimensional" book...
I think it's VERY silly to think that just because a book sells well,
it's crap. That's the nonsense that unsuccessful writers tell
themselves when they can't sell their work: "O! The American Reading
Public Only Buys Crap, so I Will Have to Suffer as an Unappreciated
Genius Until Things Change! Woe is Me!"
What a load of hooey :)
Have you ever seen Woody Allen's "Bullets Over Broadway"?
People who say this usually can't write, and can't improve because they
can't accept criticism. I'm sure there's some very good work out there
that's going unpublished because it won't sell in the current publishing
climate, but I suspect that's a minority of unpublished work. Most of
the stuff that doesn't get published is really unentertaining crap, as
opposed to the entertaining crap that does get published.
It's interesting that Franzen, supposedly a writer of literary fiction,
is number 4 on the bestseller list. Literary fiction can sell well,
indeed. Oprah has been praised by the publishing industry by helping
make this happen -- as a result, you see Franzen praising Oprah and
sounding very conflicted while he's refusing to have her sticker on his
cover...
I respect Franzen's choice, though.
Jim
Cecilia Baader wrote:
>
> --- Jim Rovira <jrovira@drew.edu> wrote:
> > I totally understand Franzen's concern, but he'd be in some good company
> > on the Oprah list -- Toni Morrison, Joyce Carol Oates, etc.
>
> >From The New York Times:
> In an interview with Powell's bookstore in Portland, Ore., that was
> reprinted on its Web site, Mr. Franzen said, "She's picked some good
> books, but she's picked enough schmaltzy, one-dimensional ones that I
> cringe, myself, even though I think she's really smart and she's really
> fighting the good fight."
>
> And he's *absolutely* correct. Yes, I can list some very fine books that
> have been Oprah Selections: Wally Lamb, Toni Morrison, Toni Morrison, Toni
> Morrison. But then, I can list some very, well, "schmaltzy" ones: Anita
> Schreve, Tanni O'Dell.
>
> >Plus, it'd help his book sell tons :)
>
> The New York Times Bestseller List
> HARDCOVER FICTION
> 1. DESECRATION, by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
> 2. THE KISS, by Danielle Steel
> 3. THE SIGMA PROTOCOL, by Robert Ludlum
> 4. THE CORRECTIONS, by Jonathan Franzen
> 5. ISLE OF DOGS, by Patricia Cornwell
>
> Wouldn't this be a fun topic: let's discuss the sorry state of the
> bestseller list.
>
> For those of you who are wondering if it's all worth it, the first
> chapter, from The New York Times (you'll have to register to read it):
>
> http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/02/magazine/02FRANZEN-CH1.html
>
> This whole thing's got me laughing up my sleeve.
>
> Regards,
> Cecilia.
>
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