tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post4281396924753972386..comments2024-01-10T04:32:03.578-05:00Comments on Literary Rejections on Display Now Has Long COVID: MORE THAN IT HURTS YOU Book Club DiscussionWriter, Rejectedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17241982229214057815noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post-84089122655164781932008-12-12T20:19:00.000-05:002008-12-12T20:19:00.000-05:00So, I don't suppose you've seen this?http://www.vi...So, I don't suppose you've seen this?<BR/><BR/>http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-12-10/news/bloggers-vs-an-author-no-one-wins/<BR/><BR/>Check out page 4.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post-27121775550816303782008-09-22T07:50:00.000-04:002008-09-22T07:50:00.000-04:00Nabakov? Seriously? The Olive Oyle simile inelega...Nabakov? Seriously? The Olive Oyle simile inelegantly shorthands an entire character (secondary character, but still) into a cheap pop culture reference. For me, this takes away from the nuance of good literary fiction. Too blunt, too easy, too cartoonish. But as you say, to each his own.Writer, Rejectedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17241982229214057815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post-88140725246454129632008-09-22T01:00:00.000-04:002008-09-22T01:00:00.000-04:00I liked the book a lot, too; in fact, I though the...I liked the book a lot, too; in fact, I though the jail scene was impressive. He showed a world that seems far removed from his own, and did so with lyrical writing. You guys didn't go for it? I guess that's what makes horse races.<BR/><BR/>But one question: what's actually wrong with the Olive Oyl line? It's evocative, and it does what Nabokov says a metaphor should. It's really condensed and it helps us visualize what's being discussed. It seems original. Plus, it made me laugh. Can't ask much more from a metaphor. What am I missing?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08176134019509062805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post-37876352462561821662008-09-16T10:28:00.000-04:002008-09-16T10:28:00.000-04:00I enjoyed reading the book quite a bit, even if th...I enjoyed reading the book quite a bit, even if the experience was complicated by real questions about the plausibility of the plot. Would a Munchhausen's mother flee the emergency room and NOT want her child to undergo testing? The whole point of that disorder, I've always been led to believe, is getting attention from medical personnel. And would a doctor make accusations about it after *one* questionable visit??<BR/><BR/>I thought the plot would have been much more interesting if we as readers didn't know whether Dori was guilty or not -- if we only had access to Josh's thoughts and the doctor's. Instead we KNOW she's guilty, so Josh's faith in his wife just seems stupid. Does that make sense? I don't see the point of getting Dori's thoughts, since they don't really explain anything anyway.<BR/><BR/>And yeah, the writing could have used a good shaking out. (That Olive Oyl line really stuck in my craw!)<BR/><BR/>That said, it was an absorbing novel. I liked the character of Darlene Stokes -- kind of wish it was her story instead. Maybe she and Josh could have gotten together...? Heh heh.rmellishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03133206908895131438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post-22769859814739509902008-09-15T22:18:00.000-04:002008-09-15T22:18:00.000-04:00I think you picked it like a nose, W,R.For me, the...I think you picked it like a nose, W,R.<BR/><BR/>For me, the book started badly, then grew. It felt to me that the over-writing in the start was a demonstration of cleverness.(Alas!) Irked me, but cleverness seems important in US letters.<BR/><BR/>Once Mr Strauss' storytelling took over from his writing, the book was great. <BR/><BR/>The prison bus scene stuck out to me as well. Very much a wtf moment. Where was the editor?<BR/><BR/>Congrats on doing this, even if you get very few takers.peterchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17066740929095916525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post-72953218975701480762008-09-15T19:22:00.000-04:002008-09-15T19:22:00.000-04:00Aw, I think it maybe needs to be live chat to work...Aw, I think it maybe needs to be live chat to work well? That, and I need to have actually read the book to join in. I just didn't get it together - too many words to read, too little time. But I enjoyed reading your summation, WR, obviously you put a lot of thought into it. Interesting that you used the word "smirk" more than once - I think "smirky" was the description of the author photo that sparked the cries of protest. Since I haven't yet read the book, I can only continue to comment on the photo... But I'll stop myself. Except to say it's now so familiar that I feel like he's someone I know (and like! Really, really like!). <BR/><BR/>Glad you had productive times in the woods, I envy you! But I wonder if it broke the habit of your blog for the otherwise-would-be book club members...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post-61410501796283878782008-09-15T17:40:00.000-04:002008-09-15T17:40:00.000-04:00Hmm. I guess I had a book club and nobody came.Hmm. I guess I had a book club and nobody came.Writer, Rejectedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17241982229214057815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post-29851387705252166122008-09-15T11:05:00.000-04:002008-09-15T11:05:00.000-04:00A pick axe and a shovel is a bit overstated. I rea...A pick axe and a shovel is a bit overstated. I really didn't mind his writing style as much as you did. I liked the pop culture references (Mr. Magoo, Olive Oyle, etc.) and his unique way of seeing things, which you call overwriting. At the same time, I wasn't half as sold as you were on the way he worked out the plot. I found the whole legal part unbelievable, the fact that the doctor would press her opinion so much with Josh. I wasn't as happy with the ending as you were. But on the whole I enjoyed the book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com