I’ve only just now dipped into Amis’s fiction, and it’s excellent, but I really got caught up in his essays. His writing about other writers is really fascinating, especially the pieces on Saul Bellow.
I leafed through Amis’s last book INside Story and rolled my eyes at Amis transcribing his phone chat with Christopher Hitchens bitching about Noam Chomsky - but the one thing that might make me read it is him writing about Bellow
Bellow is one of the many great writers I’ve lazily avoided, but it’s becoming clear to me that I need to rectify that. A cursory look or two, and I could see that he’s right up there at the top. I ran into my old English teacher from high school and he advised me to read Bellow and Roth.
And off topic, but I read your Chris morris piece a few more times, bought the book, and downloaded a bunch of his work. I’d seen all the brass eyes but it was good to find out he had a lot more material I hadn’t been aware of. Thanks!
And-- before reading your piece, I thought he was hilarious. But the comparison with Joyce et al got me thinking about the nature of his use of words, and I realized his art was deeper and more interesting than I’d realized. Fascinating insight on your part.
Yeah you really get to hear his fascination with language in Jam and Why Bother? He’s a true original. I’m jelous of you getting to hear Why Bother for the first time.
Damn, brother. I’ve never read Martin Amis, but this was about as thrilling as this sort of piece ever gets. Very fine writing.
There are acres of goofball bubbulators milling about on this platform. I’m happy to say I’m gradually stumbling over some of your caliber. It helps.
Cheers mate. Do you think you’ll try any Amis?
Here it is many moons later and I’ve just picked up a copy of Money. A few pages in, and it’s awfully good.
I’ve only just now dipped into Amis’s fiction, and it’s excellent, but I really got caught up in his essays. His writing about other writers is really fascinating, especially the pieces on Saul Bellow.
I leafed through Amis’s last book INside Story and rolled my eyes at Amis transcribing his phone chat with Christopher Hitchens bitching about Noam Chomsky - but the one thing that might make me read it is him writing about Bellow
Bellow is one of the many great writers I’ve lazily avoided, but it’s becoming clear to me that I need to rectify that. A cursory look or two, and I could see that he’s right up there at the top. I ran into my old English teacher from high school and he advised me to read Bellow and Roth.
I’m certainly considering it. I tend to prefer short fiction to novels, as I’m always pressed for time. Do you recommend the short story collections?
Heavy Water for def
And off topic, but I read your Chris morris piece a few more times, bought the book, and downloaded a bunch of his work. I’d seen all the brass eyes but it was good to find out he had a lot more material I hadn’t been aware of. Thanks!
And-- before reading your piece, I thought he was hilarious. But the comparison with Joyce et al got me thinking about the nature of his use of words, and I realized his art was deeper and more interesting than I’d realized. Fascinating insight on your part.
Yeah you really get to hear his fascination with language in Jam and Why Bother? He’s a true original. I’m jelous of you getting to hear Why Bother for the first time.
Done-- downloaded-- danke schoen.