tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post5807285220005544129..comments2023-10-03T11:41:21.191+01:00Comments on The Truth About Lies: The Paris Review Interviews Vol. 4Jim Murdochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-6139873425589780092010-01-19T14:21:12.973+00:002010-01-19T14:21:12.973+00:00Ah, McGuire, and yet would we be human if we didn’...Ah, <b>McGuire</b>, and yet would we be human if we didn’t keep looking for a shortcut or a loophole or something that meant we didn’t have to spend <i>so much damn time</i> plugging away at these keyboards? <br /><br />And, <b>Willow</b>, yes, I enjoyed this collection. I think <a href="http://jim-murdoch.blogspot.com/2008/11/all-writers-are-martians.html" rel="nofollow">Vol 3</a> was better but I guess it all depends on which writers rock your boat. In Vol 3 the standout interview was probably William Carlos Williams although Joyce Carol Oates and Harold Pinter were good too.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-10851151132095625752010-01-19T14:12:48.593+00:002010-01-19T14:12:48.593+00:00Excellent review. I love the voyeuristic peek an i...Excellent review. I love the voyeuristic peek an interview gives. This is a glorious collection, especially being writers.Tess Kincaidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04889725786678984293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-57366769273145500342010-01-19T13:42:11.437+00:002010-01-19T13:42:11.437+00:00Read Paris Reviw every so often when I was younger...Read Paris Reviw every so often when I was younger, miss it actually, the voyuerism of reading about other writers. Can't beat it. I used to read them looking for some kind of archetypal method that would send me to the stars. Alas, there was no universe method to be disocvered aside from hard work and continual writing.McGuirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03095242258892600138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-66666952010497247582010-01-19T12:30:00.438+00:002010-01-19T12:30:00.438+00:00I don’t suffer fools gladly, Rachel, but I’m never...I don’t suffer fools gladly, <b>Rachel</b>, but I’m never rude. I simply don’t waste time on them. Time is a precious commodity and I have to spend it wisely. I want to be around people who are going to encourage me by their approach towards writing, who make me think, inspire me even. I don’t want to be around idiots who are going to drain me by asking stupid questions. You don’t shine life into a black hole. You shine it onto a mirror. People like your good self make me reflect on my own writing, my goals, my attitudes; you build me up if only by being appreciative of my efforts.<br /><br />As for planning a novel, I <i>so</i> wish I could do that. I just don’t write that way. I know where my current book is going next and I’ve a fair idea where that will take it but the writing will decide that.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-63395566045422790012010-01-19T08:18:54.141+00:002010-01-19T08:18:54.141+00:00"Housekeeping" is the only Robinson book..."Housekeeping" is the only Robinson book I would recommend, Jim...that said, you'd probably find redeeming features in them. <br /><br />I'm with Pamuk for planning...needing to skip a few chapters rather a lot lately!<br /><br /><br />I find it interesting about the notion of not "suffer[ing] fools gladly" being aN EXCUSE FOR WHAT SEEMS TO BE RUDENESS = OOPS, cAPS!<br /><br />Nothing like getting inside a writer's brain....I love it.Rachel Fentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10046917627054462214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-31870357449336903092010-01-19T07:15:22.838+00:002010-01-19T07:15:22.838+00:00I didn’t notice the ratio of males to females, Lis...I didn’t notice the ratio of males to females, <b>Lis</b>, but you’re right and I have no doubt that every book in the series is also male dominated. And that’s going to be the case until probably our generation has passed by. Women are so much more involved in all the arts these days and I think that’s a very good thing. Since 1990 six women has been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature which is as many as in the previous ninety years but that’s still not enough. <br /><br />What I find a little sad is that we have heard of so few of these women – I recognised three names, Pearl Buck, Toni Morrison and Doris Lessing, none of which I’ve read. Take Herta Müller, who won the prize in 2009, I knew nothing about her and very little of her writing is available in English translations. Hopefully that will change. I've ordered one of her books and it’s sitting on the to-be-read shelf. I’ll get to it sometime this year.<br /><br />And, <b>Kass</b>, yes, love him or loathe him (actually I’ve never read him), the one thing you couldn’t fault Kerouac for in this interview was his enthusiasm for writing – it screams off the page. It’s something I’m pleased to report that I’ve seen in myself although I’m really not an effusive kind of chap by any means. But I do enjoy talking about writing and I don’t always realise that I’m boring the pants off whoever I’m talking to.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-38856958601342358142010-01-18T16:31:21.485+00:002010-01-18T16:31:21.485+00:00As you know, I love things written by writers writ...As you know, I love things written by writers writing about writers who interview writers so of course, I loved this. I was kind of bouncing in my seat as you covered Kerouac. As Pound said, "Any damn fool can be spontaneous." But I say, when effervescence and enthusiasm come across the page, whether it was spontaneous or planned, I am delighted.<br /><br />Pinget says, “I think my job is to observe people and the world, and not to judge them.” - I like that.<br /><br />Yes, it was a SPLENDID post, Jim.Kasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05233330248952156754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6327348657265652781.post-11084688104119246202010-01-18T11:39:53.279+00:002010-01-18T11:39:53.279+00:00Jim, you've again written a wonderful and rive...Jim, you've again written a wonderful and riveting review of a book I'd love to explore. <br /><br />It's typical though and we've discussed gender before. What is it with these books - twelve men to three women, if my count is correct?<br /><br />All the while reading through your review I longed to hear more about Marilynne Robinson. She's the only one of the writers here besides Auster that I can claim some knowledge of, other than a superficial one. <br /><br />If you get to read her first book, Housekeeping, please do so. It's one of my favourite books. Note the title but it's not about housekeeping, though it deals primarily with the lives of a small group of women.<br /><br />Once I get over my annoyance over the gender imbalance I can read more impartially, but as a woman who likes to write I wish other women of note had more of a chance to be represented in these collections. Lord knows there are plenty of them around.<br /><br />I'll get off my soap box now. Thanks Jim, a clear, beautifully written and thought provoking read.Elisabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04015624747225433940noreply@blogger.com