DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post

**Gaxiciverfere** · 03-06-2009, 02:00 AM

Ooooh, welcome back. Liam. Or have you just peeked in here? Thanks, Mirabell.

Actually, I stop by to check what you guys are doing almost on a daily basis. I don't always feel compelled to write something. Another thing is my current situation and all--it's the end of the term, more or less, and I can almost feel my scholarly and professional obligations wrap around my neck like an improbable boa constrictor,

.

Interestingly (while we're on the topic of schools/universities), nearly all of my professors have expressed a determination NOT to read Littell's book. One woman was especially vehement about it. They hate the notorious New York Times "monster" (aka "professional reviewer") Michiko Kakutani as much as the next person, but this time their agreement with her assessment of Jonathan Littell was unanimous.

I myself would read the book if only it were 800+ pages shorter. As it is, I simply don't have the time. I don't think you need all those hundreds of pages to convince your readers that your main character/narrator is a monster. Might work in a novella or a short story, but a NOVEL??? Please. I had the same type of impatient exasperation whilst reading Stephen King's The Shining.

Anyway, The Kindly Ones seems to be on everyone's list of bestsellers. I'd be interested in reading what the other forum members have to say about it.

03-06-2009, 02:00 AM	#21
Gaxiciverfere Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 479 Senior Member	Ooooh, welcome back. Liam. Or have you just peeked in here? Thanks, Mirabell. Actually, I stop by to check what you guys are doing almost on a daily basis. I don't always feel compelled to write something. Another thing is my current situation and all--it's the end of the term, more or less, and I can almost feel my scholarly and professional obligations wrap around my neck like an improbable boa constrictor, . Interestingly (while we're on the topic of schools/universities), nearly all of my professors have expressed a determination NOT to read Littell's book. One woman was especially vehement about it. They hate the notorious New York Times "monster" (aka "professional reviewer") Michiko Kakutani as much as the next person, but this time their agreement with her assessment of Jonathan Littell was unanimous. I myself would read the book if only it were 800+ pages shorter. As it is, I simply don't have the time. I don't think you need all those hundreds of pages to convince your readers that your main character/narrator is a monster. Might work in a novella or a short story, but a NOVEL??? Please. I had the same type of impatient exasperation whilst reading Stephen King's The Shining. Anyway, The Kindly Ones seems to be on everyone's list of bestsellers. I'd be interested in reading what the other forum members have to say about it.
	Quote