> As for Bellow: Augie March was dazzling writing!
> A hugely talented writer with not much to say.
> The Bernini of American literature.
That's a very funny comparison, especially for a guy like me who's always been firmly in the Borromini camp. But even as a non-fan of Bernini I think it's too flattering to Bellow. Not only does he have nothing to say, but to my ear, he's damn tedious saying it -- all these wooly abstractions constantly slung around, imprecise, vaguely-sketched images, metaphors that don't click....
But Joanna is in good company. Philip Roth, a writer I adore, thinks very highly of boring old Uncle Saul. Go figure.
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Michael J. Smith mjs at smithbowen.net
http://stopmebeforeivoteagain.org http://www.cars-suck.org http://fakesprogress.blogspot.com