This is a weird list as they all are -- Charlotte Bronte is on it, but why on earth not Emily and Anne? George Eliot? And I would not call Jane Austen obviously "passionate" -- she writes about some characters who are passionate but I would not call her a passionate writer, rather restrained. And Colette? Isabelle Allende (before I stopped reading her). There must be thousands of passionate writers, I think this list is sillier than most. Sorry to be so blunt. If I were the Grumpy OB I would make some intelligent comment about people with English degrees (as the author of the Guardian article has one), but I am not so I will just say that I think the list is silly.
I am sure the GOB would make an honourable exception in your case, Jenny! Positive in fact. And I am not sure I agree with him anyway, but I understand where his cynicism is coming from: in his case it is well earned.
The most recent entry is Sylvia Plath. I wonder what Noris thinks of Margaret Atwood or AS Byatt?
ReplyDeleteI would not call Atwood passionate!
ReplyDeleteThis is a weird list as they all are -- Charlotte Bronte is on it, but why on earth not Emily and Anne? George Eliot? And I would not call Jane Austen obviously "passionate" -- she writes about some characters who are passionate but I would not call her a passionate writer, rather restrained.
And Colette? Isabelle Allende (before I stopped reading her). There must be thousands of passionate writers, I think this list is sillier than most. Sorry to be so blunt. If I were the Grumpy OB I would make some intelligent comment about people with English degrees (as the author of the Guardian article has one), but I am not so I will just say that I think the list is silly.
I too thought it was an awfully silly list! And I have an English degree, so it is not that....
ReplyDeleteI am sure the GOB would make an honourable exception in your case, Jenny! Positive in fact.
ReplyDeleteAnd I am not sure I agree with him anyway, but I understand where his cynicism is coming from: in his case it is well earned.