I agree about Steinbeck. The one mid-cult writer he doesn't mention, and the author I believe Franzen most emulates, consciously or not, is Tom Wolfe. He certainly hankers after Wolfe's sales figures, and premeditatedly too.
You are right, Christopher, Franzen is a Tom Wolfe wannabe! Never thought of that. Glad you agree about Steinbeck. Anonymous is right about that: "If there are great American novels, his belong on the list."
How could anyone believe Steinbeck is a middlebrow "cult" writer? That just smacks to the marrow of critical elitism. But considering what I've read form this particular critic lately, I'm not too surprised.
I agree about Steinbeck. The one mid-cult writer he doesn't mention, and the author I believe Franzen most emulates, consciously or not, is Tom Wolfe. He certainly hankers after Wolfe's sales figures, and premeditatedly too.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Frank Wilson: Steinbeck is not a mid-cult writer. If there are great American novels, his belong on the list.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, Christopher, Franzen is a Tom Wolfe wannabe! Never thought of that. Glad you agree about Steinbeck. Anonymous is right about that: "If there are great American novels, his belong on the list."
ReplyDeleteHow could anyone believe Steinbeck is a middlebrow "cult" writer? That just smacks to the marrow of critical elitism. But considering what I've read form this particular critic lately, I'm not too surprised.
ReplyDeleteSo I agree with you, Frank, about Steinbeck.