tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029491889310063596.post5590461893030023979..comments2024-03-28T12:21:40.925-04:00Comments on The Girdle of Melian: A Rebuttal to Jonathan Franzen's Essay, The Little Prince, and a Travel Meme (sort of) from Denise CoveyDeniz Bevanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17134553551048836979noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029491889310063596.post-28648048716657394392013-10-10T09:05:24.434-04:002013-10-10T09:05:24.434-04:00Aww, thanks for coming by Denise! I love dreaming ...Aww, thanks for coming by Denise! I love dreaming about places to travel.<br /><br />Thanks very much Arlee. It might be easier for me to criticise since I'm entirely outside of both aspects - the 50s and America. I'd like to read some more essays about the 1970s and 1980s and see if any of the events and images spark memories from my own childhood.<br /><br />I'd love to meet you too Hilary! Montreal is a lovely place to visit - though I wouldn't necessarily come in the wintertime...<br /><br />I agree, Milo! That's why I think that panel discussion would be so interesting.<br />I'd love to do that Middle Earth walking tour too!Deniz Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17134553551048836979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029491889310063596.post-60982523628643328472013-10-10T09:00:36.791-04:002013-10-10T09:00:36.791-04:00Let's see of this works... Here're some co...Let's see of this works... Here're some comments on this on Twitter that I liked: <br /><br />John Scalzi @scalzi<br />Wait, what are we all angry with Jonathan Franzen about, now? I was away from the Internet for most of the weekend.<br /><br />Joe Hill @joe_hill<br />15 Sep<br />@OwenKingwriter I think there's a grain of something true in his criticism. But it's lost in falsely idyllic ideas of a better literary past<br /> <br />Joe Hill @joe_hill<br />15 Sep<br />@OwenKingwriter Well, @neilhimself is himself, but could be viewed as a modern C.S.Lewis/Tolkien/Bradbury figure & has a million followers.<br /> <br />Joe Hill @joe_hill<br />15 Sep<br />I bought Hemingway's letters with joy. Isn't it possible there'll be people interested in reading @neilhimself's tweets later?<br /><br />Joe Hill @joe_hill<br />15 Sep<br />I promise Twain would've had a million followers on Twitter, and would've found prime comic fodder in Franzen's self-seriousness.<br /> <br /> Deniz Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17134553551048836979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029491889310063596.post-44759518911961788882013-10-06T15:54:38.739-04:002013-10-06T15:54:38.739-04:00"To each his own" -- a sentiment Nana Fo..."To each his own" -- a sentiment Nana Fowler has always lived by, and she's my only grandparent still living! Italy, definitely someday -- and maybe the walking tour of Middle Earth in New Zealand...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029491889310063596.post-46432552079687410802013-10-06T09:49:09.471-04:002013-10-06T09:49:09.471-04:00Hi Deniz .. I'm with Lee - very uneducated in ...Hi Deniz .. I'm with Lee - very uneducated in this direction .. but so good you as the others said 'put it out there' ... <br /><br />As to travel - I would love to do most of the countries you mention - though Britain has some pretty special places .. where I need to stop and smell the roses, sometime!<br /><br />So much has changed since WWII .. but the differences from WWI to now - that 100 years is incredible.<br /><br />I'd learn so much spending time with you - perhaps my holiday should be at your house?! Cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029491889310063596.post-36439903631494159272013-10-05T12:22:47.791-04:002013-10-05T12:22:47.791-04:00Wow, that was intense and in depth. Like 10 posts...Wow, that was intense and in depth. Like 10 posts in one long one.<br /><br />Since I didn't follow all the links I missed out on a lot of the content here but I must admire fortitude in pursuing all of this.<br /><br />I've never read Franzen but have one book by him that I acquired cheap when Borders went under. From what I know about him, I don't think I would like his work too much. I think he may have made some good points in his essay, but obviously refutable ones as well. A debate with him and Gaiman and others would be an interesting discussion I'm sure.<br /><br />I for one am somewhat enamoured by the 50's even though I was only a kid then. But I see the negative points of the era just as I see many negative, and potentially much more destructive, points about the modern age. We may be in the most dangerous times ever with the repercussions to be seen sometime in the next decade. I love much of the technology of now, but we may be getting set up for a scary plunge into a hellish future. But that the apocalyptic side of me showing I suppose.<br /><br />That being said, I commend you on the time and effort you put into this post.<br /><br />Lee <br /><a href="http://wrotebyrote.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Wrote By Rote</a><br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029491889310063596.post-54900995597485681052013-10-05T02:04:14.702-04:002013-10-05T02:04:14.702-04:00Hi Deniz. I read this as soon as you'd posted,...Hi Deniz. I read this as soon as you'd posted, but as I'm travelling I'm mainly using my smart phone to do blog reading/comments, but it will not let me comment at the moment, grr.<br /><br />I enjoyed reading your rebuttal; very well considered and expressed, but being a travel nut, I especially enjoyed your travel meme. Great stuff. I'm delighted you used it and I hope others pick it up.<br /><br />DeniseDenise Covey https://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029491889310063596.post-53322270393257474722013-10-04T16:00:10.636-04:002013-10-04T16:00:10.636-04:00Ha ha! Thanks Tammy!Ha ha! Thanks Tammy!Deniz Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17134553551048836979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029491889310063596.post-8082762177524868092013-10-04T15:04:04.253-04:002013-10-04T15:04:04.253-04:00May I say...*SMACK* upside the headMay I say...*SMACK* upside the headTammy Theriaulthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128574900510175415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029491889310063596.post-27492639526411679332013-10-04T08:28:48.820-04:002013-10-04T08:28:48.820-04:00I did Michael! I thought Nathan had some great-gen...I did Michael! I thought Nathan had some great-gender related points. But it was the generational thing that really got my goat :-)<br /><br />Interesting, Sara! Why does he hate it? <br /><br />Nah, I feel the same way Crystal :-)<br /><br />I love researching at my desk, M!<br /><br />Aww, I wish I was back in Yorkshire right now, Donna! Yesterday was the late James Herriot's birthday!<br /><br />Aw, thanks Michael :-)<br /><br />Thanks Nas!<br /><br />It's really short, Medeia - you could read it again!<br /><br />Hi Glynis and Damyanti and Trisha! If Franzen's writing style didn't bug me so much, I doubt I would have ranted this long... But once he started going on about how perfect the 50s were (and he was only a little kid then!), well, I had to say something...<br />Deniz Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17134553551048836979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029491889310063596.post-28018545953592945512013-10-04T02:49:59.825-04:002013-10-04T02:49:59.825-04:00This Franzen dude definitely comes across as prett...This Franzen dude definitely comes across as pretty haughty! Not a very appealing trait.Trishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16927558937796802496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029491889310063596.post-11218355965081664502013-10-03T20:40:45.196-04:002013-10-03T20:40:45.196-04:00Good going, Denise. Franzen isn't a likeable w...Good going, Denise. Franzen isn't a likeable writer, is he?<br /><br />Gaiman and Franzen on a panel-- now I'd love to be in that audience!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04283371140346602856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029491889310063596.post-65730357517381325302013-10-03T07:51:51.883-04:002013-10-03T07:51:51.883-04:00Gosh, a powerful post, Deniz!
Arrogance, and ful...Gosh, a powerful post, Deniz! <br /><br />Arrogance, and full of self-importance are traits I do not like in folk, and Franzen appears to have both!<br /><br />Scotland is on my bucket list! :)Glynis Peters https://www.blogger.com/profile/01175378917872403609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029491889310063596.post-83488673302404119112013-10-03T06:18:27.749-04:002013-10-03T06:18:27.749-04:00I read The Corrections. I didn't like the midd...I read The Corrections. I didn't like the middle at all.<br /><br />He's quite opinionated, isn't he?<br /><br />I can't remember if I read The Little Prince or not. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029491889310063596.post-44931130943419734072013-10-03T01:31:52.092-04:002013-10-03T01:31:52.092-04:00A very interesting, varied and long post. Fortunat...A very interesting, varied and long post. Fortunately I had the time to read through the whole post!<br /><br />Thanks Deniz.<br /><br />NasNas https://www.blogger.com/profile/08341843048288374472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029491889310063596.post-31795784948631683272013-10-02T22:53:26.168-04:002013-10-02T22:53:26.168-04:00Hi, Deniz,
I agree with MPAX... That would be qui...Hi, Deniz,<br /><br />I agree with MPAX... That would be quite the match....<br /><br />That was SOOOOOME RANT.... LOL. You certainly made some amazing points. Touche'. I loved your passion in this post!Michael Di Gesuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17047267262428143113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029491889310063596.post-84883076235926501632013-10-02T22:49:38.485-04:002013-10-02T22:49:38.485-04:00I'll skip the discussion Deniz; but wow, way t...I'll skip the discussion Deniz; but wow, way to put yourself out there on this :) Ok, you can step away from the coffee now, lol.<br /><br />Loved your travel meme. So much of the world to see, so little money and time. That Yorkshire picture is inviting.<br /><br />........dholedolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029491889310063596.post-20896861815496644342013-10-02T18:21:06.720-04:002013-10-02T18:21:06.720-04:00Franzen and Gaiman would be an awesome panel. The ...Franzen and Gaiman would be an awesome panel. The modern world is awesome. I can research without leaving my desk.M Paxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14096697282530998519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029491889310063596.post-57678300728769953102013-10-02T16:28:29.430-04:002013-10-02T16:28:29.430-04:00What can't I travel without? My husband. That ...What can't I travel without? My husband. That may sound clingy and terribly needy, but he feels the same way about me. =)Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029491889310063596.post-62229061086973468892013-10-02T13:25:20.719-04:002013-10-02T13:25:20.719-04:00Wow, that was a long post, I'll have to come b...Wow, that was a long post, I'll have to come back and dissect it a bit later. <br /><br />I love The Little Prince though. Hubby hates it and we often have spirited discussions. <br />S.P. Bowershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746614009206426805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029491889310063596.post-517002304598904262013-10-02T12:00:49.701-04:002013-10-02T12:00:49.701-04:00LOL you should read Nathan Bradsford's respons...LOL you should read Nathan Bradsford's response to Franzen.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3029491889310063596.post-84486162718213691002013-10-02T09:05:39.874-04:002013-10-02T09:05:39.874-04:00Ah, no, I forgot it was IWSG day! Well, hopefully ...Ah, no, I forgot it was IWSG day! Well, hopefully this long essay has distracted you from your own writerly worries!Deniz Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17134553551048836979noreply@blogger.com