tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post1276576452892227477..comments2024-03-25T11:29:25.356-04:00Comments on Existential Ennui: A Response to the Observer Article by Edward Docx, "Are Stieg Larsson and Dan Brown a Match for Literary Fiction?"Nick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17716508525331235684noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-63995033805278698562010-12-14T06:19:55.335-05:002010-12-14T06:19:55.335-05:00Unfortunately, regarding the Sunday papers, you ar...Unfortunately, regarding the Sunday papers, you are rightJillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-30686847162087059482010-12-13T11:37:52.629-05:002010-12-13T11:37:52.629-05:00I think we should both give up reading the bloody ...I think we should both give up reading the bloody Observer at least. Trouble is, I can't bring myself to read any other Sunday papers...Nick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17716508525331235684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-77738619902450137522010-12-13T11:30:18.772-05:002010-12-13T11:30:18.772-05:00Been reading genre fiction for years - should I be...Been reading genre fiction for years - should I be ashamed of myself or consider myself poorly read, or just give up all together and read The SunJillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-75803454549567383132010-12-13T11:06:10.104-05:002010-12-13T11:06:10.104-05:00Your Microsoft Office 2007 joke made me laugh out ...Your Microsoft Office 2007 joke made me laugh out loud.Nick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17716508525331235684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-4094043435650752072010-12-13T10:44:57.843-05:002010-12-13T10:44:57.843-05:00Okay, that article is absolute crap. Yes, Dan Bro...Okay, that article is absolute crap. Yes, Dan Brown sucks. But then to somehow extrapolate that to argue that genre fiction is lesser than "literary" fiction. That's like taking Harold Robbins (to throw out a Fawlty Towers reference) and using that as a lead-in to say that literature sucks. <br /><br />Mr. Docx (and did his last name used to be Doc before the release of Microsoft Office 2007?) is a snob and poorly read (though he does turn a clever phrase), but his editors are the ones to be blamed. This is basically either cheap shock journalism or ignorance. A shame to see another quality newspaper stooping so low.OlmanFeelyushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17521657876810568251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-28292934061237627892010-12-13T10:27:34.986-05:002010-12-13T10:27:34.986-05:00I guess Docx's piece has got people talking at...I guess Docx's piece has got people talking at least; there's a more succinct rebuttal here: http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/fiction/2010/12/are-stieg-larsson-and-dan-brown-a-match-for-literary-fiction.htmlNick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17716508525331235684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-50149857728553060612010-12-13T10:23:16.487-05:002010-12-13T10:23:16.487-05:00The Observer is a Sunday newspaper, one that only ...The Observer is a Sunday newspaper, one that only comes out on a Sunday. It used to be completely independent, but these days is owned by the Guardian Media Group, so many people see it as effectively the Sunday Guardian. It's not - yet; it still has its own distinctive editorial voice, but it hews ever closer to the Guardian as time goes by. But in any case, it is, like the Guardian, lefty - unlike the majority of the British press, which is largely right wing. It's also fairly well respected, and it's been my paper of choice on a Sunday for as long as I can remember. <br /><br />Having said that, the book review section's a bit crap, and Docx's article does represent a low point for the New Review section in general, which hasn't been very good since it got relaunched.Nick Jones (Louis XIV, the Sun King)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17716508525331235684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5448581132479481740.post-8943175286074419932010-12-13T10:14:59.327-05:002010-12-13T10:14:59.327-05:00I haven't read the actual article yet, so I sh...I haven't read the actual article yet, so I shall withhold my withering contempt for the time being. Your response is excellent, in any case. I do have a couple of questions, though. What is The Observer and what is its relation to The Guardian? My understanding is that the Guardian is sort of lefty and fairly well-respected (at least it was by my grandfather a decade ago). Was this true and if so, is it still?OlmanFeelyushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17521657876810568251noreply@blogger.com