I'm not sure what to say about this book and I have to do a presentation on it! For me, it seems like Klosterman is really young and goes on tangents about topics that really aren't of interest to me personally. It's hard to get excited about things that I don't like - like television shows. I have two shows I like to watch. That's it. I'm not a big TV fan. Anyway, he goes on and on about this MTV show (which I'd never heard of - sorry I'm aging myself with this post!!) and he knows all the characters from every season and what gets me the most about him? He uses these on-screen personalities to typecast his own friends and acquaintances he meets. As though they aren't written lines to say and things to do that create reality drama....for pete's sake is the viewing public so dense they think this stuff is "reality" - puhleeez!!! Reality is dull and boring. If you had a web cam on me all day, you'd die of boredom. I think that's the case for most people because our lives just aren't that dramatic. It is when the drama occurs that we get stressed out and wish to go back to being dull again. Am I wrong?
And I suppose it's just difficult reading him after a spending a semester with 19th century writers. I love Dickens and the Bronte sisters and Austin and all of those writers who really told a story well. I mean Klosterman isn't on par with any of my fave authors of that century nor the last. And I'm reading some good authors right now for my memoirs class that just blow me away - Russell Baker is a wonderful writer and so is James McBride and they are current century authors!
I have to finish this book over the weekend and come up with something for a presentation. Ah me!! Ok, so I shall get off my pity pot and try to find something of value. I think I'll read Lee Gutkind's book "
The Art of Creative Nonfiction" and perhaps find some
art in what Klosterman is doing. I just need to figure out what I'm going to say when I get in front of ya'll next week!! YIKES!!!
1 comment:
Truly, Klosterman does not even come close to being in the same category with 19th Century writers like the ones you mentioned. I would classify his writing as more of a form entertainment than a form of art (although that begs the "what is art?" question--another day!).
However, Klosterman has seduced me through what I (and probably no one else on the planed) refer to as his "modern male" writing, marked by sarcasm, dry humor, lack of frills, and jokes directed at one's self. I feel that I should also mention that I am extremely weird.
Happy presentation-ing!
Post a Comment