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Nobel literature head: US too insular to compete

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080930/ap_ ... .0y9MDW7oF

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Bad news for American writers hoping for a Nobel Prize next week: the top member of the award jury believes the United States is too insular and ignorant to compete with Europe when it comes to great writing.

Counters the head of the U.S. National Book Foundation: "Put him in touch with me, and I'll send him a reading list."

As the Swedish Academy enters final deliberations for this year's award, permanent secretary Horace Engdahl said it's no coincidence that most winners are European.

"Of course there is powerful literature in all big cultures, but you can't get away from the fact that Europe still is the center of the literary world ... not the United States," he told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview Tuesday.

Tequila Revenge wrote:

Nobel literature head: US too insular to compete

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080930/ap_ ... .0y9MDW7oF

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Bad news for American writers hoping for a Nobel Prize next week: the top member of the award jury believes the United States is too insular and ignorant to compete with Europe when it comes to great writing.

Counters the head of the U.S. National Book Foundation: "Put him in touch with me, and I'll send him a reading list."

As the Swedish Academy enters final deliberations for this year's award, permanent secretary Horace Engdahl said it's no coincidence that most winners are European.

"Of course there is powerful literature in all big cultures, but you can't get away from the fact that Europe still is the center of the literary world ... not the United States," he told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview Tuesday.

Considering the relatively low percentage of Americans who read at all any more, he may have a point....

I think it has less to do with American writers and more to do with American politics.

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:

Tequila Revenge wrote:

Nobel literature head: US too insular to compete

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080930/ap_ ... .0y9MDW7oF

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Bad news for American writers hoping for a Nobel Prize next week: the top member of the award jury believes the United States is too insular and ignorant to compete with Europe when it comes to great writing.

Counters the head of the U.S. National Book Foundation: "Put him in touch with me, and I'll send him a reading list."

As the Swedish Academy enters final deliberations for this year's award, permanent secretary Horace Engdahl said it's no coincidence that most winners are European.

"Of course there is powerful literature in all big cultures, but you can't get away from the fact that Europe still is the center of the literary world ... not the United States," he told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview Tuesday.

Considering the relatively low percentage of Americans who read at all any more, he may have a point....

Good point. So are more movies made from American books or Euro books? More importantly, how will the affect Oprah's Book Club?

Tequila Revenge wrote:

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:

Tequila Revenge wrote:

Nobel literature head: US too insular to compete

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080930/ap_ ... .0y9MDW7oF

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Bad news for American writers hoping for a Nobel Prize next week: the top member of the award jury believes the United States is too insular and ignorant to compete with Europe when it comes to great writing.

Counters the head of the U.S. National Book Foundation: "Put him in touch with me, and I'll send him a reading list."

As the Swedish Academy enters final deliberations for this year's award, permanent secretary Horace Engdahl said it's no coincidence that most winners are European.

"Of course there is powerful literature in all big cultures, but you can't get away from the fact that Europe still is the center of the literary world ... not the United States," he told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview Tuesday.

Considering the relatively low percentage of Americans who read at all any more, he may have a point....

Good point. So are more movies made from American books or Euro books? More importantly, how will the affect Oprah's Book Club?

I've belonged to a book group for almost 10 years and I have to say, I can count on one hand the number of Oprah books we've read.

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:

Tequila Revenge wrote:

Nobel literature head: US too insular to compete

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080930/ap_ ... .0y9MDW7oF

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Bad news for American writers hoping for a Nobel Prize next week: the top member of the award jury believes the United States is too insular and ignorant to compete with Europe when it comes to great writing.

Counters the head of the U.S. National Book Foundation: "Put him in touch with me, and I'll send him a reading list."

As the Swedish Academy enters final deliberations for this year's award, permanent secretary Horace Engdahl said it's no coincidence that most winners are European.

"Of course there is powerful literature in all big cultures, but you can't get away from the fact that Europe still is the center of the literary world ... not the United States," he told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview Tuesday.

Considering the relatively low percentage of Americans who read at all any more, he may have a point....

Well said, SGH. Maybe the reason no one's reading is lack of quality material.

I read books for a living. I have access to almost everything in print. It's hard to find something to review in a positive light. The quality of modern American literature is sketchy, at best ... I *tried* to read four books last week. I finished *0*. Two were on the best sellers list ... two were highly touted debut novels.

If a book has really lit you up, PM me with the title, please. I am desperate.

ScarletB wrote:

Tequila Revenge wrote:

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:

Tequila Revenge wrote:

Nobel literature head: US too insular to compete

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080930/ap_ ... .0y9MDW7oF

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Bad news for American writers hoping for a Nobel Prize next week: the top member of the award jury believes the United States is too insular and ignorant to compete with Europe when it comes to great writing.

Counters the head of the U.S. National Book Foundation: "Put him in touch with me, and I'll send him a reading list."

As the Swedish Academy enters final deliberations for this year's award, permanent secretary Horace Engdahl said it's no coincidence that most winners are European.

"Of course there is powerful literature in all big cultures, but you can't get away from the fact that Europe still is the center of the literary world ... not the United States," he told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview Tuesday.

Considering the relatively low percentage of Americans who read at all any more, he may have a point....

Good point. So are more movies made from American books or Euro books? More importantly, how will the affect Oprah's Book Club?

I've belonged to a book group for almost 10 years and I have to say, I can count on one hand the number of Oprah books we've read.

One for me; "Epitaph For a Peach."

East Texas Parrothead wrote:

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:

Tequila Revenge wrote:

Nobel literature head: US too insular to compete

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080930/ap_ ... .0y9MDW7oF

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Bad news for American writers hoping for a Nobel Prize next week: the top member of the award jury believes the United States is too insular and ignorant to compete with Europe when it comes to great writing.

Counters the head of the U.S. National Book Foundation: "Put him in touch with me, and I'll send him a reading list."

As the Swedish Academy enters final deliberations for this year's award, permanent secretary Horace Engdahl said it's no coincidence that most winners are European.

"Of course there is powerful literature in all big cultures, but you can't get away from the fact that Europe still is the center of the literary world ... not the United States," he told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview Tuesday.

Considering the relatively low percentage of Americans who read at all any more, he may have a point....

Well said, SGH. Maybe the reason no one's reading is lack of quality material.

I read books for a living. I have access to almost everything in print. It's hard to find something to review in a positive light. The quality of modern American literature is sketchy, at best ... I *tried* to read four books last week. I finished *0*. Two were on the best sellers list ... two were highly touted debut novels.

If a book has really lit you up, PM me with the title, please. I am desperate.

So you didn't like, "A Salty Piece of Land?"

How about James and The Giant Peach?

Tequila Revenge wrote:

East Texas Parrothead wrote:

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:

Tequila Revenge wrote:

Nobel literature head: US too insular to compete

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080930/ap_ ... .0y9MDW7oF

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Bad news for American writers hoping for a Nobel Prize next week: the top member of the award jury believes the United States is too insular and ignorant to compete with Europe when it comes to great writing.

Counters the head of the U.S. National Book Foundation: "Put him in touch with me, and I'll send him a reading list."

As the Swedish Academy enters final deliberations for this year's award, permanent secretary Horace Engdahl said it's no coincidence that most winners are European.

"Of course there is powerful literature in all big cultures, but you can't get away from the fact that Europe still is the center of the literary world ... not the United States," he told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview Tuesday.

Considering the relatively low percentage of Americans who read at all any more, he may have a point....

Well said, SGH. Maybe the reason no one's reading is lack of quality material.

I read books for a living. I have access to almost everything in print. It's hard to find something to review in a positive light. The quality of modern American literature is sketchy, at best ... I *tried* to read four books last week. I finished *0*. Two were on the best sellers list ... two were highly touted debut novels.

If a book has really lit you up, PM me with the title, please. I am desperate.

So you didn't like, "A Salty Piece of Land?"

I really enjoyed all of Jimmy's books but the rest of my group would skewer me if I suggested it. They tolerate my obsession with good humor but they draw the line at reading all his books.

Tequila Revenge wrote: So you didn't like, "A Salty Piece of Land?"

As a matter of fact, I thought Jimmy really missed a great opportunity when he didn't develop Cleopatra's (the older lady - did I get her name right?) storyline. She is someone I'd like to know.

Lightning Bolt wrote:How about James and The Giant Peach?

Written by a Welshman.

I'm not saying there aren't some good books being written ... what bothers me is that I have to slog through so many BADLY written ones before I strike gold.

East Texas Parrothead wrote:

Lightning Bolt wrote:How about James and The Giant Peach?

Written by a Welshman.

That did not go unnoticed by this Welshman named Jones

Lightning Bolt wrote:

East Texas Parrothead wrote:

Lightning Bolt wrote:How about James and The Giant Peach?

Written by a Welshman.

That did not go unnoticed by this Welshman named Jones

Roald Dahl ... was married to American actress Patricia Neal. He had an affair with her best friend ... messy divorce.

Tequila Revenge wrote:One for me; "Epitaph For a Peach."

I read that long before Fauxpra even had a book club...how dare she ruin such a remarkable piece of work by endorsing it.

David Mas Matsumoto IS a peach...or as they say on KVIE, the heart of the golden state. It's one of my all time fave books.

Lightning Bolt wrote:

East Texas Parrothead wrote:

Lightning Bolt wrote:How about James and The Giant Peach?

Written by a Welshman.

That did not go unnoticed by this Welshman named Jones

I knew I loved you for a reason, Brad.

Rut rho...maybe we're related!

Brown Eyed Girl wrote:

Tequila Revenge wrote:One for me; "Epitaph For a Peach."

I read that long before Fauxpra even had a book club...how dare she ruin such a remarkable piece of work by endorsing it.

David Mas Matsumoto IS a peach...or as they say on KVIE, the heart of the golden state. It's one of my all time fave books.

wow

mine too

The September rains on the crop was especially painful to read.

You mean "superman and/or spiderman dat ho" doesn't qualify

Tequila Revenge wrote:

Brown Eyed Girl wrote:

Tequila Revenge wrote:One for me; "Epitaph For a Peach."

I read that long before Fauxpra even had a book club...how dare she ruin such a remarkable piece of work by endorsing it.

David Mas Matsumoto IS a peach...or as they say on KVIE, the heart of the golden state. It's one of my all time fave books.

wow

mine too

The September rains on the crop was especially painful to read.

Another one of my fave books...it's kind of the face I always gave Mas' peaches...

Tequila Revenge wrote: ... how will the affect Oprah's Book Club?

Oprah is the boil on America's ass. What a useless piece of flesh.