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.
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....
Carry on as you know they would want you to do. ~~JB, dedication to Tim Russert
Take your time
Find your passion
Life goes on until it ends
Don’t stop living
Until then
~~Mac McAnally
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?
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.
GW - 7/19 Great Northern MOTM - 7/20-21 Hershey Labor Day Weekend Show - 8/29 MOTM - Oct 28
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.
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.
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.
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.
GW - 7/19 Great Northern MOTM - 7/20-21 Hershey Labor Day Weekend Show - 8/29 MOTM - Oct 28
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.
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