By Insider

September 17, 2010 7:12 PM | Link to this

I thought it an insightful interview. It’s good to get a feel for the author before delving into their work. I’ve said it before; I enjoy hearing about the authors as much as I do their works. I don’t know why that is but I must not be alone, otherwise, we’d all publish anonymously.

By victor mickunas

September 17, 2010 4:47 PM | Link to this

My ties to Amazon, Max? I’m not sure I understand what you mean?

By Max

September 17, 2010 4:42 PM | Link to this

With all due respect to Oprah and all the excellent work she has done and the good will she has extended from the heart……celebrities who endorse creative works do so at their own peril. Franzen is probably one of the most overrated writers today. That isn’t just me, that comes from peers. This brings me back to the Burke interview, Vick. It’s one thing for celebrities to endorse something - risk or profit, that’s the world we live in - but it’s quite another to interview someone with the presumption everyone knows what the hell you’re talking about. Ok, you’re a fan of Burke and Oprah is a fan of Franzen who doesn’t reciprocate. I think both of you lose an audience due to lack of critical appraisal. To interview or endorse a work as a ‘fan’ is somewhat incestuous and as Clement Greenberg once told me, modern criticism is mostly about the critic rather than what is being examined. My comments here also fit that context. I offer this constructively and really wished your ties to Amazon would be severed in the interest of young, creative talent who don’t play the traditional path game.