tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post206188646862993706..comments2024-01-06T10:36:04.084-05:00Comments on A Commonplace Blog: “Goodbye, Columbus” at fiftyD. G. Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659136455045567825noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-32564546509192381532010-01-23T14:33:50.668-05:002010-01-23T14:33:50.668-05:00Here, you will notice, I am trying to spread the w...<a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/Readers-picks/2010/0120/Goodbye-Columbus" rel="nofollow">Here</a>, you will notice, I am trying to spread the word about Roth's wonderful little novel. I had said much more in my comments (at CSM), but the editor really chopped it down to small blurb size. At any rate, the word is out: read GOODBYE, COLUMBUS! <br /><br />Note: I also commented upon Roth's novella a week or so ago in some more detail at my blog.R/Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07791522136032565027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-45161761022159827982009-10-02T13:00:09.200-04:002009-10-02T13:00:09.200-04:00Great post!
As for the canon of novelists, I'...Great post!<br /><br />As for the canon of novelists, I'd say we can take Cather off of there. Being remembered is survival of the fittest: Cather, though great, just can't hang with those others.N.A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12953396951286105375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-71686348461622456292009-08-20T03:05:51.147-04:002009-08-20T03:05:51.147-04:00Two or three weeks ago ago I commented - on a post...Two or three weeks ago ago I commented - on a post regarding immigrant literature - about a put-down in either "Goodbye, Columbus" or "The Victim".<br /><br />It was specifically for Jews who had not assimilated fully; maintaining instead, an agrarian outlook on life that didn't quite jibe with post-war American society.<br /><br />After re-reading both in search of details, it appears my memory was more faulty than I realized. I mixed the snobbish tendencies of Brenda's family with an aside found in one of Singer's stories ( I don't have the book with me at the moment - cobbler finally immigrates to U.S. to join sons).<br /><br />Sorry for any confusion.<br /><br />While humbling to get it so wrong, I did appreciate re-reading Goodbye, Columbus again.Jonathannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-54001221369405719832009-08-19T19:31:43.371-04:002009-08-19T19:31:43.371-04:00From my perspective, your "magnificent seven&...From my perspective, your "magnificent seven" selections contain a couple of surprises: Twain, I suppose, makes the list on the strength of TOM SAWYER and HUCK FINN (whereas none of his other "novels" merit too much serious attention as far as I am concerned); James is a novelist that I can never enjoy very much, which is probably due to my impatience with his prose and narrative style; Nabokov's, Cather's, Bellow's and Roth's presence on your list do not surprise me because you have written enthusiastically about each of those authors, so--of course--they would be included on your list, especially the Russian Nabokov; Faulkner, however, seems a legitimate contender, but I do not recall you having had much to say about him, though I should go back a take a closer look at your postings where I might have overlooked your assessment of the Oxford icon (but--in any event--your choice of Faulkner surprises me).R/Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07791522136032565027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-59129251964274561362009-08-19T19:00:36.617-04:002009-08-19T19:00:36.617-04:00James, Twain, Cather, Faulkner, Nabokov, Bellow, R...James, Twain, Cather, Faulkner, Nabokov, Bellow, Roth.<br /><br />Okay, that’s seven.D. G. Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10659136455045567825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-42032543405660421712009-08-19T17:06:38.520-04:002009-08-19T17:06:38.520-04:00You say of Roth's GOODBYE COLUMBUS, "It i...You say of Roth's GOODBYE COLUMBUS, "It is also the best introduction to one of the five or six greatest American novelists[.]" That opens the door to the question: Just who are the others among the "five or six greatest American novelists"? I can somewhat guess at who you mean, but I could be wrong. So?R/Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07791522136032565027noreply@blogger.com