tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post7845254930235144948..comments2024-01-06T10:36:04.084-05:00Comments on A Commonplace Blog: The Shark-Infested CustardD. G. Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10659136455045567825noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-82989822953169972972010-12-21T11:37:18.076-05:002010-12-21T11:37:18.076-05:00Sorry to be off the topic of Willeford, but it mig...Sorry to be off the topic of Willeford, but it might be a good time for us to do some Paul Revere-ing on the Internet--today the FCC is passing down the first of the Net Neutrality rulings. Al Franken on HuffPo (scroll down middle column) says we should be outraged, and he doesn't usually exaggerate. The Internet should not be headed toward corporate blogs buying the fast lane and the rest of us stuck in slow.<br /><br />Not sure where to make our voice heard, by emailing the White House or maybe the FCC page with How To Make ECFS Express Comments? It might be good if non-corporate websites like ours had a community way for us to alert each other when something important like this comes up. Just FYI.Shelleyhttp://dustbowlpoetry.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-1826901945172289462010-12-19T15:58:48.376-05:002010-12-19T15:58:48.376-05:00Oh and here's Bellow, perhaps saying (if we...Oh and here's Bellow, perhaps saying (if we're being generous) what Victor Davis was trying to say, only with much more eloquence:<br /><br />Because he thought and cared about belief. (Without which human life is simply the raw material of technological transformation, of fashion, salesmanship, industry, politics, finance, experiment, automatism, et cetera, et cetera. The whole inventory of disgraces which one is glad to terminate in death.)<br />— <i>Herzog</i><br /><br />Now <i>there's</i> a reason! Only I can't work out if Bellow is being ironic here or not — it's the "simply" which throws me.Guy Purseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03389223432095066078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-7004201481759767042010-12-19T15:47:09.519-05:002010-12-19T15:47:09.519-05:00Thanks for this recommendation. And I agree with y...Thanks for this recommendation. And I agree with your update; I'd say easier decision-making is <i>not</i> a reason to decide to study the liberal arts!<br /><br />Having read a fair few Vonnegut novels, I think Willeford is going to be one to look up in the New Year.Guy Purseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03389223432095066078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-73929918926852589572010-12-17T20:15:37.903-05:002010-12-17T20:15:37.903-05:00Pick-Up? I had no idea. That's too bad. It'...Pick-Up? I had no idea. That's too bad. It's one of his least.Tom Beshearhttp://tbeshear@insightbb.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-1817084688041602782010-12-17T17:29:09.941-05:002010-12-17T17:29:09.941-05:00I always thought Vonnegut overrated, and Williford...I always thought Vonnegut overrated, and Williford underrated. But still, Vonnegut had an interestingly craggy face, and a wild hairdo. That counts for something...doesnt it?D.N. Stueflotenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16175671369033647290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-4209921621535089122010-12-17T15:29:16.056-05:002010-12-17T15:29:16.056-05:00Willeford is represented in the Library of America...Willeford <i>is</i> represented in the Library of America, by the way—by perhaps his worst book. Robert Polito, the biographer of Jim Thompson, selected <i>Pick-up</i> for the second volume of the Library’s <i>Crime Novels</i>. The selection does Willeford no service.D. G. Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10659136455045567825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-68901103981408707912010-12-17T14:04:41.103-05:002010-12-17T14:04:41.103-05:00A great choice -- but I'll not hold my breath ...A great choice -- but I'll not hold my breath for the LoA to take action.<br /><br />Willeford's heroes/villains are amoral know-it-alls, from the guys in Custard to the artist in The Burnt Orange Heresy or even Hoke Moseley and "Junior" Frenger (sp?) in Miami Blues. They know the best way to do anything and are happy to share. Having read some of Willeford's autobiography and other non-fiction writings, it's a trait their creator shared.<br /><br />It was tragic when he died -- he was on the verge of breaking out after a long, struggling career. But perhaps it's fitting as well -- it could be the ending to one of his own books.Tom Beshearhttp://tbeshear@insightbb.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-39302503519518828132010-12-17T14:03:05.526-05:002010-12-17T14:03:05.526-05:00Hmm.
For a contrary view, see this recent post by...Hmm.<br /><br />For a contrary view, see <a href="http://jseliger.com/2010/12/09/why-unpublished-novelists-keep-writing-why-not-an-answer-as-to-why-this-one-does/" rel="nofollow">this</a> recent post by Jake Seliger.D. G. Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10659136455045567825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458341.post-77024285834701661142010-12-17T11:21:30.673-05:002010-12-17T11:21:30.673-05:00Check out this video about the lives and times of ...Check out this video about the lives and times of MFA grads: <br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfWQTa2a2WcUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05277473732722383172noreply@blogger.com