An excellent review/takedown (reviewdown?) of James Wood’s How Fiction Works, a book that the instructors at the University of Arizona have, for lack of a better phrase, been shoving down our throats the past year or so. My feelings are that it’s a worthwhile book so long as you realize that its title is a complete misnomer. A useful rule of thumb to remember about critics is the only thing that separates them from you is they’ve read more books. James Wood’s read a lot of books, and he likes Saul Bellow. I’ve read a lot of books (admittedly probably one-hundredth of the number Wood has read) and I like John Hawkes. Wood’s definition of “how fiction works” is depressingly narrow, and would make me want to give up the venture entirely were it not for this: he’s incorrect. Fiction is not about–never about–one thing. That’s why it’s still here.
–Jonathon Walter
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3 responses so far ↓
Wynn Stonesmith // February 3, 2010 at 9:59 pm |
Very deep. So are you guys ever going to ship Issue 57?
jmlevine4u // February 3, 2010 at 10:04 pm |
Wynn, we’ll be receiving the issues this week/next week and shipping immediately. We had a few run ins with the printer and had to redesign some things… but i promise… mid feb with issue 58 out in may. lo siento if your waiting on one.
Hipsterista4u // February 9, 2010 at 10:21 pm |
What’s even more interesting is that your assessment of Wood’s book is incorrect. He doesn’t claim that fiction is about one thing–never has–and his book doesn’t either. I’m sure the teachers shoving it down your throat have the worst of intentions, too.