Coming off a work hangover, skeezy & frizzled, but here’s the NYT to delight with James Wood on Bolaño Bolaño Bolaño …
Observation: I think Wood is best when he’s writing, as he is with Bolaño, on books and bodies of work with which he has an affinity. He’s wonderful at working a book from the inside out; very intuitively. I like his detractory pieces less as he seems to work these more abstractedly (with classifications that often ring false), from the outside in as it were, like a butterfly collector trying to pin a specimen.
Oh I absolutely agree, CAAF. Wood comes off as an anal retentive grump when he’s clearly detesting the reading experience or the type of book he’s reading. The man can’t seem to find much fun or joy in a bad offering, but he certainly shines when he’s in his element.
Comment by ed — 4/14/2007 @ 1:04 pm