http://neilhellmanlibrary.wordpress.com/2007/11/12/worst-book-ever-written/ Thoughts and Ideas About The Neil Hellman Library and The Library World Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:24:31 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 http://neilhellmanlibrary.wordpress.com/2007/11/12/worst-book-ever-written/#comment-459 K. A. Laity Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:00:35 +0000 http://neilhellmanlibrary.wordpress.com/2007/11/12/worst-book-ever-written/#comment-459 I think this phenomenon speaks to the disconnect between good writing and good press which Myers speaks to in the Atlantic piece. The romanticized accolades for Norman Mailer upon his death mask his lack of accomplishments in recent decades. Reading all the heartfelt encomia about what a great American writer he was ignores not only his many personal failings (convenient that people who applaud his politics can forget his violence and misogyny) but his utter lack of importance among modern writers. There has never been a bigger gap between the writers who are read and the writers who are promoted. I fear it's an unfortunate outgrowth of the explosion of MFA programs which promote a very specific and rigid genre of writing, published by like-minded folks and only read by the same. I think this phenomenon speaks to the disconnect between good writing and good press which Myers speaks to in the Atlantic piece. The romanticized accolades for Norman Mailer upon his death mask his lack of accomplishments in recent decades. Reading all the heartfelt encomia about what a great American writer he was ignores not only his many personal failings (convenient that people who applaud his politics can forget his violence and misogyny) but his utter lack of importance among modern writers. There has never been a bigger gap between the writers who are read and the writers who are promoted. I fear it’s an unfortunate outgrowth of the explosion of MFA programs which promote a very specific and rigid genre of writing, published by like-minded folks and only read by the same.

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