The Silence
Hi Jack…
I find it just amazing that you can’t seem to even get anyone to answer your comments and claims about how publishing works and the state of fiction today. Isn’t there anyone who’s interested? Don’t people have friends and beliefs they feel compelled to defend? I’ve brought up some of your points in alt.books.publishing and on the Paglia email list and get very little response.
They were a bit warm to the idea on the Paglia list, but there was still a surprising amount of silence. It seems like such an amazing topic. It seems like Camille’s main topic. So what’s up?
How can things be so uniform? Where are the eager readers, those who got fired up by Motorcycle Maintenance and Quality? Self-examination is the buzzword everywhere, so where is it?
Is what’s going on simply the coolcat response to anything new? –That old ‘if I stay quiet I look my best’ routine? Once an approach gets power it seems like silence is its best defense. Maybe your approach threatens a racket that is so thorough-going to defy belief.
I’d think that Andrew Lytle (bio of Forrest) would’ve sympathized with you. I’d said he seemed to do backtracking about his book, but really I look at his Intro again and even though he calls his book ‘a young man’s book’ the Intro is still full of vitriol against what it meant to be conquered by the North, that it meant the triumph of consumerism over the individual.
I see things that harmonize with your message in many places, yet it just seems nuts that it gets no reply. No retort, no dialog. Well, maybe you do get some. I hope so.
I have an easy enough time starting long arguments with my silly ideas. Not that they’re ever very bright arguments. I don’t even mean them to be arguments. I ask ‘So what do people think about the kind of people who emigrate to this country for monetary reasons? Is it all sweetness and light?’ and I usually get just screams and frothing. All I’m trying to do is to learn more about something that’s not covered honestly in the news. Everyone knows the news is dishonest, but it seems like they aren’t any more willing in general to be honest.
The Paglia people seem very good at actually discussing things without going ape. But even there, there’s too much silence.
Well, best luck, JP
