Katherine's review
A Reader's Manifesto: An Attack on the Growing Pretentiousness in American Literary Prose
by B.R. Myers
Katherine's review
A Reader's Manifesto: An Attack on the Growing Pretentiousness in American Literary Prose by B.R. Myers
Katherine's review
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This book is an expanded essay in which Myers mourns the lack of coherency in the current stars of American literature.
I agree with the general gist (having just finished a similarly unreadable book by M. John Harrison which got rave critical reviews). Recently, critics seem to be overlooking coherency and readability in favor of a well-turned phrase.
Myers presents some examples of "good" pretentious prose but digs perhaps too deeply into examples of "bad" prose, which I disagree with; sometimes artistry with words need not be closely inspected to be appreciated. Still, definitely entertaining, and the man does have a point: books can be artful without being pretentious.
I agree with the general gist (having just finished a similarly unreadable book by M. John Harrison which got rave critical reviews). Recently, critics seem to be overlooking coherency and readability in favor of a well-turned phrase.
Myers presents some examples of "good" pretentious prose but digs perhaps too deeply into examples of "bad" prose, which I disagree with; sometimes artistry with words need not be closely inspected to be appreciated. Still, definitely entertaining, and the man does have a point: books can be artful without being pretentious.
