Comments on: John Irving’s World of Fiction: Almost As Bizarre As Reality https://booksquare.com/john-irvings-world-of-fiction-almost-as-bizarre-as-reality/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&%23038;utm_campaign=john-irvings-world-of-fiction-almost-as-bizarre-as-reality Dissecting the publishing industry with love and skepticism Mon, 25 Jul 2005 22:16:16 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Booksquare https://booksquare.com/john-irvings-world-of-fiction-almost-as-bizarre-as-reality/#comment-93242 Mon, 25 Jul 2005 22:16:16 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/archives/2005/07/22/1475/#comment-93242 I agree with your hopes, but wonder if it’s a fair review. Of course, Katakani’s reviews tend to make me laugh, so maybe the goal is being achieved. I do agree that tastes change (which is why I am now able to appreciate Hemingway — for so long, his style left me cold, now I appreciate the sophistication of his work). As for Byatt…maybe I’ll achieve your eye some day because I’ve never had a comfortable reading experience with her.

And I’m glad you stumbled over here as well!

]]> By: ding https://booksquare.com/john-irvings-world-of-fiction-almost-as-bizarre-as-reality/#comment-92717 Sat, 23 Jul 2005 08:34:11 +0000 http://www.booksquare.com/archives/2005/07/22/1475/#comment-92717 what’s the purpose?

hope. and taste.

we hope one of two things (or both things, serially): one, that the author will improve or two, that we will change our mind about the author.

the second hope is distantly related to that second thing, taste. we continue to review an author armed with the realization that our tastes change. while a.s. byatt made me grit my teeth in frustration and disgust back in 1996, she now strikes me as near a literary goddess. did anything significant change with byatt? no. my taste changed and so did my eye.

(by the way, i am enjoying your blog. i’m glad i stumbled over here.)

]]>