Great discussion! It has been ages since I bought a book of fiction because so many new books are badly written, boring and naggy ( if this is even a word). In my opinion this is even more true in the world of children’s books. For me, one of the most important points Mr. Svetela made was that publishers make money by promoting the idea that classic literature or books written before a certain year may not be inclusive. As school and classroom libraries cull their collections and remove classic children’s literature and older books, publishers are making a killing. I choose not to support publishing companies by buying new books. Occasionally there may be an exception if I really want to support a particular writer. Thrift stores are a great alternative and a place where one can still purchase good quality literature.
Fascinating piece. I do hope this is ending. I’ve also noticed the feminization of the book trade, driven in part by the fact that more women read by far, although there’s circularity to that. Over-correction. I did want to add that there is still some excellent fiction out there, although you have to look hard. In Canada we can’t underestimate the role of editor John Metcalf at Biblioaisis who eschews identity politics and focuses on writing quality. Overall though it is certainly true much fiction is unreadable and for the reasons you discuss.
I am interested the topic yet had to turn the interview off after hearing Adam say the word 'like' so many times in every sentence to the point of me needing a break. So I turned the interview off less than 10 minutes into it. Kind of, sort of, you know, like, I mean... can you craft a thoughtful response to a question prior to enunciating it? Apparently not. Why does this matter? Well, why would I buy a book written by someone who cannot communicate clearly or care enough about a listening audience who are potential customers to clean up this verbal assault? I don't need - and do not want - to have my ears bombarded by untold hundreds of such qualifiers in a mere 10 minutes no matter how interesting the topic may be. How disappointing.
Firstly, I would like to suggest the most dangerous person is the exceptional victim. The exceptional victim is sure of thier own superiority, and thus every bad thing that happens to them is because the "other" is angered by thier superiority. Which makes anything that they might choose to do in response justified.....
Second, my own experience is that most literature I see today is of low quality. Low quality because the writers have little of value to say. They have little to say, because they have lived privileged and sheltered lives, and have never had to struggle and over come great adversity in thier own lives.
While I wish hardship on no one, most great literature is written in times of great upheaval by authors who's lives are in turmoil.
Great interview! I lingered on the question of what happens if everyone in the room is a woman? I think some of what happens is that you do end up with a bias against men. I recently read Flesh by David Szalay and discussed it in a book club made up of mostly women. Most of the women found the book surprising, some thought they wouldn't have read it had it not been for book club. One of them actually mentioned that the protagonist was such a different type of character - a man who embodied a certain type of masculinity that she was not used to finding in contemporary fiction - that she wondered whether we might be blind to the experiences of men like him in real life. This was fascinating and I thought about it while listening to this conversation.
Tara, you ask such great questions. It's always a delight to listen to Lean Out!
Ideally, this should be a business opportunity for a publisher who wants to do something weird and radical and unprecedented, like printing books and selling them for money.
I don't think any of those still exist. Normal people will continue to stick with Tiktok and Youtube, and Substackers will continue to bash normal people for being "illiterate".
Wonderful interview. Thank you.
Great discussion! It has been ages since I bought a book of fiction because so many new books are badly written, boring and naggy ( if this is even a word). In my opinion this is even more true in the world of children’s books. For me, one of the most important points Mr. Svetela made was that publishers make money by promoting the idea that classic literature or books written before a certain year may not be inclusive. As school and classroom libraries cull their collections and remove classic children’s literature and older books, publishers are making a killing. I choose not to support publishing companies by buying new books. Occasionally there may be an exception if I really want to support a particular writer. Thrift stores are a great alternative and a place where one can still purchase good quality literature.
Fascinating piece. I do hope this is ending. I’ve also noticed the feminization of the book trade, driven in part by the fact that more women read by far, although there’s circularity to that. Over-correction. I did want to add that there is still some excellent fiction out there, although you have to look hard. In Canada we can’t underestimate the role of editor John Metcalf at Biblioaisis who eschews identity politics and focuses on writing quality. Overall though it is certainly true much fiction is unreadable and for the reasons you discuss.
I am interested the topic yet had to turn the interview off after hearing Adam say the word 'like' so many times in every sentence to the point of me needing a break. So I turned the interview off less than 10 minutes into it. Kind of, sort of, you know, like, I mean... can you craft a thoughtful response to a question prior to enunciating it? Apparently not. Why does this matter? Well, why would I buy a book written by someone who cannot communicate clearly or care enough about a listening audience who are potential customers to clean up this verbal assault? I don't need - and do not want - to have my ears bombarded by untold hundreds of such qualifiers in a mere 10 minutes no matter how interesting the topic may be. How disappointing.
I am flummoxed by the whole issue.
Firstly, I would like to suggest the most dangerous person is the exceptional victim. The exceptional victim is sure of thier own superiority, and thus every bad thing that happens to them is because the "other" is angered by thier superiority. Which makes anything that they might choose to do in response justified.....
Second, my own experience is that most literature I see today is of low quality. Low quality because the writers have little of value to say. They have little to say, because they have lived privileged and sheltered lives, and have never had to struggle and over come great adversity in thier own lives.
While I wish hardship on no one, most great literature is written in times of great upheaval by authors who's lives are in turmoil.
Great interview! I lingered on the question of what happens if everyone in the room is a woman? I think some of what happens is that you do end up with a bias against men. I recently read Flesh by David Szalay and discussed it in a book club made up of mostly women. Most of the women found the book surprising, some thought they wouldn't have read it had it not been for book club. One of them actually mentioned that the protagonist was such a different type of character - a man who embodied a certain type of masculinity that she was not used to finding in contemporary fiction - that she wondered whether we might be blind to the experiences of men like him in real life. This was fascinating and I thought about it while listening to this conversation.
Tara, you ask such great questions. It's always a delight to listen to Lean Out!
Your lingering over the issue of what effect a roomful of women might play is the very subject studied here (https://eternallyradicalidea.com/p/men-are-more-tolerant-of-the-other?r=3s7a0&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false). It seems to have a rather profound and negative effect on free speech and willingness to tolerate and explore controversy... what in publishing should be fundamental respected principles but are treated far too often as if the worst kind social vice.
Ideally, this should be a business opportunity for a publisher who wants to do something weird and radical and unprecedented, like printing books and selling them for money.
I don't think any of those still exist. Normal people will continue to stick with Tiktok and Youtube, and Substackers will continue to bash normal people for being "illiterate".