June 7th, 2010 / 9:04 pm
Snippets
Snippets
Blake Butler—
Deborah Treisman responds to Qs about the New Yorker 20 Under 40 list via live chat. Heheh: “DEBORAH TREISMAN: I have a degree in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley. I don’t think there’s only one kind of university at which aspiring writers can get an education. There’s an enormous range of educational opportunity out there.”
Good grief.
Good grief.
Some of these questions. Wow.
Some of these questions. Wow.
If they were trying not to annoint undiscovered writers, than what gives with Téa Obreht?
If they were trying not to annoint undiscovered writers, than what gives with Téa Obreht?
I think the most giving line in this thing is “four of the writers on the list had not been published in the magazine before.”
So, basically, this is a list of people under 40 who have been published in the New Yorker. Now it makes sense.
I think the most giving line in this thing is “four of the writers on the list had not been published in the magazine before.”
So, basically, this is a list of people under 40 who have been published in the New Yorker. Now it makes sense.
“I’m afraid that Aimee Bender is 40, which made her ineligible.” Ouch.
“I’m afraid that Aimee Bender is 40, which made her ineligible.” Ouch.
all that needs to be said about this list: “This is an egregiously truncated list, self-restricted to North America.” (from Joshua Ferris’ Q&A)
Her novel excerpt/short story in the New Yorker was pretty awesome, and I imagine they think the manuscript of her upcoming novel is pretty awesome as well.
Her novel excerpt/short story in the New Yorker was pretty awesome, and I imagine they think the manuscript of her upcoming novel is pretty awesome as well.
Which says a lot, since many of the best writers (in any age group) clearly aren’t writing in English.
Which says a lot, since many of the best writers (in any age group) clearly aren’t writing in English.
Good grief.
Some of these questions. Wow.
If they were trying not to annoint undiscovered writers, than what gives with Téa Obreht?
I think the most giving line in this thing is “four of the writers on the list had not been published in the magazine before.”
So, basically, this is a list of people under 40 who have been published in the New Yorker. Now it makes sense.
“I’m afraid that Aimee Bender is 40, which made her ineligible.” Ouch.
that’s it. i’m naming my baby “Coffeé” instead.
Her novel excerpt/short story in the New Yorker was pretty awesome, and I imagine they think the manuscript of her upcoming novel is pretty awesome as well.
Which says a lot, since many of the best writers (in any age group) clearly aren’t writing in English.
I’m glad they all had talent in common. I thought it was something else.
I’m glad they all had talent in common. I thought it was something else.
I enjoyed this answer (in response to the question, “are you an aspiring writer?”) :
“No, I’m not. I think it would be very difficult to assess and edit fiction all day and then go home and try to write it.”
Yes. Just imagine.
I enjoyed this answer (in response to the question, “are you an aspiring writer?”) :
“No, I’m not. I think it would be very difficult to assess and edit fiction all day and then go home and try to write it.”
Yes. Just imagine.
I’m glad they all had talent in common. I thought it was something else.
The stories from the Twenty presented so far are oppressively mediocre. Except for Foer’s, which is idiocy.
The stories from the Twenty presented so far are oppressively mediocre. Except for Foer’s, which is idiocy.
I enjoyed this answer (in response to the question, “are you an aspiring writer?”) :
“No, I’m not. I think it would be very difficult to assess and edit fiction all day and then go home and try to write it.”
Yes. Just imagine.
oh god, they are all so boring.
oh god, they are all so boring.
oh god, they are all so boring.
The stories from the Twenty presented so far are oppressively mediocre. Except for Foer’s, which is idiocy.
The NY Post speaks:
The New Yorker’s “Summer Fiction” issue focuses on authors under 40 and the resulting material seems, well, youthful. Jonathan Safran Foer, 33, chronicles the trials of an aged couple with all the wisdom and sensitivity of a stand-up comedian: “I was always watching movie trailers on my computer. You were always wiping surfaces.” In a story about a glamorous Hollywood party, Joshua Ferris, 35, scribbles endlessly about whether the protagonist wasn’t invited because of an e-mail glitch. F. Scott Fitzgerald it ain’t. The better pieces tend to grapple with various hardships, as if to counter an alarming trend of triteness.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/paradise_pages_53hHzqtjK71jAL23yYtM8O/1#ixzz0qOLhGK65
The NY Post speaks:
The New Yorker’s “Summer Fiction” issue focuses on authors under 40 and the resulting material seems, well, youthful. Jonathan Safran Foer, 33, chronicles the trials of an aged couple with all the wisdom and sensitivity of a stand-up comedian: “I was always watching movie trailers on my computer. You were always wiping surfaces.” In a story about a glamorous Hollywood party, Joshua Ferris, 35, scribbles endlessly about whether the protagonist wasn’t invited because of an e-mail glitch. F. Scott Fitzgerald it ain’t. The better pieces tend to grapple with various hardships, as if to counter an alarming trend of triteness.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/paradise_pages_53hHzqtjK71jAL23yYtM8O/1#ixzz0qOLhGK65
The NY Post speaks:
The New Yorker’s “Summer Fiction” issue focuses on authors under 40 and the resulting material seems, well, youthful. Jonathan Safran Foer, 33, chronicles the trials of an aged couple with all the wisdom and sensitivity of a stand-up comedian: “I was always watching movie trailers on my computer. You were always wiping surfaces.” In a story about a glamorous Hollywood party, Joshua Ferris, 35, scribbles endlessly about whether the protagonist wasn’t invited because of an e-mail glitch. F. Scott Fitzgerald it ain’t. The better pieces tend to grapple with various hardships, as if to counter an alarming trend of triteness.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/paradise_pages_53hHzqtjK71jAL23yYtM8O/1#ixzz0qOLhGK65