October 4th, 2009 / 10:50 pm
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Blake Butler
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Awaiting Your Reply…
Hearing so many good things about Dan Chaon’s new Await Your Reply, including references to it being Lynchian (doubt it), and ‘the first great novel about the Internet‘ (which is, respectfully, totally not true, what about The Sluts?)
Anyhow, I’m curious, if yet not fully sold on the prospect, partially because of the hype and partially because whenever I open up to possibilities of this size that seem too good to be true, they usually turn out to be (especially in such huge markets): so I’m asking you. Anybody read this yet? Reactions/thoughts?
Any other overlooked great novels about the internet? (I hate seeing internet capitalized, I don’t know why, it’s just like god.)
Tags: Await Your Reply, Dan Chaon
I thought this was awful.
I thought this was awful.
I liked it.
I liked it.
Yeah, you know, I thought about The Sluts. But to me, that one is almost-great. Don’t get me wrong, I love Cooper, and he’s written some great books, I just didn’t think that one rose to that level. It’s excellent, it just didn’t amaze me.
Yeah, you know, I thought about The Sluts. But to me, that one is almost-great. Don’t get me wrong, I love Cooper, and he’s written some great books, I just didn’t think that one rose to that level. It’s excellent, it just didn’t amaze me.
‘liked’ seems pretty weak. so it’s not great? just okay?
The Sluts is a masterpiece.
mike, why was it awful?
‘liked’ seems pretty weak. so it’s not great? just okay?
The Sluts is a masterpiece.
mike, why was it awful?
I think Frisk and Try are masterpieces, I just can’t go that far with The Sluts, no offense.
I think Frisk and Try are masterpieces, I just can’t go that far with The Sluts, no offense.
What about Microserfs? Maybe not great great, but it’s one of Coupland’s better novels and when you consider that it was published in the mid-nineties… he “got” the internet before most people did, anyway.
What about Microserfs? Maybe not great great, but it’s one of Coupland’s better novels and when you consider that it was published in the mid-nineties… he “got” the internet before most people did, anyway.
Also I think there have already been some great novels about the internet but maybe they’re all science fiction and maybe that’s not the internet internet. Maybe I haven’t even read them. What is Snow Crash about? I’ve read Neuromancer, does Neuromancer count? Pieces of Pattern Recognition could have been part of the first great internet novel.
Also I think there have already been some great novels about the internet but maybe they’re all science fiction and maybe that’s not the internet internet. Maybe I haven’t even read them. What is Snow Crash about? I’ve read Neuromancer, does Neuromancer count? Pieces of Pattern Recognition could have been part of the first great internet novel.
TTYL
TTYL
no, of course, to each his own. I agree with Frisk and Try as well.
no, of course, to each his own. I agree with Frisk and Try as well.
totes
totes
I liked it a lot, but would say it’s much more about identity than about the internet. I also completely miss the Lynchian reference. Hardly a Lynch expert (I don’t think you can qualify if you’re not watching all of his own internet stuff) but really miss how this would be something Lynchian – especially where he’s at now.
I liked it a lot, but would say it’s much more about identity than about the internet. I also completely miss the Lynchian reference. Hardly a Lynch expert (I don’t think you can qualify if you’re not watching all of his own internet stuff) but really miss how this would be something Lynchian – especially where he’s at now.
i liked the book. it was definitely enjoyable. great? probably not. but i did not feel i was wasting my time by reading it.
i liked the book. it was definitely enjoyable. great? probably not. but i did not feel i was wasting my time by reading it.
Hey Blake. Michael Joyce’s absolutely great “Was: annales nomadiques: a novel of internet” comes to mind. It’s published by fc2. Also, if you’re able to do horror genre fiction (in this case, very tastily-written horror genre fiction), I’d recommend Ramsey Campbell’s excellent ‘The Grin of the Dark’ as well, probably the best and weirdest treatment on trolling I’ve come across.
Hey Blake. Michael Joyce’s absolutely great “Was: annales nomadiques: a novel of internet” comes to mind. It’s published by fc2. Also, if you’re able to do horror genre fiction (in this case, very tastily-written horror genre fiction), I’d recommend Ramsey Campbell’s excellent ‘The Grin of the Dark’ as well, probably the best and weirdest treatment on trolling I’ve come across.
I saw Dan read from this in Cleveland last year. Everyone else seemed thoroughly impressed, but I remember thinking “this guy was a national book award finalist?” I wish I had more comprehensive evidence to cite, but it was a long time ago.
I saw Dan read from this in Cleveland last year. Everyone else seemed thoroughly impressed, but I remember thinking “this guy was a national book award finalist?” I wish I had more comprehensive evidence to cite, but it was a long time ago.
nice, i will check both of those out, thanks David!
nice, i will check both of those out, thanks David!
That Campbell book sounds great; I think my brother is a big fan of his. The Joyce one sounds awesome too.
That Campbell book sounds great; I think my brother is a big fan of his. The Joyce one sounds awesome too.
‘the first great novel about the Internet‘
William Gibson’s 1983 book Neuromancer. No contest.
Pattern Recognition was like 2006 or something.
And Snow Crash is more about ‘delivering pizza on skateboards’ or something than about the internet.
‘the first great novel about the Internet‘
William Gibson’s 1983 book Neuromancer. No contest.
Pattern Recognition was like 2006 or something.
And Snow Crash is more about ‘delivering pizza on skateboards’ or something than about the internet.
blake, i like this post
i read what you linked, and from that, it really doesn’t seem like this book is about the internet
i have never read a book that felt to me like it was about the internet, nor have i read a book that felt the way the internet feels.
i think that maybe a mid-series episode of dawson’s creek is more about the internet than maybe this book, but i haven’t read it.
blake, i like this post
i read what you linked, and from that, it really doesn’t seem like this book is about the internet
i have never read a book that felt to me like it was about the internet, nor have i read a book that felt the way the internet feels.
i think that maybe a mid-series episode of dawson’s creek is more about the internet than maybe this book, but i haven’t read it.
oh. i can’t delete posts. i feel like i need to say, “not like MY opinion matters/mattered…”
oh. i can’t delete posts. i feel like i need to say, “not like MY opinion matters/mattered…”
I read the book. I’m going to his reading this Wednesday in LA. I liked it, but agree with what others said. It’s not like Lynch at all, and the Internet stuff is minor. I felt like the story was just getting started when it suddenly ended. The opening chapters start in the present, but then the next half of the book in the past, so when it finally gets back to the present, you’re at the end.
I read the book. I’m going to his reading this Wednesday in LA. I liked it, but agree with what others said. It’s not like Lynch at all, and the Internet stuff is minor. I felt like the story was just getting started when it suddenly ended. The opening chapters start in the present, but then the next half of the book in the past, so when it finally gets back to the present, you’re at the end.
thanks guys. i feel like i can skip this now w/o paranoia
thanks guys. i feel like i can skip this now w/o paranoia
“Closer” and “Guide” and “Period” actually do more for me than “Frisk” and “Try.”
“Closer” and “Guide” and “Period” actually do more for me than “Frisk” and “Try.”
Massively overlooked book about the internet (that I thought was genius, and publicized, and my friends published): CRUST by Lawrence Shainberg, out on Two Dollar Radio: http://www.lawrenceshainberg.com
Massively overlooked book about the internet (that I thought was genius, and publicized, and my friends published): CRUST by Lawrence Shainberg, out on Two Dollar Radio: http://www.lawrenceshainberg.com
agreed.
agreed.
Yeah, I know Pattern Recognition was pretty recent, I just mentioned it because it captured some things about the internet that Neuromancer didn’t, I guess it’s loneliness and mystery, though Neuromancer got that too I think. Just in really different ways. Pattern Recognition was working with something that already existed while Neuromancer was working with something a little more hypothetical. Same difference between Neuromancer and Microserfs I think.
Yeah, I know Pattern Recognition was pretty recent, I just mentioned it because it captured some things about the internet that Neuromancer didn’t, I guess it’s loneliness and mystery, though Neuromancer got that too I think. Just in really different ways. Pattern Recognition was working with something that already existed while Neuromancer was working with something a little more hypothetical. Same difference between Neuromancer and Microserfs I think.
Hah, what about him made you think that? Was he dressed weird? Was his nostril dripping? Did you expect a National Book Award finalist to be supernaturally wise/intelligent, and him being a regular guy was a little disappointing because it means that anyone (even you) can be a National Book Award Finalist?? I think that happens a lot.
Hah, what about him made you think that? Was he dressed weird? Was his nostril dripping? Did you expect a National Book Award finalist to be supernaturally wise/intelligent, and him being a regular guy was a little disappointing because it means that anyone (even you) can be a National Book Award Finalist?? I think that happens a lot.
I know Dan personally, so I’m of course biased, but Await Your Reply knocked my socks off. It’s definitely on my list of favorite books of the year (Also on that list: Stoner by John Williams and Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. Chaon is in good compnay.) I didn’t feel that way about his first novel, though I admired its structure and prose, and I know people who loved it to pieces. Await Your Reply was just so masterfully plotted, and the characters were fascinating and troubled and believable in all the ways I love. I couldn’t stop reading it–but not in that gross, junk-food-book way. It’s entertaining, moving and smart all at once. Yes, it’s got the internet; it’s also got a mail-order magician store, an abandoned lighthouse motel, and sad college dorms. There’s a lot to this novel. It’s interesting to me how people (including myself) decide they won’t read something because it gets a lot of good press. Maybe all these people who said the book was just okay or a disappointment will practice some reverse psychology on you and make you want to read it. I hope so.
I know Dan personally, so I’m of course biased, but Await Your Reply knocked my socks off. It’s definitely on my list of favorite books of the year (Also on that list: Stoner by John Williams and Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. Chaon is in good compnay.) I didn’t feel that way about his first novel, though I admired its structure and prose, and I know people who loved it to pieces. Await Your Reply was just so masterfully plotted, and the characters were fascinating and troubled and believable in all the ways I love. I couldn’t stop reading it–but not in that gross, junk-food-book way. It’s entertaining, moving and smart all at once. Yes, it’s got the internet; it’s also got a mail-order magician store, an abandoned lighthouse motel, and sad college dorms. There’s a lot to this novel. It’s interesting to me how people (including myself) decide they won’t read something because it gets a lot of good press. Maybe all these people who said the book was just okay or a disappointment will practice some reverse psychology on you and make you want to read it. I hope so.
hmm. maybe i’ll give it go. just to see for myself. if anybody wants to trade…
hmm. maybe i’ll give it go. just to see for myself. if anybody wants to trade…
Internet, God, and which is worst if you ask me,,,,, Poetry. It makes me cringe everytime
Internet, God, and which is worst if you ask me,,,,, Poetry. It makes me cringe everytime
That Elizabeth Ellen chapbook was dedicated to The Internet!
That Elizabeth Ellen chapbook was dedicated to The Internet!
man, i just realized you were the Bookslut reviewer Michael. i didn’t even look. now that i know it’s you i believe it a lot more. i’m going to give it a try.
man, i just realized you were the Bookslut reviewer Michael. i didn’t even look. now that i know it’s you i believe it a lot more. i’m going to give it a try.
I haven’t had a chance to read this particular novel yet, but his first novel and his preceding story collections are not books I think you would particularly enjoy as much as someone like I enjoy Chaon’s work. I’m basing this on my cursory knowledge of your tastes and what you look for in a book. I’m not discounting that you might like it, but I’m saying I doubt you will LOVE it. I don’t know; have you read Chaon’s other work? If you had and liked it, this would be right up your alley. I just don’t know you that well.
I haven’t had a chance to read this particular novel yet, but his first novel and his preceding story collections are not books I think you would particularly enjoy as much as someone like I enjoy Chaon’s work. I’m basing this on my cursory knowledge of your tastes and what you look for in a book. I’m not discounting that you might like it, but I’m saying I doubt you will LOVE it. I don’t know; have you read Chaon’s other work? If you had and liked it, this would be right up your alley. I just don’t know you that well.
No. I just wasn’t impressed with the excerpts he read. He also reminded me a little of Patton Oswalt.
No. I just wasn’t impressed with the excerpts he read. He also reminded me a little of Patton Oswalt.
JPod! Coupland is truly fantastic and underrated.
JPod! Coupland is truly fantastic and underrated.
I don’t know about JPod. I liked it but it was too much like Microserfs, and Microserfs is just better. Plus by the end I was annoyed by Coupland in general, some of his PoMo “tactics”. Could have been a much tighter novel.
I agree with you that he’s fantastic and underrated, but he’s a weird guy: he’s simultaneously over and underrated I think. The Gum Thief was pretty great. I’m looking forward to Gen A.
I don’t know about JPod. I liked it but it was too much like Microserfs, and Microserfs is just better. Plus by the end I was annoyed by Coupland in general, some of his PoMo “tactics”. Could have been a much tighter novel.
I agree with you that he’s fantastic and underrated, but he’s a weird guy: he’s simultaneously over and underrated I think. The Gum Thief was pretty great. I’m looking forward to Gen A.