Random
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
The Last King Of Scotland
The Guardian says that Scottish literature has been split in two by comments made by James Kelman, who over the weekend attacked “writers of detective fiction or books about some upper middle-class young magician or some crap.” My first reaction to this was “Man, it is apparently super fucking easy to split Scottish literature in two,” but upon further reflection that seems petty. American literature gets split in two pretty much every other week, and usually Oprah Winfrey has something to do with it.
I should refrain from discussing what this whole contretemps might do to Scotland’s collective national psyche, at least until I can fake a better Scottish accent. But it got me thinking about the old “literary fiction” versus “genre fiction” debate, which leads me to this question: Does this debate make you want to (a) shoot yourself in the head, or (b) stab yourself in the face? If someone brings this topic up, do you usually (a) cry, or (b) vomit blood? Either way, it sounds like Scotland is kind of fucked, which is a shame, because I like that “Belle and Sebastian” band. (By the way: Hi! My name is Michael.)
Tags: genre fiction, literary fiction, Scotland
Hi Michael!
Does A L Kennedy write detective fiction or young-middle-class-magician fiction? Or some unholy hybrid of the two? I hope James Kelman doesn’t chop her in half…
Hi Michael!
Does A L Kennedy write detective fiction or young-middle-class-magician fiction? Or some unholy hybrid of the two? I hope James Kelman doesn’t chop her in half…
Schaub’s first GIANT post! Long have I waited for this day. Welcome to the family, man. It’s really great to have you here. Also, I choose (b) both times.
Schaub’s first GIANT post! Long have I waited for this day. Welcome to the family, man. It’s really great to have you here. Also, I choose (b) both times.
hi michael, i like belle and sebastian too
hi michael, i like belle and sebastian too
Michael! First of all: Hello, nice to meet you.
Second: This is a great post. Funny as hell.
Glad to have you on board.
Michael! First of all: Hello, nice to meet you.
Second: This is a great post. Funny as hell.
Glad to have you on board.
I like the picture of Scottish literature being split in two, just like Ireland was, and where is George Mitchell, and where is Jimmy Carter, and who will find the hidden rifles?
I like the picture of Scottish literature being split in two, just like Ireland was, and where is George Mitchell, and where is Jimmy Carter, and who will find the hidden rifles?
Hi Michael, I’m Scottish, from Glasgow.
I sort of agree, but Scottish literature is making the most money, and why is that? Two words Harry Potter. JK Rowling is God’s gift to Scottish Literature.
But thank god for Iain Banks and Irvine Welsh who are still knocking out great books that aren’t about middle class wizardery or Rebus solving a murder.
Hi Michael, I’m Scottish, from Glasgow.
I sort of agree, but Scottish literature is making the most money, and why is that? Two words Harry Potter. JK Rowling is God’s gift to Scottish Literature.
But thank god for Iain Banks and Irvine Welsh who are still knocking out great books that aren’t about middle class wizardery or Rebus solving a murder.
Thanks for posting this, Michael. Even though I don’t live too far away (Germany) I haven’t heard of this unholy row. Wow, the Scots have thrown down the gauntlet once more. Calling Kelman’s approach – questionable as it may be – “Stalinist” is quite something. I do agree, though, that this whole discussion makes one feel sick. And just like you, I hope it won’t affect Scotland’s national collective psyche negatively. I couldn’t live without Walkers shortbread and Hamish Macbeth.
Thanks for posting this, Michael. Even though I don’t live too far away (Germany) I haven’t heard of this unholy row. Wow, the Scots have thrown down the gauntlet once more. Calling Kelman’s approach – questionable as it may be – “Stalinist” is quite something. I do agree, though, that this whole discussion makes one feel sick. And just like you, I hope it won’t affect Scotland’s national collective psyche negatively. I couldn’t live without Walkers shortbread and Hamish Macbeth.
Hi Michael, I’m Scottish, from Glasgow.
I don’t really pay attention to Scottish literature. My old lecturers always referred to James Kelman as Jim Kelman. I have read some good stories by James Kelman.
Ian Rankin seems quite nice. I want to be annoyed by him but he always seems smart and pleasant in interviews and photographs.
Hi Michael, I’m Scottish, from Glasgow.
I don’t really pay attention to Scottish literature. My old lecturers always referred to James Kelman as Jim Kelman. I have read some good stories by James Kelman.
Ian Rankin seems quite nice. I want to be annoyed by him but he always seems smart and pleasant in interviews and photographs.
hi michael,
my name is kerri and i live in edinburgh but am from derry, ireland so i am quite possibly torn in two TWICE! i don’t think my writing falls into any of the categories people try to make for scotland or ireland.
i went to listen to ian banks at the edinburgh book festival and he made a very cool point that as a writer of both sci-fi and awesome ‘lit’ stuff he sees himself as merely WRITING and doesn’t draw any distinctions at all between the two. he is a real person, who talks TO you instead of at you, laughs at himself and doesn’t give a fuck how his work is pigeonholed. i wish some critics/ editors/ publishers could sit down and have a wee chat with THAT scottish writer. blew my mind.
ps- if u like belle and seb u should listen to ‘god help the girl’ for a wee peek at scottish and irish magical goodness
big love from a torn irish girl in a torn scottish city that has a castle
hi michael,
my name is kerri and i live in edinburgh but am from derry, ireland so i am quite possibly torn in two TWICE! i don’t think my writing falls into any of the categories people try to make for scotland or ireland.
i went to listen to ian banks at the edinburgh book festival and he made a very cool point that as a writer of both sci-fi and awesome ‘lit’ stuff he sees himself as merely WRITING and doesn’t draw any distinctions at all between the two. he is a real person, who talks TO you instead of at you, laughs at himself and doesn’t give a fuck how his work is pigeonholed. i wish some critics/ editors/ publishers could sit down and have a wee chat with THAT scottish writer. blew my mind.
ps- if u like belle and seb u should listen to ‘god help the girl’ for a wee peek at scottish and irish magical goodness
big love from a torn irish girl in a torn scottish city that has a castle
m schaub in this
m schaub in this
HTMLKIDS, thank you so much for welcoming me! It feels good to be here. I appreciate your kind words; I admire all of you a great deal.
And European kids, thank you for your suggestions. It seems like a large percentage of my favorite authors (A. L. Kennedy, Ali Smith, Robin Jenkins) and bands (The Delgados, Arab Strap, Mogwai) are Scottish. I also like watching Irn-Bru commercials on YouTube.
I kind of want to be Scottish, or Irish. I am from Texas; the accent where I come from is markedly less cool.
HTMLKIDS, thank you so much for welcoming me! It feels good to be here. I appreciate your kind words; I admire all of you a great deal.
And European kids, thank you for your suggestions. It seems like a large percentage of my favorite authors (A. L. Kennedy, Ali Smith, Robin Jenkins) and bands (The Delgados, Arab Strap, Mogwai) are Scottish. I also like watching Irn-Bru commercials on YouTube.
I kind of want to be Scottish, or Irish. I am from Texas; the accent where I come from is markedly less cool.
Hi Michael.
Remember the Alamo.
Hi Michael.
Remember the Alamo.
a. and b.
a. and b.
Michael – Yeah it’s all nice and well wanting to be something, but really Scottish people aren’t Kilt-wearing shortbread-munching haggis-eating bag-pipers. Like most countries it has a diverse culture, so for every friendly person you meet there is a bigotted alcoholic cunt, ecspecially in Glasgow.
Oh and I hate those fucking Irn Bru ads, but you should try the drink which is as addictive as heroin.
Michael – Yeah it’s all nice and well wanting to be something, but really Scottish people aren’t Kilt-wearing shortbread-munching haggis-eating bag-pipers. Like most countries it has a diverse culture, so for every friendly person you meet there is a bigotted alcoholic cunt, ecspecially in Glasgow.
Oh and I hate those fucking Irn Bru ads, but you should try the drink which is as addictive as heroin.
But I am a bigoted alcoholic cunt. That’s my email address. bigotedalcoholiccunt at harvard dot edu.
But I am a bigoted alcoholic cunt. That’s my email address. bigotedalcoholiccunt at harvard dot edu.
Hi Michael, it’s nice to cyber meet you. I’ve been the new guy for a while now — I gladly hand the reins over to you. Welcome!
Hi Michael, it’s nice to cyber meet you. I’ve been the new guy for a while now — I gladly hand the reins over to you. Welcome!
word to this
word to this
damn it! that’s why i can’t get that addy; you took it
damn it! that’s why i can’t get that addy; you took it
the glasgow music scene is wonderful
frightened rabbit and we were promised jetpacks are good also
the glasgow music scene is wonderful
frightened rabbit and we were promised jetpacks are good also
Christopher, it’s great to e-meet you too — and Justin and Ken and everyone else. I like you all better than Scotch.
So, uh, did Blake haze you, too? He said he did it to everyone. I just…I just don’t know. Kind of feel used. But in an awesome way.
Christopher, it’s great to e-meet you too — and Justin and Ken and everyone else. I like you all better than Scotch.
So, uh, did Blake haze you, too? He said he did it to everyone. I just…I just don’t know. Kind of feel used. But in an awesome way.
Yeah there are great bands from Gkasgow like Glasvegas, Travis, Simple Minds, Primal Scream.
And great singers like Kt Tunstell, Amy MacDonald and Paolo Nutini, who is actually from Paisley, right next to Glasgow.
Yeah there are great bands from Gkasgow like Glasvegas, Travis, Simple Minds, Primal Scream.
And great singers like Kt Tunstell, Amy MacDonald and Paolo Nutini, who is actually from Paisley, right next to Glasgow.
I’d like to say that Gkasgow offers more diverse fare than this and start listing all these other bands I know, but I worry that this would start descending (further?) into insufferable snobbery. (Sorry for the Gkasgow repetition, it just looks fun.)
I’d like to say that Gkasgow offers more diverse fare than this and start listing all these other bands I know, but I worry that this would start descending (further?) into insufferable snobbery. (Sorry for the Gkasgow repetition, it just looks fun.)