Comments on: “Against the Day” Roundtable, Part Two http://www.edrants.com/against-the-day-roundtable-part-two/ a cultural website in ever-shifting standing Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:01:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: datsun http://www.edrants.com/against-the-day-roundtable-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-178415 datsun Sat, 10 Feb 2007 11:39:53 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=5231#comment-178415 Wow. I don't know whether to be glad that the workshop I'm in isn't the only one with such a low level of function, or sad that students given the chance to work with a professional writer of the heavyweight type wound up saying such stupid things. Just out of curiosity, how many Reticent MFAers, Sullen MFAers and Neverpreparedforclassbutattendandslowdownthediscussion MFAers were present? Wow. I don’t know whether to be glad that the workshop I’m in isn’t the only one with such a low level of function, or sad that students given the chance to work with a professional writer of the heavyweight type wound up saying such stupid things.

Just out of curiosity, how many Reticent MFAers, Sullen MFAers and Neverpreparedforclassbutattendandslowdownthediscussion MFAers were present?

]]> By: Shubha Ghosh http://www.edrants.com/against-the-day-roundtable-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-131254 Shubha Ghosh Tue, 09 Jan 2007 19:15:14 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=5231#comment-131254 As I understand it, Pynchon turned down the chance to teach creative writing twice, first at Cornell, the second at Bennington. I wonder what the course of his career and creative writing programs would have been if he had not declined.... From my one time through of AtD, my assessment is that the book holds together better than Gravity's Rainbow and is perhaps an achievement beyond that book. The metpahor or light and refraction necessarily makes the book seem more rambling than GR where arcing and the pull of gravity makes the work seem to come together better, almost oppressively. I see GR and AtD as bookends, the first dealing with the seriousness of gravity, the second with the playfulness of light. As I understand it, Pynchon turned down the chance to teach creative writing twice, first at Cornell, the second at Bennington. I wonder what the course of his career and creative writing programs would have been if he had not declined….

From my one time through of AtD, my assessment is that the book holds together better than Gravity’s Rainbow and is perhaps an achievement beyond that book. The metpahor or light and refraction necessarily makes the book seem more rambling than GR where arcing and the pull of gravity makes the work seem to come together better, almost oppressively. I see GR and AtD as bookends, the first dealing with the seriousness of gravity, the second with the playfulness of light.

]]> By: sevenpointman http://www.edrants.com/against-the-day-roundtable-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-125469 sevenpointman Thu, 04 Jan 2007 17:56:06 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=5231#comment-125469 Maybe reading the whole book and thinking about the ideas-instead of creating obstacles to the insights in this book, would help. This book has a very clear narrative taking turns and twists based on the refraction and doubling of experience. This process in everyday life is the key to this beautifully woven literary Persian carpet that it seems you are picking sarcastic threads from for your own purposes. Maybe reading the whole book and thinking about the ideas-instead of creating obstacles to the insights
in this book, would help.

This book has a very clear narrative taking turns and twists based on the refraction and doubling of experience.
This process in everyday life is the key to this beautifully woven literary Persian carpet that it seems you are picking sarcastic threads from for your own purposes.

]]> By: B. Dagger Lee http://www.edrants.com/against-the-day-roundtable-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-124066 B. Dagger Lee Wed, 03 Jan 2007 18:41:35 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=5231#comment-124066 Late, Sloppy MFAer: Um, I didn't read this, but I just want to say that looking at it now, I agree with what other people are saying, there's like too many things going on and stuff, and I don't know what all this stuff is. Does anyone have a pen I can use? Late, Sloppy MFAer: Um, I didn’t read this, but I just want to say that looking at it now, I agree with what other people are saying, there’s like too many things going on and stuff, and I don’t know what all this stuff is. Does anyone have a pen I can use?

]]> By: Charlotte http://www.edrants.com/against-the-day-roundtable-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-124065 Charlotte Wed, 03 Jan 2007 18:41:27 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=5231#comment-124065 I know these people. They make me crazy. (I didn't realize Cranky MFAer had transferred. My condolences.) You, my friend, are hilarious! I know these people. They make me crazy.
(I didn’t realize Cranky MFAer had transferred. My condolences.)
You, my friend, are hilarious!

]]> By: Jimmy Beck http://www.edrants.com/against-the-day-roundtable-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-124034 Jimmy Beck Wed, 03 Jan 2007 18:03:43 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=5231#comment-124034 Wow. I just started having flashbacks. At least they didn't tell him to change tense or POV... Wow. I just started having flashbacks. At least they didn’t tell him to change tense or POV…

]]> By: Tom B. http://www.edrants.com/against-the-day-roundtable-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-124005 Tom B. Wed, 03 Jan 2007 17:05:27 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=5231#comment-124005 What Brian F. said. I've been thinking about enrolling in an MFA program. Hmmm. What Brian F. said.

I’ve been thinking about enrolling in an MFA program. Hmmm.

]]> By: Brian F. http://www.edrants.com/against-the-day-roundtable-part-two/comment-page-1/#comment-123945 Brian F. Wed, 03 Jan 2007 15:28:15 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=5231#comment-123945 You. Are. Brilliant. You. Are. Brilliant.

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