Hmmm, I don’t know how “Franzen’s no fun” equates to “Franzen’s a jerk.” I certainly didn’t say the latter to this individual. But unlike this individual, I won’t use modifiers here. I’ll let listeners judge for themselves whether the encounter was a “toxic provocation.”
The Call by Yannick Murphy: The always interesting author of Here They Come and Signed, Mata Hari returns with a novel that whips up a worldview from a rather quirky set of limitations: namely, the call logs that a veterinarian maintains as his son is unexpectedly put into a coma and an unforgiving economy denies him work. What emerges is a surprisingly optimistic, often funny, and very moving account on how one family uses acceptance and forgiveness as a way to atone for hard knocks. (Bat Segundo interview with Murphy)
Birds of Paradise by Diana Abu-Jaber: Forget Franzen and Eugenides. If you're looking for a social novel that counts, Diana Abu-Jaber is the author you're looking for. Building from the free-form exploration of consciousness and identity in Crescent and the gripping procedural structure of Origin, Abu-Jaber's latest novel is her finest, equally fluent with gutterpunk culture and smarmy real estate men. It has been suggested by The Washington Post's Ron Charles that you will likely gain some pounds while reading this novel. This is certainly true. Abu-Jaber's description of food is so precise that it often made me want to do more cooking. But I very much admired the way in which Abu-Jaber presents all her characters as unwitting victims of rough capitalism, which permits them some dignity even as they perform terrible acts.
The Last of the Live Nude Girls by Sheila McClear: This memoir isn't so much about the decline of the Times Square peepshow, as it is about one young woman's efforts to pull herself up by by her bootstraps when presented with few economic options. Filled with self-introspective candor and a quiet dignity, McClear's story is one that might befall any of us in these volatile times. While McClear does get back on her feet, her book leads one contemplating the terrible fates of other young women now moving to New York and falling into deadlier vocations. (Bat Segundo interview with McClear)
Judging for myself, “toxic provocation,” no. Weird and awkward, yes Not clear what Franzen should or could’ve done to be “fun” with the approach.
Ummmmm Ron is pretty weird himself. HOT AUTHOR contest anyone?????
I was waiting for Franzen’s rendition of “shave and a haircut, two bits”.
In my opinion, Franzen definitely overreacted (one could argue he was being a jerk…), as part of attending such events/being Franzen is dealing with the media.
But… Ed did come across as a little manic/unapproachable, and however much of an asshole he was being, the man had a bit of a point.
Silly question maybe, but where did the “toxic provocation” quote come from? From the audio clip (and previous experience) I think Franzen is a bit of a stiff, and Ed does come on a bit too strong in the exchange, but who’s blowing this up into something more?
Wait…was my original comment deleted because I invoked “Evil Kirk”…or because I invoked “Good Kirk”?
It wasn’t deleted. It’s on the other thread.
I believe you were browbeating Franzen a little unfairly, Ed. Now come on, that’s not very nice.
Jesus H., if a writer can’t take a little interviewing from his adoring public, then why show up? It’s not like he has anything on the line. Nice to know Hogan can remain objective.
Emboldened by the realisation that my “Evil Kirk” comment wasn’t deleted, I’ll go even further and suggest that that wasn’t Jonathan Franzen at all, and that Ed’s powers of ventriloquism are so frighteningly polished that he managed to make the “two” voices overlap. But, come on, it’s obvious that both those voices were Ed. No way in hell a millionaire *really talks like that*.
I just hope we can put this whole mess behind us and get back to the important content – Photoshopped pictures of talking cats.
Sorry, Ed, but you come across as sort of a creepy jerk on that clip. Franzen may not be the nicest person in the world, but you come off as far, far worse in that exchange than he does.