Comments on: Norman Mailer: The Most Overrated Writer of the 20th Century http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/ 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: Bazton http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-262082 Bazton Tue, 07 Dec 2010 01:18:29 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-262082 He was overrated and narcissistic, but he wasn't talentless, for Christ's sake. His piece in ESQUIRE on Pat Buchanan was riveting, for one. He was overrated and narcissistic, but he wasn’t talentless, for Christ’s sake. His piece in ESQUIRE on Pat Buchanan was riveting, for one.

]]> By: Ted Burke http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-259256 Ted Burke Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:56:58 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-259256 "He catered to a literary class that enjoyed a voyeuristic escapade into a hyperreal, mythological landscape of sleaze and power. Nothing wrong with that, necessarily, but the tension between his alleged realism and the two-dimensional mythological representations of his characters is hard to swallow. " Funny, but none of this sounds like reasons for Mailer to be considered a bad writer, a dishonest one, or gives evidence, for that matter, that he was a "poor thinker". Anyone with a glancing familiarity into 20th century literature can cite a good number of writers who defied the ever-nervous middle ground of delicate sensibilities of what literature should do for it's audience--edify and instruct in a State defined qualities of virtue. Mailer, among others, interrogated the status quo and struggled to express experience in terms that were sensual, immediate, instructive in ways that one's narrative isn't chained to a fixed storyline but rather based on the quality of one's decisions and the effectiveness of one's capacity to achieve what the can and learn from resulting incidents, good or bad. You might not like his slant--masculinist, mystical, Reichian, post war Marxist--but he didn't waiver in his ideas. Mailer's writing, his ideas still provokes long debates sixty years after the publication of his first book, a fact that informs us that Mailer is hardly over rated. “He catered to a literary class that enjoyed a voyeuristic escapade into a hyperreal, mythological landscape of sleaze and power. Nothing wrong with that, necessarily, but the tension between his alleged realism and the two-dimensional mythological representations of his characters is hard to swallow. ”
Funny, but none of this sounds like reasons for Mailer to be considered a bad writer, a dishonest one, or gives evidence, for that matter, that he was a “poor thinker”. Anyone with a glancing familiarity into 20th century literature can cite a good number of writers who defied the ever-nervous middle ground of delicate sensibilities of what literature should do for it’s audience–edify and instruct in a State defined qualities of virtue. Mailer, among others, interrogated the status quo and struggled to express experience in terms that were sensual, immediate, instructive in ways that one’s narrative isn’t chained to a fixed storyline but rather based on the quality of one’s decisions and the effectiveness of one’s capacity to achieve what the can and learn from resulting incidents, good or bad. You might not like his slant–masculinist, mystical, Reichian, post war Marxist–but he didn’t waiver in his ideas. Mailer’s writing, his ideas still provokes long debates sixty years after the publication of his first book, a fact that informs us that Mailer is hardly over rated.

]]> By: Josh Maislin http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-257239 Josh Maislin Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:24:11 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-257239 Yeah Norman Mailer, maybe he was a Sexist and an Egomaniac. But the point is: "he was a very poor thinker" - Peter Winkler (see his comment). He catered to a literary class that enjoyed a voyeuristic escapade into a hyperreal, mythological landscape of sleaze and power. Nothing wrong with that, necessarily, but the tension between his alleged realism and the two-dimensional mythological representations of his characters is hard to swallow. Also, "The White Negro", if it's the essay I'm thinking about, is a pile of shit, relishing and communicating in retarded stereotypes about black people, making Norman Mailer or any other "hip" person feel better about themselves because they have some weird insecurity towards black people. Is this essay where he claims that the US government is motivated by penis envy towards black men??? haha what a corny piece of shit Yeah Norman Mailer, maybe he was a Sexist and an Egomaniac.

But the point is: “he was a very poor thinker” – Peter Winkler (see his comment).

He catered to a literary class that enjoyed a voyeuristic escapade into a hyperreal, mythological landscape of sleaze and power. Nothing wrong with that, necessarily, but the tension between his alleged realism and the two-dimensional mythological representations of his characters is hard to swallow.

Also, “The White Negro”, if it’s the essay I’m thinking about, is a pile of shit, relishing and communicating in retarded stereotypes about black people, making Norman Mailer or any other “hip” person feel better about themselves because they have some weird insecurity towards black people. Is this essay where he claims that the US government is motivated by penis envy towards black men??? haha what a corny piece of shit

]]> By: Bchiado http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-256653 Bchiado Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:23:54 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-256653 Coward. I hate winterlectuals. Obviously he did his job, which was to die and be called a sexist pig by a bleeding cunt like you. Try living through something, killing something because you have to, and then read your own printed pussy farts and be embarrassed as you should be. If your life in this country, as a man, does not include violence or braggadocio or the occasional bout of misanthropy, it is because you are one of two kinds of people (who's opinions blow away in the wind). The privileged snot nosed punk...or the coward. Come te chiami sorca. Still need that shotgun? Coward. I hate winterlectuals. Obviously he did his job, which was to die and be called a sexist pig by a bleeding cunt like you. Try living through something, killing something because you have to, and then read your own printed pussy farts and be embarrassed as you should be. If your life in this country, as a man, does not include violence or braggadocio or the occasional bout of misanthropy, it is because you are one of two kinds of people
(who’s opinions blow away in the wind). The privileged snot nosed punk…or the coward. Come te chiami sorca. Still need that shotgun?

]]> By: Ted Burke http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-252485 Ted Burke Fri, 10 Apr 2009 20:10:51 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-252485 You've been chewing the same fetid resentment for too long , friend. You sound over rehearsed with this guttersniping. The fact remains is that Mailer is both utterly disliked by a great number of readers, a situation that isn't likely too change this early in the century; however much you dislike him, though, will not change the general consensus that he is the author of a handful of books that well exceed his excesses. Masterpieces, in other words, those books being "Naked and the Dead", "Armies of the Night", "Of a Fire on the Moon", "The Executioner's Song" and "Harlot's Ghost". Beyond these he published quite a few books that provoke debate. It's likely the debate will continue for some time to come; when one wants to discuss American life and culture in the second half of the twentieth century, Mailer is someone who must be read, like him or not. What angers most of his most vocal critic is that for as big an asshole as he could be, as brilliant a writer he often was. You’ve been chewing the same fetid resentment for too long , friend. You sound over rehearsed with this guttersniping. The fact remains is that Mailer is both utterly disliked by a great number of readers, a situation that isn’t likely too change this early in the century; however much you dislike him, though, will not change the general consensus that he is the author of a handful of books that well exceed his excesses. Masterpieces, in other words, those books being “Naked and the Dead”, “Armies of the Night”, “Of a Fire on the Moon”, “The Executioner’s Song” and “Harlot’s Ghost”. Beyond these he published quite a few books that provoke debate. It’s likely the debate will continue for some time to come; when one wants to discuss American life and culture in the second half of the twentieth century, Mailer is someone who must be read, like him or not. What angers most of his most vocal critic is that for as big an asshole as he could be, as brilliant a writer he often was.

]]> By: Dean Jones http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-247768 Dean Jones Wed, 17 Sep 2008 22:30:53 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-247768 Anyone who bothered to read it, "The Executioner's Song," by Mailer, was a superb piece, and the only one I've completed. I read the first 150 or so pages of "The Castle In the Forest," and let's say I was as impressed by the writing as I was by the apocalyptically bad sex. Okay, the inclusion of the bad sex into a whole-heartedly bizarre project. I'll finish it, I only bought it this year, and then I'll judge. He was a talented writer, though; the killing scenes in "The Executioner's Song" were fourth dimensional. Oh yeah, he was entertaining. Ever see the fight with Rip Torn? A marshmallowed buffoon rolling down a hill with a crazed hippy, that was disgracefully hilarious. And he stabbed his wife in the back with a penknife, less amusing, but he regretted it at least his entire life. Overall, a strange man who got his ass "whooped" by at least Madonna and Germaine Greer, but he was educational and thoughtful/though provoking in his later years, and possibly more modest. Check him taling about Lee Harvey Oswald, or the great Muhammad Ali-George Forman ticket in Zaire, or the cultural importance of plastic. (He won the "bad sex award" for "Castle In The Forest"). Anyone who bothered to read it, “The Executioner’s Song,” by Mailer, was a superb piece, and the only one I’ve completed. I read the first 150 or so pages of “The Castle In the Forest,” and let’s say I was as impressed by the writing as I was by the apocalyptically bad sex. Okay, the inclusion of the bad sex into a whole-heartedly bizarre project. I’ll finish it, I only bought it this year, and then I’ll judge. He was a talented writer, though; the killing scenes in “The Executioner’s Song” were fourth dimensional. Oh yeah, he was entertaining. Ever see the fight with Rip Torn? A marshmallowed buffoon rolling down a hill with a crazed hippy, that was disgracefully hilarious. And he stabbed his wife in the back with a penknife, less amusing, but he regretted it at least his entire life. Overall, a strange man who got his ass “whooped” by at least Madonna and Germaine Greer, but he was educational and thoughtful/though provoking in his later years, and possibly more modest. Check him taling about Lee Harvey Oswald, or the great Muhammad Ali-George Forman ticket in Zaire, or the cultural importance of plastic.

(He won the “bad sex award” for “Castle In The Forest”).

]]> By: Josh Glenn http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238628 Josh Glenn Fri, 16 Nov 2007 01:30:18 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238628 'm an admirer of just about everything Mailer did in what I think of as the Sixties -- the years from 1964-73. "An American Dream," "Cannibals and Christians," "Why Are We In Vietnam?", "The Armies of the Night," "Miami and the Siege of Chicago," "A Fire on the Moon," "Existential Errands": these are terrific pieces of thinking, writing, and reporting, despite and also because of the author's healthy self- esteem and machismo. (I haven't read "The Prisoner of Sex," "Maidstone," "St. George and the Godfather," or "Marilyn"). Alas, I'm not as impressed with anything of Mailer's that I've read (or tried to read) from before or after this period, though -- despite James's enthusiasm -- but I do find Mailer a mostly admirable figure. He's easy to mock, but that's because he was a clown, in the edgiest, weirdest, even religious sense of the term. (He once called Abbie Hoffman a "ballsy wonder of a clown"; I think that should be on Mailer's grave.) We should all be so clownish. "Advertisements for Myself," though a fun period piece, worth reading to understand certain aspects of the 1950s in New York, isn't nearly as good stuff as Mailer's later nonfiction, I think. ‘m an admirer of just about everything Mailer did in what I think of
as the Sixties — the years from 1964-73. “An American Dream,”
“Cannibals and Christians,” “Why Are We In Vietnam?”, “The Armies of
the Night,” “Miami and the Siege of Chicago,” “A Fire on the Moon,”
“Existential Errands”: these are terrific pieces of thinking, writing,
and reporting, despite and also because of the author’s healthy self-
esteem and machismo. (I haven’t read “The Prisoner of Sex,”
“Maidstone,” “St. George and the Godfather,” or “Marilyn”). Alas, I’m
not as impressed with anything of Mailer’s that I’ve read (or tried to
read) from before or after this period, though — despite James’s
enthusiasm — but I do find Mailer a mostly admirable figure. He’s
easy to mock, but that’s because he was a clown, in the edgiest,
weirdest, even religious sense of the term. (He once called Abbie
Hoffman a “ballsy wonder of a clown”; I think that should be on
Mailer’s grave.) We should all be so clownish.

“Advertisements for Myself,” though a fun period piece, worth reading
to understand certain aspects of the 1950s in New York, isn’t nearly
as good stuff as Mailer’s later nonfiction, I think.

]]> By: Norman Mailer's Ghost http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238554 Norman Mailer's Ghost Tue, 13 Nov 2007 05:20:51 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238554 I'm gonna kick you in the fuggin balls! I’m gonna kick you in the fuggin balls!

]]> By: kelly http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238549 kelly Tue, 13 Nov 2007 04:06:20 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238549 You said it brother!!!! 100% on the nose!!!! You said it brother!!!! 100% on the nose!!!!

]]> By: eliz.s. http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238541 eliz.s. Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:53:06 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238541 I'm ambivalent about Norman Mailer - there are only so many white male authors I make time to read, and he isn't one of them, honestly. But I do think it was cool that he appeared on an episode of "Gilmore Girls". It seemed silly and ridiculous, but it made me think he had some semblance of a sense of humor. Maybe. I’m ambivalent about Norman Mailer – there are only so many white male authors I make time to read, and he isn’t one of them, honestly.

But I do think it was cool that he appeared on an episode of “Gilmore Girls”. It seemed silly and ridiculous, but it made me think he had some semblance of a sense of humor. Maybe.

]]> By: chuck http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238540 chuck Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:43:49 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238540 Ed -- At the very least, as someone who is as intelligent and book-promoting as you are, you should have acknowledged that in an increasingly illierate age, Mailer demanded to be known as a writer, and did not apologize to be such. Like him or not, he brought attention to the literary world, attention that is sorely lacking today. While not the best analogy, remember how much better tennis was when John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg and Connors were at each others's throats AND playing magnificent tennis? Certainly it's your blog and your opinion, so all of these comments are tilting at windmills, but for you to write off Mailer because you found his last book "trite and preposterous," and because you found his behavior boorish, is ridiculous. I find the openings to your podcasts "trite and preposterous" and yet I still manage to make my way through them to listen to your interviews that are for the most part conducted with intelligence and grace. Furthermore, in merely scanning the list of Segundo guests, there are certainly a few who've been as much a jackass as Mailer in their day. Will you now be deleting those podcasts because you find their behavior objectionable? If you remove, say, the Ricard Ford podcast, will you then return money to people who donated to you because of that podcast? Surely you must accept all or accept none who meet your standards, whatever they may be. Mailer was a man of letters. He wrote three classics, (Naked..., Armies,... Executioner Song) won two Pulitzers, helped create the Village Voice, etc., etc, etc. He was someone who mattered more than most ever will. You at least should have the decency to acknowledge such as his "chief contributions." Lastly, it's this sort of thing that gives blogs a bad name. Piss on those older and established, no matter if they deserve it or not, because it's the cool thing to do, and don't bother backing it up with anything more than vitriol. Were I a first time visitor to this blog today, I wouldn't be returning. But I will, because you're better than that. And I hope you'll least re-address your post with some actual content to back up your opinion, regardless of what it might be. Ed –

At the very least, as someone who is as intelligent and book-promoting as you are, you should have acknowledged that in an increasingly illierate age, Mailer demanded to be known as a writer, and did not apologize to be such. Like him or not, he brought attention to the literary world, attention that is sorely lacking today. While not the best analogy, remember how much better tennis was when John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg and Connors were at each others’s throats AND playing magnificent tennis?

Certainly it’s your blog and your opinion, so all of these comments are tilting at windmills, but for you to write off Mailer because you found his last book “trite and preposterous,” and because you found his behavior boorish, is ridiculous. I find the openings to your podcasts “trite and preposterous” and yet I still manage to make my way through them to listen to your interviews that are for the most part conducted with intelligence and grace.

Furthermore, in merely scanning the list of Segundo guests, there are certainly a few who’ve been as much a jackass as Mailer in their day. Will you now be deleting those podcasts because you find their behavior objectionable? If you remove, say, the Ricard Ford podcast, will you then return money to people who donated to you because of that podcast?
Surely you must accept all or accept none who meet your standards, whatever they may be.

Mailer was a man of letters. He wrote three classics, (Naked…, Armies,… Executioner Song) won two Pulitzers, helped create the Village Voice, etc., etc, etc. He was someone who mattered more than most ever will. You at least should have the decency to acknowledge such as his “chief contributions.”

Lastly, it’s this sort of thing that gives blogs a bad name. Piss on those older and established, no matter if they deserve it or not, because it’s the cool thing to do, and don’t bother backing it up with anything more than vitriol. Were I a first time visitor to this blog today, I wouldn’t be returning.

But I will, because you’re better than that. And I hope you’ll least re-address your post with some actual content to back up your opinion, regardless of what it might be.

]]> By: Lady T http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238531 Lady T Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:56:59 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238531 Where ever Mailer is right now,he's probaly laughing his ass off at all of the fussing and feuding about him. Where ever Mailer is right now,he’s probaly laughing his ass off at all of the fussing and feuding about him.

]]> By: Sasha http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238522 Sasha Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:01:38 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238522 I have to disagree with your premise. The most overrated writer of the 20th Century was Hemingway. Mailer was the 2nd most overrated -- he couldn't even be first at that. I believe the quote "The literary lion had trouble delivering" could be applied to many areas of his life. CD, "The White Negro" is a racist bullshit piece that was all about Mailer's advertising his supposed erection. How on earth can you laud that junk? His chief contribution to civilization was to assist in the birth of The Village Voice. And when did we come upon this notion that once folks are dead we should lie about them? Did this ride in on the horns and tail of Nixon or has it been with us longer? If speaking the truth about the dead makes me a horrible human being I can live with that. I have to disagree with your premise. The most overrated writer of the 20th Century was Hemingway. Mailer was the 2nd most overrated — he couldn’t even be first at that.

I believe the quote “The literary lion had trouble delivering” could be applied to many areas of his life. CD, “The White Negro” is a racist bullshit piece that was all about Mailer’s advertising his supposed erection. How on earth can you laud that junk? His chief contribution to civilization was to assist in the birth of The Village Voice.

And when did we come upon this notion that once folks are dead we should lie about them? Did this ride in on the horns and tail of Nixon or has it been with us longer? If speaking the truth about the dead makes me a horrible human being I can live with that.

]]> By: Josh http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238519 Josh Mon, 12 Nov 2007 04:11:00 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238519 "What was his chief contribution to letters?" Probably <i>Barbary Shore</i>, although there's some good journalistic stuff here and there; and the Buckleyesque <i>Why Are We in Vietnam?</i> has its fans. I'd be harder-pressed to answer that question about your other favorite macho Jewish egomaniac, although I guess there's some nice bits in <i>Deathbird Stories</i>. And Ed, you should totally link more often to essays that include the argument, "This illustrates David Horowitz's insight . . . " Kimball's a hoot. “What was his chief contribution to letters?” Probably Barbary Shore, although there’s some good journalistic stuff here and there; and the Buckleyesque Why Are We in Vietnam? has its fans. I’d be harder-pressed to answer that question about your other favorite macho Jewish egomaniac, although I guess there’s some nice bits in Deathbird Stories.

And Ed, you should totally link more often to essays that include the argument, “This illustrates David Horowitz’s insight . . . ” Kimball’s a hoot.

]]> By: Edward Yang http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238517 Edward Yang Mon, 12 Nov 2007 01:55:05 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238517 Disgusting people tend to bring out the disgust in others, leon. I don't remember this kind of vitriol when Vonnegut died. He was not a gentleman in life and therefor for does not deserve to be treated as one in death. He was a walking erection, a Hemingway-manque, and there was absolutely not one ounce of compassion in any of the books of his I have forced myself to read, books, that line for line, are as painful and tedious to read as anything I have ever encountered. He had enough fame for five or six lifetimes, and I hope his memory evaporates by the time my life is over. Disgusting people tend to bring out the disgust in others, leon. I don’t remember this kind of vitriol when Vonnegut died. He was not a gentleman in life and therefor for does not deserve to be treated as one in death. He was a walking erection, a Hemingway-manque, and there was absolutely not one ounce of compassion in any of the books of his I have forced myself to read, books, that line for line, are as painful and tedious to read as anything I have ever encountered. He had enough fame for five or six lifetimes, and I hope his memory evaporates by the time my life is over.

]]> By: leon http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238511 leon Sun, 11 Nov 2007 23:29:26 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238511 Oh please. His writing is horribly dated, is it? The Naked and the Dead just happens to be one of the finest war novels ever written. So the man had a bloated ego -- that's no reason to go maligning his work, which should exist on a plane above and beyond the artist himself. I'm disgusted by the venom his death has brought out in people. Oh please. His writing is horribly dated, is it? The Naked and the Dead just happens to be one of the finest war novels ever written. So the man had a bloated ego — that’s no reason to go maligning his work, which should exist on a plane above and beyond the artist himself. I’m disgusted by the venom his death has brought out in people.

]]> By: Edward Yang http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238507 Edward Yang Sun, 11 Nov 2007 21:24:38 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238507 "...and only makes sense..." Sorry. “…and only makes sense…”
Sorry.

]]> By: Edward Yang http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238506 Edward Yang Sun, 11 Nov 2007 21:24:08 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238506 Don't worry, A.R., you're not missing out. His writing has dated horribly and on makes sense within the very limited context in which it was written. Do yourself a favor and read Something Happened by Joseph Heller instead of reading anything by Mailer. Don’t worry, A.R., you’re not missing out. His writing has dated horribly and on makes sense within the very limited context in which it was written. Do yourself a favor and read Something Happened by Joseph Heller instead of reading anything by Mailer.

]]> By: A.R.Yngve http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238505 A.R.Yngve Sun, 11 Nov 2007 20:13:55 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238505 I haven't read anything by Norman Mailer, so I don't feel qualified to offer an opinion. (Was he as well-known outside the U.S. ...??) :-S I haven’t read anything by Norman Mailer, so I don’t feel qualified to offer an opinion. (Was he as well-known outside the U.S. …??)
:-S

]]> By: Edward Yang http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238504 Edward Yang Sun, 11 Nov 2007 19:15:03 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238504 Nobody deserves to have their grave pissed on more than Norman Mailer. He was a ridiculous man and I hoped the last minute of his life was spent thinking about all the rotten things he did, including the whole J. Henry Abbott tragedy. Nobody deserves to have their grave pissed on more than Norman Mailer. He was a ridiculous man and I hoped the last minute of his life was spent thinking about all the rotten things he did, including the whole J. Henry Abbott tragedy.

]]> By: Peter L. Winkler http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238503 Peter L. Winkler Sun, 11 Nov 2007 17:57:56 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238503 Great post. In nearly every interview he gave, Mailer woud spout the most ludicrous nonsense. Several years ago, I obtained his book <i>Advertisements for Myself</i> because the title intrigued me and also because it contained "the White Negro," which a number of other writers I've read over the years proclaimed a work of genius. I found "The White Negro" to be ridiculous. A number of his other essays from the <i>Village Voice</i> were included, and they only confirm that he was a very poor thinker. Great post. In nearly every interview he gave, Mailer woud spout the most ludicrous nonsense. Several years ago, I obtained his book Advertisements for Myself because the title intrigued me and also because it contained “the White Negro,” which a number of other writers I’ve read over the years proclaimed a work of genius. I found “The White Negro” to be ridiculous. A number of his other essays from the Village Voice were included, and they only confirm that he was a very poor thinker.

]]> By: DW. http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238502 DW. Sun, 11 Nov 2007 17:11:45 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238502 I'm glad you at least linked to the Kimball post. You might want to ponder the differences between his (intelligent, substantial, reasoned) and yours (just bleating noise). > Obviously, Helena, your ignorant scrawny ass hasn’t heard of galleys. I had the galley for CASTLE in 2006. Will you listen to yourself? How on Earth does "2006" somehow make "a few years ago" not sloppy? And yet you still bluster on in full attack mode. I’m glad you at least linked to the Kimball post. You might want to ponder the differences between his (intelligent, substantial, reasoned) and yours (just bleating noise).

> Obviously, Helena, your ignorant scrawny ass hasn’t heard of galleys. I had the galley for CASTLE in 2006.

Will you listen to yourself? How on Earth does “2006″ somehow make “a few years ago” not sloppy? And yet you still bluster on in full attack mode.

]]> By: Richard http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238498 Richard Sun, 11 Nov 2007 11:31:40 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238498 Very classy. Very classy.

]]> By: Derek McNess http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238496 Derek McNess Sun, 11 Nov 2007 08:48:10 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238496 Good riddance. An awful human being and THE most overrated American writer of the 20th century. I know one thing: the person who was the saddest to see Norman Mailer go was Norman Mailer. What a buffoon. Good riddance. An awful human being and THE most overrated American writer of the 20th century. I know one thing: the person who was the saddest to see Norman Mailer go was Norman Mailer. What a buffoon.

]]> By: CD http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238486 CD Sun, 11 Nov 2007 00:41:38 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238486 Yes, he wrote too much -- he had a million in monthly alimony to pay. But whatever you think of his personality, he wrote ARMIES OF THE NIGHT, THE EXECUTIONER'S SONG, THE NAKED AND THE DEAD, "The White Negro" -- accomplishments enough to put him in the front ranks. Yes, he wrote too much — he had a million in monthly alimony to pay. But whatever you think of his personality, he wrote ARMIES OF THE NIGHT, THE EXECUTIONER’S SONG, THE NAKED AND THE DEAD, “The White Negro” — accomplishments enough to put him in the front ranks.

]]> By: charles b http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238484 charles b Sun, 11 Nov 2007 00:34:20 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238484 Well, considering he was eighty-three when the book was published, Castle has some surprisingly good moments. Burning the hives for example. But it's not fair to judge him exclusively on the work he did long after he'd lost his fastball. Armies of the Night is an important book. The Executioner's Song is a great book. Naked and the Dead is a book that matters. It's impossible to care about literary culture and how it developed in the USA in the second half of the Twentieth Century and not feel a loss. A big lion has passed. Whether or not every book was good -- many were not, no doubt about it -- the guy was serious, he was a heavyweight. But whether you are a heavyweight or not, you probably deserve better than to be badmouthed like that on the day you've passed. Really disappointed in you on this one Ed, or Dr. Marbuse, or Bat, or whoever. I enjoy this blog, and you are entitled to your feelings, but this was not right. Well, considering he was eighty-three when the book was published, Castle has some surprisingly good moments. Burning the hives for example. But it’s not fair to judge him exclusively on the work he did long after he’d lost his fastball. Armies of the Night is an important book. The Executioner’s Song is a great book. Naked and the Dead is a book that matters. It’s impossible to care about literary culture and how it developed in the USA in the second half of the Twentieth Century and not feel a loss. A big lion has passed. Whether or not every book was good — many were not, no doubt about it — the guy was serious, he was a heavyweight.

But whether you are a heavyweight or not, you probably deserve better than to be badmouthed like that on the day you’ve passed.

Really disappointed in you on this one Ed, or Dr. Marbuse, or Bat, or whoever. I enjoy this blog, and you are entitled to your feelings, but this was not right.

]]> By: DrMabuse http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238480 DrMabuse Sat, 10 Nov 2007 23:37:24 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238480 Obviously, Helena, your ignorant scrawny ass hasn't heard of galleys. I had the galley for CASTLE in 2006. The difference between Mailer and me is that I couldn't give a shit about what people think about me, whereas you and all the other Mailer freaks have been conned into defending a piece of shit novel like CASTLE and anything else that came from the "master"'s hand. Not pwned at all here, you know-nothing dunce. On the contrary, if you're defending such dull and ridiculous prose as "He stared at us. Could we share his excitement? "The next question," he said, "soon arises. Will the genes of the woman be compatible with the sperm cell that has managed to reach her? Or will these separate elements find their respective genes to be in dispute? Are they about to act like unhappy husbands and wives? Yes, I would answer, dispute is often the prevailing case. The meeting may prove sufficiently compatible for procreation to occur, but the combination of their genes is hardly guaranteed to be in harmony." then it seems to me that you're the one who's been pwned into fawning over an ass as bloated as Mailer's. Obviously, Helena, your ignorant scrawny ass hasn’t heard of galleys. I had the galley for CASTLE in 2006. The difference between Mailer and me is that I couldn’t give a shit about what people think about me, whereas you and all the other Mailer freaks have been conned into defending a piece of shit novel like CASTLE and anything else that came from the “master”‘s hand. Not pwned at all here, you know-nothing dunce. On the contrary, if you’re defending such dull and ridiculous prose as

“He stared at us. Could we share his excitement? “The next question,” he said, “soon arises. Will the genes of the woman be compatible with the sperm cell that has managed to reach her? Or will these separate elements find their respective genes to be in dispute? Are they about to act like unhappy husbands and wives? Yes, I would answer, dispute is often the prevailing case. The meeting may prove sufficiently compatible for procreation to occur, but the combination of their genes is hardly guaranteed to be in harmony.”

then it seems to me that you’re the one who’s been pwned into fawning over an ass as bloated as Mailer’s.

]]> By: Helena Martinez http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238479 Helena Martinez Sat, 10 Nov 2007 22:16:28 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238479 One thing is for sure. Norman Mailer won't be asked multiple times for an opinion about Edward Champion's eventual passing. Nobody will be. "The Castle In The Forest" was published in 2007, and yet you say that " a few years ago" you had a chance to interview him about it. Just calling you on your bullshit. What did he do to you ? Not answer the door at 142 Columbia Heights in Brooklyn Heights because he thought that you were the hirsute Avon Lady ? As the kids say, "Pwned !!!" One thing is for sure. Norman Mailer won’t be asked multiple times for an opinion about Edward Champion’s eventual passing. Nobody will be. “The Castle In The Forest” was published in 2007, and yet you say that ” a few years ago”
you had a chance to interview him about it. Just calling you on your bullshit.
What did he do to you ? Not answer the door at 142 Columbia Heights in Brooklyn Heights because he thought that you were the hirsute Avon Lady ?
As the kids say, “Pwned !!!”

]]> By: DrMabuse http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238478 DrMabuse Sat, 10 Nov 2007 21:37:54 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238478 If it makes you feel better, you can piss on my grave when I croak. There, happy? If it makes you feel better, you can piss on my grave when I croak. There, happy?

]]> By: fausto http://www.edrants.com/norman-mailer-the-most-overrated-writer-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-238477 fausto Sat, 10 Nov 2007 21:33:20 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=7028#comment-238477 It is one thing to refuse to take part in the canonization of a writer that was never as good as he thought he was - and most of his work do leave me cold-, it is an entirely different thing to piss on his grave. It is one thing to refuse to take part in the canonization of a writer that was never as good as he thought he was – and most of his work do leave me cold-, it is an entirely different thing to piss on his grave.

]]>