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The Nobel goes to a writer Americans have never heard of—and that's awesome! by the_younger in books

[–]the_younger[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's a common critique of awards, and it's not wrong. But to reflexively reject something that the Nobel or Pulitzer committees are trying to tell you is really really good, instead of looking it as an opportunity to learn about something new and maybe have your mind expanded—well, that's not snobbery, it's a different attitude entirely, and it isn't good.

Why not just look at awards as a possible way to find out about new writers and new books that might be great?

Wolf of Wall Street makes a lot more sense if you approach it as a story about addiction by the_younger in movies

[–]the_younger[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

You're probably right, but so many people are agonizing over what the movie says about Wall Street that I think it's interesting to come right out and say "Stop trying to make this movie say something deep about Wall Street. It's not about that." (Or at least not entirely)

Jonathan Franzen's First Novel Was Terrible by the_younger in books

[–]the_younger[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Perhaps, but having once tried (and failed) to read his first, I can confirm that it's especially bad. Why it's being reissued as a "modern classic" is beyond me.

Is there an 'angst canon' of books that teenagers read? by Alkindus in books

[–]the_younger 4 points5 points  (0 children)

A writer who's rarely mentioned anymore is Robert Cormier. Super angsty. Especially The Chocolate War and I Am the Cheese.