tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19106928.post6454026794938571319..comments2024-02-29T02:37:34.896-06:00Comments on Ivebeenreadinglately: As Martin Amis once put it, late Henry James "didn't give a shit about the reader," or, How The Golden Bowl killed the Wall Street Journal book club! Levi Stahlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11094919454842047688noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19106928.post-20919284385890452752015-06-03T13:10:35.513-05:002015-06-03T13:10:35.513-05:00You've both entertained me with your comments-...You've both entertained me with your comments--thank you! And Tom, I should be clear: I do like James--even some late James. But the idea that a work as thick and inward-looking as <i>The Golden Bowl</i> could be a broadly shared taste these days is a tough one to sell me on.<br /><br />I also am a huge fan of <i>The Master</i>, though your mileage may vary. I came to it hopeful, because I find James the man absolutely fascinating, and I was impressed with how convincingly Toibin got into his head.Levi Stahlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11094919454842047688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19106928.post-29304275496622761662015-05-26T13:30:09.473-05:002015-05-26T13:30:09.473-05:00I love this post! I only know of James as a highb...I love this post! I only know of James as a highbrow and apparently incredibly talented writer. But I've never read any of his books, and I don't think that I will start with "The Golden Bowl". No way!<br /><br />I don't know Toibin either. I've read the first page of "The Master" and I already don't like it.<br /><br />A truly hysterical post! Please keep up the great work!Tom Burkhttps://www.facebook.com/thomas.burk.7399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19106928.post-17927602127137367412015-05-15T06:03:03.144-05:002015-05-15T06:03:03.144-05:00Many years ago I went on road trip with two volume...Many years ago I went on road trip with two volumes to occupy my time: <i>The Wings of the Dove</i>, and The Crito, the latter in Greek, in a student's edition with vocabulary in the back. Despite the inadequacies of my Greek, I found The Crito much easier going--so much so that the bookmark in <i>The Wings of the Dove</i> never really advanced. To this day, late James defeats me, and I smirk at the quip John Lukacs has quoted: James I, James II, the Old PretenderAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com