Ach is right. Maybe the writer is trying to be edgy or something. I dunno. I was equally taken aback by the opening remark in his story on the GG winners yesterday.
I've been trying to work through my anger about this piece ever since you alerted me to it, Brenda. And I haven't yet done so. But I keep returning to Sandra's lines at the end of the piece of backhanded praise:
"“I have this strange notion that I am writing about such an exotic place that of course people from other countries would be really interested,” she adds, baffled by the oft-heard complaint that nobody cares about Regina. “The more I travel, the more inclined I am to write where I come from, because I have a different perspective on my place and it means something more to me. I’m glad to come back to it. I see it as a place people should want to read about.”"
A place people who can't stop gazing at their navels should read about is how I'd've phrased it! But Sandra's much kinder than me, I think.
Ha! I'd like to think the whole east-west/urban-rural/centre-fringe thing is just some cooked up Canlit soup, but then I see things like this. And of course there are other things. Since it doesn't seem to be going away, I suppose it's time to learn all I can about the long, or at least lengthening, history behind it.
11 comments:
Oh dear. Not the literary establishment. Again.
Actually I think distance is a positive in many many ways. (And being in the 'real world' always is...)
Haven't read that piece, but will look for it.
Ha! I know! I think I might use that quote in a talk though. It's perfect.
Well put. I totally agree.
The quote links to the profile.
I mean click on the quote and it will take you to the profile.
I totally agree also. The Lit. Est. types are the ones in a knot about the Giller, poor souls.
Ha! Well, that happens when things don't conform to the same old story.
Birdsell looks like any other grandmother chit-chatting at a book-club? ach, the writer has lost this audience.
Ach is right. Maybe the writer is trying to be edgy or something. I dunno. I was equally taken aback by the opening remark in his story on the GG winners yesterday.
I've been trying to work through my anger about this piece ever since you alerted me to it, Brenda. And I haven't yet done so. But I keep returning to Sandra's lines at the end of the piece of backhanded praise:
"“I have this strange notion that I am writing about such an exotic place that of course people from other countries would be really interested,” she adds, baffled by the oft-heard complaint that nobody cares about Regina. “The more I travel, the more inclined I am to write where I come from, because I have a different perspective on my place and it means something more to me. I’m glad to come back to it. I see it as a place people should want to read about.”"
A place people who can't stop gazing at their navels should read about is how I'd've phrased it! But Sandra's much kinder than me, I think.
Ha! I'd like to think the whole east-west/urban-rural/centre-fringe thing is just some cooked up Canlit soup, but then I see things like this. And of course there are other things. Since it doesn't seem to be going away, I suppose it's time to learn all I can about the long, or at least lengthening, history behind it.
I'd like to think that, too. But it just ain't so.
I guess you've never been told that your work is "too Saskatchewan," eh?
!! Too Saskatchewan? Seriously?
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