Comments on: America is full of stupid, fat people, innit?

By: pdberger

pdberger — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 14:25:12 +0000

Will do, Clive. Best. Paul.

By: Clive

Clive — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 21:53:31 +0000

Paul, BHL definitely has a windy style which sounds even worse in translation. I tried to read beyond the first Atlantic excerpt, but gave up the struggle. Still, take a look at Martin Peretz’s defence in the New Republic…

By: B

Wed, 01 Feb 2006 23:28:30 +0000

I regularly read the Atlantic Monthly and I had a very hard time getting through Levy’s reports. I only read your excerpt of the review but I am in complete agreement. I did not recognize much of what he wrote about. That said, I have never really enjoyed Garrison Keillor either. I think Levy was scheduled to speak this past Sunday at the 92nd St. Y. I could not imagine paying $20 + to hear him speak. I still really enjoy the blog.

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 06:59:17 +0000

I haven’t read the book. And I have nothing against the French. I love France. I could live there. And yet, Garrison Keillor’s review was probably the most delicious thing I’ve read in the Book Review in weeks. Come on, people, lighten up: scathing reviews are always the best reviews to read, even if you don’t agree with the thesis.

And I have to say, based on the excerpts from the book that Mr. Keillor included in his review, his criticism doesn’t seem that far off base. “Profound insights” is not a phrase I’d expect to see on Mr. Levy’s book jacket.

By: pdberger

pdberger — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 05:27:14 +0000

Shaul, you’re going to have to explain yourself a little bit better than that, I’m afraid.

By: Shaul

Shaul — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 22:22:13 +0000

Mr. Berger,

I am holding you personally responsible for recommending a blog called ‘pickeled politics’ that you led me to believe was a haven for liberal muslims. More like yucky anti-Zionist creeps. Ewww.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 18:46:34 +0000

I don’t get your objection — I thought the review was about how much fun the French are have pissing on us, and that you don’t even have to have writing skills to have a good go at it. I mean come on, are those misquotes? — because that writing is really really painful — “despite this nihilist hypertrophy of petty antiquarian memory; despite this hyperobesity – increasingly less metaphorical – of the great social bodies that form the invisible edifice of the country” puhleeeeeeese.
Without any leading from the author I do believe I can think for myself and be irritated by those quotes all by myself. The writer could be a fat midwesterner and that quote would still grate. But is it not ok to be sick of the French hyperbole of America? Was the reviewer lying? Have you read the book and do you know it to actually show a more nuanced picture of America than the reviewer claims? This question thing is fun.
And gee I am awful surprised Jon Stewart was so nice to him.

By: Paddy

Paddy — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 17:41:09 +0000

That was an incredibly tiresome review. It’s so obvious that the critic was mostly bothered by the nationality of the author and that he therefore had to try so hard to read negative things into every single sentence only so that he could counter with some equally hostile comment. Pissing on the French is apparently still hip in the states, but it was good to see Jon Stewart having more grace when LÃƒÂ©vy visited his show last week.