Can we say "pretentious," boys and girls?

[ellid]

I just found a sample of Lorrie Moore's latest novel, A Gate at the Stairs, on Amazon.com. It's supposedly from the point of view of a college student looking for work.

Please, o all-wise flist, go read the first few pages. Then tell me if I'm completely crazy to find this critically lauded book a precious, pretentious, oh-so-literary creation that bears as much resemblance to the inner monologue of a college student looking for work as it does to the collected works of Marie Corelli?

Thank you.

Comments

Re: The Token LIterary Fiction Reader Sez...

[ellid.livejournal.com]

This may be why I dropped out of my alumnae book club. They *never* chose anything but literary fiction, uplifting non-fiction about heroic doctors, and the occasional self-help. It took my best friend years to talk them into reading My Name is Asher Lev, and I'm still shocked that they actually agreed to read The Devil in the White City.

Completely OT - I just read Thunderstruck! by Erik Larson. Fabulous book juxtaposing the invention of the wireless and the use of same to apprehend a criminal. Loved it.

Re: The Token LIterary Fiction Reader Sez...

[nicolaa5.livejournal.com]

Have you read Larson's other books? Devil in the White City is fascinating and Isaac's Storm is just amazing, especially for a weather/disaster junkie like me.

Have you seen this? http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/book-review-mary-gordons-the-love-of-my-youth-a-melancholy-roman-holiday/2011/04/08/AFeAlb7D_story.html. Interesting review with a take on the whole literary fiction thing.

Re: The Token LIterary Fiction Reader Sez...

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I read and enjoyed both "Devil in the White City" and "Thunderstruck".

Do you read much non-fiction (apart from textile/costume, I mean?)

Re: The Token LIterary Fiction Reader Sez...

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Oh, tons. History is a favorite, but I have books on religion (my MA is in religion and it's still a big interest), art, sociology, true crime, and so on. Until recently I read more non-fiction than fiction, although the balance has shifted somewhat since I got my e-reader.

Re: The Token LIterary Fiction Reader Sez...

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear it :) It's fun for me to run into another person who reads heavily of non-fiction, there seem to be few of us in the casual reading world.

Are you on Goodreads or the like?