Sadly, I agree with Ann Patchett.
Books - Writing and Writers - Christopher Buckley - Stephen King - Norman Mailer - Ann Patchett - Neal Pollack - New York Times: "FOR all those who believe that “Moby Dick” would be great except for the parts about the whale, the British publisher Orion Books will publish this month a set of pared-down classics, cutting about 40 percent of what it calls “padding” from works like “Anna Karenina,” “David Copperfield” and yes, “Moby Dick.”
It’s a well-trodden path, from Reader’s Digest to CliffsNotes to “Shrink Lit,” and has sparked the inevitable tsk-tsk-ing in literary circles.
But surely, there are some books that could use some trimming. We asked seven authors, all of whom know a thing or two about the judicious use of words, what books they would put on the chopping block."
3 comments:
I haven't reread ANIMAL FARM for several decades, but perhaps I should...1984 for about as long, but found it much more pokey than AF even at the time. Buckley gets points for taking on two of the biggest bores among propagandistic fiction, and Patchett's suggestion certainly is relevant where ANTHEM and, say, "The Auto-Magic Horse" are concerned.
Buckley's suggestion is interesting but not extensive enough. That book would be too long it it consisted of the author's name and title. He was an horrendous writer.
Sorry - Buckley was talking about L. Ron Hubbard.
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