My interest in (obsession with?) this topic didn't occur in a vacuum ... does anyone remember the Oprah-Franzen controversy of 2001? She picked his book, he seemed uncomfortable being selected, and there began a controversy not unlike what's been on this thread.
A really good website about it all is here: http://www.complete-review.com/quarterly/vol3/issue1/oprah.htm
An except:
The Oprah-website (Oprah.com) devoted a few pages to The Corrections when it was announced as the latest selection for Oprah's Book Club in September 2001. One of the pages offers an introduction to and description of the book, with a final sentence that sums up:
Richly realistic, darkly hilarious and deeply humane, it confirms that Jonathan Franzen as one of our most brilliant interpreters of American society and American soul.The typographical slip (or grammatical mistake, whichever you prefer) -- as rather than is, or a superfluous that -- is their mistake. It still reads that way in late January 2002, some four months after this page was first posted. No one has cared to correct the mistake -- indeed, no one seems to care at all.
This small mistake -- and the failure to make any correction -- seems indicative of this whole bizarre affair, where so little attention is paid to detail, where words really don't matter. All that matters is: Oprah !. All that matters is: Franzen. All that matters is: books sales. All that matters is: the triumph of personality over substance (because personality sells and substance doesn't).
A book was selected for Oprah's Book Club -- The Corrections. This book is what should be the center of attention. Instead, attention is focussed on two personalities and on what they say and what they represent. There are accusations and labels: elitism, snobbery, the "high art literary tradition", populism, implied (and actual) endorsements, and much more.
The books benefits: people hear about it, people buy it (though some react by also making a point of not buying it). Maybe people actually read it. But the argument -- the many confused arguments -- swirl elsewhere.
Jonathan Franzen walks around with his foot apparently firmly lodged in his mouth. Oprah Winfrey doesn't deign to comment.The book continues to sell; perhaps that is all that matters. It seems there really is no such thing as bad publicity. Intentionally or not, Franzen hit the mother lode.
But there are costs and consequences. Not for Franzen: despite the stink around him he can laugh all the way to the bank. He never has to write a word again, never has to worry about money. And if he does want to write another novel, every major publisher would want a chance to publish it. Unassailable Oprah, too, isn't much affected by these events; indeed, there has hardly even been a word of criticism regarding her actions.
The losers ? Books. Readers. Literature -- if there still is such a thing -- and literary culture.
It's a bad thing that happened here, and people don't seem to realize how bad.
Dedalus