Who's our Homer?

SATCHMO · 06-08-2011, 01:45 PM

There are only 3 non-American authors on that list. Is that a bit biased?

~~[MERIT]~~ · 06-08-2011, 01:46 PM

Is anyone else having trouble picking a winner?

~~Sansa Stark~~ · 06-08-2011, 01:46 PM

Not

FRED HALE SR. · 06-08-2011, 01:48 PM

Toni Morrison really? I can think of one book Beloved.

SATCHMO · 06-08-2011, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRED HALE SR.

Toni Morrison really? I can think of one book Beloved.

She's won both the Nobel prize for literature, the Pulitzer Prize, and the National Book Award for her writing, In addition to various other awards, medals, and forms of recognition She's written 10 novels (I've read them all), 7 non-fiction books, and 2 children's books.

I can honestly think of no living author that can come close to the skill and absolute beauty of her writing. In my opinion she is the greatest living author and easily one of the greatest American authors ever.

FRED HALE SR. · 06-08-2011, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SATCHMO

She's won both the Nobel prize for literature, the Pulitzer Prize, and the National Book Award for her writing, In addition to various other awards, medals, and forms of recognition She's written 10 novels (I've read them all), 7 non-fiction books, and 2 children's books.

I can honestly think of no living author that can come close to the skill and absolute beauty of her writing. In my opinion she is the greatest living author and easily one of the greatest American authors ever.

I believe she won all of those awards for Beloved? I did enjoy the book and she is certainly a skilled author. Wow i've never heard such praise, I guess i stand corrected. I'm assuming you picked Toni Morrison. I would put Alice Walker neck and neck with her style of writing, but thats the beauty of books, so many authors, so little time.

**Janszoon** · 06-08-2011, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paloma

Vonnegut is more consistent, I definitely agree, but I feel that maybe John Irving could have a bigger impact if more people read him

After all, he's written several novels with controversial aspects, like abortion (Cider House Rules, which is such a pro choice book I get a feminist boner when I read it), homosexuality (several of his books actually, and they're never condescending and hardly ever ascribe to stereotypes which is so progressive) and he even has a trans person in his novels, and no one acts like there's something wrong with her, she's a great character. Vonnegut does write great stories but I think in a more lasting impact, Irving would get the crown.

I would think your argument that John Irving addresses more topical issues would actually make him less likely to be well known a thousand years from now. I'd imagine people in the next millennium will be so far past debates about abortion and LGBT rights that they would have a hard time even understanding the topic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conan

Poll shall include:

Tolkien
Vonnegut
Stephen King (he was nominated twice)
Irving
Murakami
Dr. Seuss (it could happen)
Toni Morrison
John Updike
James Baldwin
Mark Twain
William Faulkner
James Joyce
Asimov

I wanted to add Melville but I guess he doesn't qualify since it's been a little over a hundred years since his passing. I'll add any other suggestions.

Mark Twain doesn't qualify either.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRED HALE SR.

Toni Morrison really? I can think of one book Beloved.

How many books can you name by Chaucer?

FRED HALE SR. · 06-08-2011, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

I would think your argument that John Irving addresses more topical issues would actually make him less likely to be well known a thousand years from now. I'd imagine people in the next millennium will be so far past debates about abortion and LGBT rights that they would have a hard time even understanding the topic.

Mark Twain doesn't qualify either.

How many books can you name by Chaucer?

Canterbury Tales and the Book of Duchess spring to mind. Not a big fan myself, but I get your point.

SATCHMO · 06-08-2011, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRED HALE SR.

I believe she won all of those awards for Beloved? I did enjoy the book and she is certainly a skilled author. Wow i've never heard such praise, I guess i stand corrected. I'm assuming you picked Toni Morrison. I would put Alice Walker neck and neck with her style of writing, but thats the beauty of books, so many authors, so little time.

From what I've been able to gather, her Nobel Prize was for general achievement in literature and not for a specific novel. Here's a list of her achievements, from wiki, of course:

Quote:

1977 National Book Critics Circle Award for Song of Solomon
1977 American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters Award
1987-88 Robert F. Kennedy Book Award
1988 American Book Award for Beloved
1988 Anisfield-Wolf Book Award in Race Relations for Beloved
1988 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for Beloved
1989 MLA Commonwealth Award in Literature
1993 Nobel Prize for Literature
1993 Commander of the Arts and Letters, Paris
1994 Condorcet Medal, Paris
1994 Pearl Buck Award
1994 Rhegium Julii Prize for Literature

Aside from the fact that Walker and Morrison are both female African American fiction authors, there's not a lot of similarity in their work. Morrison is famous for blending the genres of fantastic realism and historical fiction, and Walker is pretty straightforward historical fiction. I do appreciate both authors, but Toni is by far my favorite.

Standbyking · 06-09-2011, 06:52 AM

Tolkein all the way! Anybody here read Farm Giles of Ham btw? Its one of Tolkein's short storys -very fun read.

View Poll Results: Who will be most remembered from our time?
James Joyce	3	12.50%
Vonnegut	5	20.83%
Stephen King	5	20.83%
Tolkein	3	12.50%
Irving	0	0%
Murakami	1	4.17%
Dr. Seuss	1	4.17%
Toni Morrison	0	0%
John Updike	0	0%
James Baldwin	0	0%
Mark Twain	2	8.33%
William Faulkner	0	0%
Asimov	2	8.33%
Bukowski	2	8.33%
Voters: 24. You may not vote on this poll

06-08-2011, 01:45 PM	#41 (permalink)
SATCHMO Al Dente Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 4,708	There are only 3 non-American authors on that list. Is that a bit biased?

06-08-2011, 01:46 PM	#42 (permalink)
~~[MERIT]~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Missouri, USA Posts: 4,814	Is anyone else having trouble picking a winner?

06-08-2011, 01:46 PM	#43 (permalink)
~~Sansa Stark~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Eyrie, Vale of Arryn, Westeros Posts: 3,234	Not

06-08-2011, 01:48 PM	#44 (permalink)
FRED HALE SR. Neo-Maxi-Zoom-Dweebie Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: So-Cal Posts: 3,752	Toni Morrison really? I can think of one book Beloved.

06-09-2011, 06:52 AM	#50 (permalink)
Standbyking Groupie Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 10	Tolkein all the way! Anybody here read Farm Giles of Ham btw? Its one of Tolkein's short storys -very fun read.