tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987400789130903662.post7089714580200641933..comments2022-10-07T19:17:35.929-04:00Comments on Reading Richard Rohmer: Canada's Best NovelistBrian Busbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04120341319506205062noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987400789130903662.post-38382018434882837492015-07-17T15:22:58.445-04:002015-07-17T15:22:58.445-04:00I'd never heard of the guy before two days ago...I'd never heard of the guy before two days ago, when I learned he'd written 8% of the best novels between 1900 and 1999. <br /><br />Why do fantasy writers write so much? I don't know. Why do fantasy readers read so much? <br /><br />I have such an allergy to wizards, fairies and mystical realms, that I can't even judge the stuff. I can't read past the first nonsense word with a ' in the middle. <br /><br />It feels like such a waste of time. (He says, a man who's watched every episode of The Silent Service.) I avoided Game of Thrones for years before someone promised me it wasn't really very much about dragons; now I like it just fine. But I still think, on my death bed, I'll wish I'd learned more about the War of the Roses and less about the Iron Bank.<br /><br />I just can't read fast enough to enjoy garbage. I'm too guilty and dumb.Chris Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17925214622987881225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987400789130903662.post-69853693225631163182015-07-17T11:31:26.220-04:002015-07-17T11:31:26.220-04:00Either or I forgot or never knew, but the fact Cha...Either or I forgot or never knew, but the fact Charles de Lint is Canadian is news to me. I don't actually know much about him, but I suppose, like all fantasy authors, his fan base is rabid and can mobilize in times of a "best of" vote.<br /><br />I do have one question: why do fantasy writers write by the pound? Is there a secret rule where every book has to be part of a series, be over 600 pages long, and be the author's 37th novel in the last 10 years? <br /><br />If there is a secret rule, it's probably enforced by a secret society. And that society was run by a great wizard, until he disappeared mysteriously. And the fate of that secret society lies with an innocent boy, who is about to find out he is the chosen one.<br /><br />Let's do a blog where every book/movie/TV show in history whose plot revolves around a chosen one. <br /><br />See you in 50 years when we've reach "B".Stanley Whytehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15579745111959535696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987400789130903662.post-67176822800285039182015-07-17T10:54:29.738-04:002015-07-17T10:54:29.738-04:00Or his fan club.
From the author's website: &...Or his fan club.<br /><br />From the author's website: "Modern Library's <i>Top 100 Books of the 20th Century</i> poll, conducted by Random House and voted on by readers, put eight of de Lint's books among the top 100."<br /><br />I wouldn't have mentioned the actual number; it only draws suspicion. I also would've made sure to get the title of the list right.Brian Busbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04120341319506205062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987400789130903662.post-76566994408566556832015-07-17T09:24:42.444-04:002015-07-17T09:24:42.444-04:00If you were going to cram your favorite writer -- ...If you were going to cram your favorite writer -- or yourself -- on a list with the greatest novels of the 20th century, wouldn't you choose one book? Not eight? It must have been a child, right?Chris Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17925214622987881225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987400789130903662.post-83853367935845101352015-07-16T22:00:54.721-04:002015-07-16T22:00:54.721-04:00It's a funny thing though, that you'd expe...It's a funny thing though, that you'd expect the readers' list to be The Da Vinci Code and Eat, Pray, Love, but it's not about popular fiction vs. classy literature at all; it's about books that snobs think people should read vs. books that weirdo snobs think ordinary people should read. The readers' list is just like the critics and academics' list, only by autodidact jerks without portfolio. The non-fiction readers' list is pure spree killer.Chris Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17925214622987881225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8987400789130903662.post-34050971381821825602015-07-16T14:48:57.763-04:002015-07-16T14:48:57.763-04:00Not to worry, I don't know de Lint, though we ...Not to worry, I don't know de Lint, though we do share a mutual acquaintance. I'm told he's a really nice guy. I bet he is, but like you I hate fantasy. And isn't <i>Greenmantle</i> by John Buchan?<br /><br />The list reminds me of that old online poll by <i>The Beaver</i> - <i>Canadian History</i>, please - which proclaimed Pierre Trudeau the Worst Canadian. The Blogging Tories and Free Dominion have spoken. Don't go calling them lonely fascists, they just think Adrian Arcand was misunderstood. Allan Legere, too.<br /><br />What other Canadian novels are on the list?<br /><br /><b>40. <i>Fifth Business</i> - Robertson Davies</b><br /><br />Not as good as de Lint's <i>Moonheart</i>, but still a pleasant surprise.<br /><br /><b>53. <i>The Handmaid's Tale</i> - Margaret Atwood</b><br /><br />Her worst novel until <i>Oryx and Crake</i>. A surprise only in that it ranks below Davies.<br /><br /><b>99. <i>The Cunning Man</i> - Robertson Davies</b><br /><br />His last novel. Better than <i>The Manticore</i>, <i>World of Wonders</i> and the entire Cornish Trilogy, apparently. Who knew? Not me. I haven't read it. Don't think I know anyone who has.<br /><br />No, Rohmer is the man. I'm betting fans of <i>Atlas Shrugged</i> would agree. <i>Retaliation</i> would be their favourite novel.<br />Brian Busbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04120341319506205062noreply@blogger.com