The novel is dead...

[Malickfan]

again.

http://therumpus.net/2010/02/the-rumpus-interview-with-david-shields/

Maybe David Shields just isn't as good of a writer as he thinks he is. He should stick to non-fiction.

[Llopin]

What a wanker. The concept is so redundant. Barthelme already made fun of the novel supposedly being dead back in the 60s. Don't see what's the interest on rummaging through those retro-notions in a poppier way.

[Milky Joe]

Guy needs to read DFW. This has been covered. As one of those commenters astutely quoted:

“Real rebels, as far as I can see, risk disapproval. The old postmodern insurgents risked the gasp and squeal: shock, disgust, outrage, censorship, accusations of socialism, anarchism, nihilism. Today’s risks are different. The new rebels might be artists willing to risk the yawn, the rolled eyes, the cool smile, the nudged ribs, the parody of gifted ironists, the 'Oh how banal.' To risk accusations of sentimentality, melodrama. Of overcredulity. Of softness. Of willingness to be suckered by a world of lurkers and starers who fear gaze and ridicule above imprisonment without law. Who knows.”

[Duncan]

Guy needs to read DFW. This has been covered. As one of those commenters astutely quoted:

“Real rebels, as far as I can see, risk disapproval. The old postmodern insurgents risked the gasp and squeal: shock, disgust, outrage, censorship, accusations of socialism, anarchism, nihilism. Today’s risks are different. The new rebels might be artists willing to risk the yawn, the rolled eyes, the cool smile, the nudged ribs, the parody of gifted ironists, the 'Oh how banal.' To risk accusations of sentimentality, melodrama. Of overcredulity. Of softness. Of willingness to be suckered by a world of lurkers and starers who fear gaze and ridicule above imprisonment without law. Who knows.”

This is a great fucking quote.

[Duncan]

Although, now that I've read the interview, I find that he isn't saying the novel is dead at all. All he's saying is that he has lost interest in a certain type of novel. And, honestly, I agree with him. I've only read one book by Ian McEwan and Alice Munro, but I hated both of them. Truthfully, I couldn't even finish the Munro book. I think he'd probably like a book like Infinite Jest that clearly takes many forms and wanders all over the place.

edit: that isn't "all he's saying" and I don't agree with him on all of the more nuanced points of his argument, but still.

[ledfloyd]

there is a glowing quote from him on the back of jonathan lethem's new novel.

[Milky Joe]

This is a great fucking quote.

Yeah. Have you read any of Wallace's non-fiction yet? You should get on that if you haven't.