Pointless Elaboration Time
A conversation with literary smart guy Gary left me feeling I was too hard earlier on Mr. Myer, particular with that last crack. He does, Gary reminds me, make some awfully good points about some awfully overrated writers. And it may be true that his article's excesses -- the one-note bray and lack of a coherent picture of a literary approach we should prefer-- don't invalidate the salutary dope-slap he delivers to writers who lean on effects not backed up by any substance. So, I don't mean to undercut him unfairly. But he has the burning eyes of the critical zealot, and he froths a bit around the jaws, and in the end, I wanted to shout "Okay, okay! I don't like William Golden either! Now, will you please give me my car keys back?"