Re: Novelists now, in the spirit of Percy

From: David Alan Beck (dabeck@IUPUI.EDU)
Date: Fri Jul 13 2001 - 23:16:41 EDT


John,
I agree that DeLillo fits somewhere in the spectrum. Speaking of DD,
has anyone had a chance to read the article in this month's Atlantic?
There is an article that, for the most part, is arguing that the
contemporary authors who are so revered by critics and academics, are
wearing the emperor's new clothes. He focuses on DeLillo, Cormac McCarthy,
and Paul Auster. I haven't had time to read the entire article but did
glance over it. I'll have to admit that, for me, blasting away at DeLillo,
one of my favorite living writers, makes me regard him with suspicion.
Though he does have a point about the stilted dialogue in the works of
these writers, a sin that no one can accuse Percy of. Yet, in DeLillo, I
always viewed the "flat" dialogue as part of the theme and overall effect
of his works.

Regardless, I look forward to reading the article (partly due to a
co-worker who bought the argument and challenged me to respond).

David Beck

"The only true joy on earth is to escape from the
prison of our false self, and enter by love into union
with the Life Who dwells and sings within the essence of
every creature and in the core of our own souls."

                                -Thomas Merton



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