Tayari's Blog: I said I wasn't going to blog about this

Comment #1, by Jackie

Hmmmmmmm. Interesting observation. I need some time to think on this.

Comment #2, by Andrew Ervin

Hey, T. Any chance we could see your list of the best from the past 25 yrs?

Comment #3, by Michael Fischer

I think you pose a valid question. Seems like that's the case. It's always interesting to see the voters for such lists, as it always seems to be people like Harold Bloom and other crusty literary curmudgeons.

One more thing (re: Ed Jones): I love "The Known World," but I love "Lost In The City" even more, and there is no way that book shouldn't have won the NBA AND there is no way that book isn't one of the greatest short story collections written in the past 25 years (I realize that most of these lists are for novels but that book does not get the due it deserves).

Comment #4, by Ladylee

@ Michael Fisher... ditto, ditto, ditto on your assessment of The Lost City. You spoke the truth there. I LOVED that collection! I frowned up when I started reading The Known World... I was expecting something more urban after reading The Lost City collection.

@ Tayari...

LOL @ "I had to shake myself a gimlet".

I don't drink, but you make me want to go look up the gimlet!

But no, the answer to your question? YES, one must write about slavery... Either slavery or some piss poor colored peoples holding on the best way they can, at least before the 1950's, preferably before World War I or II. Look at The Color Purple... Roots... and you can go on and on. The Known World won the Pulitzer. The Lost City did not.

Not sure what that is all about... but, those people who compile those "Best of" lists, those non-black literary folks, seem to adore such books... why, they absolutely and unequivocally detail and represent the black experience, don't cha think???!!!

Yo, if I had a list Tayari, I would surely throw both of your books on it... Those books represent MY black experience...

Good post as always...

Comment #5, by Jackie

Ditto on Lost City. I still chuckle about that story of the old man who got used by the young women. Since discovering that story collection I have been waiting for more from EPJones and hope I don't hahve to wait much longer.

I agree with Ladylee about The Known World. I got through it, appreciated it, but was expecting something else, something, oh I don't know, something else.

BTW, I got Joy Castro's book in the mail today and I am up reading it now.

Comment #6, by Michael Fischer

I think "The Store" is my favorite story in that collection. That's one of those stories that is so damn good that you can't read anything else for like a week because there is no way anything could come close to matching the reading experience you just had.

I didn't know this until recently, but "Lost In The City" went out of print for awhile. Sad, sad, sad.

Comment #7, by Dee

Oh Smack,

I didn't even realize a gimlet was a drink, I pictured you shaking around some meat! LOL.

You seem to have raised a valid point. That's probably equivalent to the fact that Denzel wasn't rewarded for Malcolm X, but Training Day, Halle for Monster Ball.

It seems that we rate only when we typify their perception of us.

Comment #8, by Jackie

Good point, Dee. I was embarrassed that Halle won the top award for that particular movie because it meant that people would then go out to see it and well, was that the memory we wanted associated with her? Of all the good work done by Denzel, he has to portray a corrupt deviant in order to get an award? And then to further diminish the moment, he gets his award the same night that Sidney Portier gets a lifetime achievement award? It was as if someome wanted to water down the experience, reduce its true value. Oh, I am starting to get fired up. Let me pause now and go get a latte and bagel to get my mind off this.

Anyway, the Joy Castro book is getting really intriguing now. I'm taking it with me to get that latte and bagel......

Comment #9, by Ladylee

@Jackie... yeah, it seems like our big stars had to go out and do some hedonistic craziness in order to get the TOP award, the Oscar... a shame... that's what our society supports these days.

And, if this translates into some of this SICK, badly written urban fiction getting placed on some of the "Best of" book lists, I'm going to climb on top of my house and hurl myself off the roof...

Now i'm fired up... have a bagel for me, girl.

@Tayari...

To stifle some of this anger you have inadvertantly stoked, I second the idea of Commenter #2 Andrew E... Produce a list of what YOU feel is the best fiction of the last 25 years and why. That would be a most excellent and eclectic post(s)... Really though.

And i looked up the tequila gimlet... tequila and lime juice. Damn, isn't that a bit bitter, or do you add some honey or sugar to that? Geez! How'd you get hooked on those? Address this in a post, please!

I'm just glad you are grabbing a tequila gimlet rather than a can of Schlitz Malt Liquor Bull! LOL!!

Comment #10, by Jackie

When Essence magazine started listing that low fiction as top reading, I knew it was time to let that subscription expire.

I, too, would be interested in your list of the 25 best, or the best, or something along those lines. I read blogs, New York Times reviews, my local paper, Amazon.com, looking for reading suggestions. Just last week, I took note of the Joy Castro entry and this morning I finished reading her Truth book. Wow. I like finding them this good, off the beaten track, books that may not appeal to people looking for a quick fix or to be seen reading what's hot at the moment. Castro's experience wow'ed me and I look forward to checking out her other books. I felt the same way when someome recommended Haven Kimmel's A Girl Named Zippy. Then I read her followup book, She Got Up Off The Couch. There are so many talented writers and they won't all show up on the NYT list, the Essence list, but they should be on someone's list. Come on, now, give us some suggestions. It could be a semi-annual list or as-the-spirit-moves-you list.

BTW, books like the low fiction are best read in the bookstore or checked out of the library (and why does the library order so many copies of this stuff? Got to be an audience; horrors!)

I am starting to get agitated again. Off to lunch I go.