| Author | Message | ||
     Thumper Rating: N/A |
Hello All, I am 3/4 of the way through Drinking Coffee Elsewhere by ZZ Packer. I like it. Packer is a good writer. But, I'm not going all ga ga over here like some of you. She's funny, insightful, has a very amicable style. I would definitely read her again. I know a lot of praise has been heaped up on her, and I ain't trying to rain on anybody's parade, but I ain't seeing it. | ||
| Chris Hayden Rating: N/A |
Thump: ZZ is a good writer, but, like you said she ain't the second coming. I think she is getting a big push from the IowaMFA/New Yorker mafia-- | ||
| yukio Rating: N/A |
Chris Hayden and Thumper: I like Drinking Coffee Elsewhere, so far. I don't know if she's the "second coming,"either..lmao! But she is a solid writer, and is much better than much of what i've read by recent black american writers. I like her wit and subtlety and understatement..... | ||
| Linda Rating: N/A |
I agree Thumper and Yukio. After reading ZZ, having heard all the hoopla, I didn't see it as all that. Though her collection is filled with cute stories I would have liked to have seen her stretch her muslces a little farther. But, I am looking forward to reading her first novel when she competes it to make a more accurate decison on her writing. | ||
| Linda Rating: N/A |
Sorry Chris, I meant to also include you in my response. | ||
| Chris Hayden Rating: N/A |
Linda: It's cool. All: I don't want to seem to come down hard on her. This is a first book and she is a young writer so I would give her points for that--a promising beginning what I'd call it. | ||
| Thumper Rating: N/A |
Hello All, I agree Chris. The collection is a promising start. I really like her. I too would give her points as well, but I agree, she is not the second coming. She has the potential to make a mark. I would love to read her first novel to see if she fulfills and really show her behind. | ||
| Anonymous Rating: N/A |
Yeah, Chris but our own K.B. out-wrote her in head to head short stories, so I do understand why folks exposed to so much hype are dumbfounded to find that she isn't the cat's meow that John Updike and the New Yorker claimed. More like white media darling IMHO. But hey. She's a good, good writer. That I admit. | ||
| AR Rating: N/A |
I read her book of short stories and compared to some of these other Black writers, who are on their 5th, 6th, 7th, etc., book .... she's way better. | ||
| Chris Hayden Rating: N/A |
AR: Would you care to mention any names? | ||
| yukio Rating: N/A |
AR: right, right, right....ZZ Packer is way better than most of our black american fiction writers who have several books...i would say the same about Victor LaValle....he doesn't get enough love...he is waaaayyyyyy better than most of these other black writers...waaaaaay better! I'll not say any names. I do, however, have a preference for literary fiction, so excuse my bias....and please lets not get on the virtues of literary v. commercial....i've started enough misunderstandings this week! Shout out to Thumper, Cynique, ABM, and Chris Hayden and even Carey, who i think is wrong about blackness, but I respect his(your) position. | ||
| Carey Rating: N/A |
Yukio As little Richard would say: "I hear you knockin' but you can't come in"..."come back tomorrow night and try it again". You are obviously most invested/interested in this issue than I. It's clear you have more to say on this subject but I'm through. I really really could care less....really. But I will open the door and let you romp around by yourself if you like. Here it goes: You said: "even Carey, who I think is wrong about blackness". Okay Yukio, here's your lead, have at it! My response: OH YEAH! how so? They you go dear, you can frame the arguement, address it and close it. Because baby, I really really do not care to discuss it anymore. (LOL) "he's wrong about blackness". I'll be upstairs checking out Kevin Coster in the movie "Open Range". ABM, hey man, did you get a chance......wait a minute, excuse me ABM, Yukio what are you doing still standing there, I thought you'd be getting that arguement prepared, go ahead, we'll be here when you get back. Now ABM, where were we......... "......that black M*&%*$**^@*"  Carey | ||
| Let's Get Serious Rating: N/A |
Carey, I loved "Open Range"!!! Surprised it didn't do better. Tell me what you thought after the movie. | ||
| Yukio Rating: |
Carey: Sorry!...I was actually playing! I've written another "dissertation" in the other thread explaining to you what i meant actually, which was different than what you interpreted. And yes, i am passionate about blackness, but this is a different thread and again, it was my poor attempt at humor! Have a good evening! | ||
| Thumper6488 Newbie Poster Username: Thumper6488 Post Number: 2 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Hello All, I finished Drinking Coffee Elsewhere and I like it very much. I still have the same opinion that I posted earlier, though. I'm still open. I am more anxious now to read Packer's first novel. | ||
| Crystal First Time Poster Username: Crystal Post Number: 1 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
I enjoyed it also. When I read it I didn't know she was so touted by the powers that be. I'm glad I didn't have those expectations and could just enjoy the stories for themselves without that giggling in the back of my mind. | ||
| Thumper First Time Poster Username: Thumper Post Number: 1 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Hello All, Crystal: I know this is off the subject, but how did your son enjoy his new books? | ||
| Crystal Newbie Poster Username: Crystal Post Number: 2 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Hi Thumper. Funny you should ask. He hasn't read either of them yet. But I did and enjoyed them both. I have Echoes of a Distant Summer on my next-to-buy list. That poor child is so OBSESSED with an alternative storyline Harry Potter site that it's all he spends his spare time on. And it's all on the computer so he sits there reading that little screen sometimes for hours. He's tried to get me interested but I ain't that big of a Harry fan. I can wait for the next REAL installment. Thanks for asking! | ||
| Thumper Newbie Poster Username: Thumper Post Number: 4 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Hello Crystal, Uh-oh, you shouldn't have told me that. I have to admit, I've become mildly obssessed with all things Harry Potter myself. I'm going to have that site now. I can't wait for the next installment either. I wonder if its going to be released in June like all the others were. | ||
| Crystal Newbie Poster Username: Crystal Post Number: 3 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Thumper, here's one of the sites he likes: http://www.fanfiction.net/list.php?categoryid=224 |
