So, not exactly breaking news around here but this guy Walker Percy can put the pen to paper as they say. I just finished the Last Gentleman and am now onto the Second Coming. Damn good, chillins.
I also recently (and coincidentally) saw on book tv an in depth interview with Shelby Foote. (A lot of book tv's interviews are archived online, especially the recent ones). The two writers were very close friends apparently and a book with their letters was recently published. Foote was a wonderful interview generally but the parts where he talked about his friendship with Percy were especially interesting. It's a long interview but thought I'd post the link if you're inclined to go Percyfooting (TM) around.
4 comments:
May I suggest "Love in the Ruins" next? One of the funniest books I ever read.
You may indeed. I have read it once - but no reason I can;t read it next - and you're right - hilarious, good parody and, the social commentary is startling relevant, probably because he was ahead of his time in many ways or at least had a knack of accurately predicting the absurd conclusions of social trends. I've also read Thanatos and the Moviegoer and was thinking about revisiting the latter since it's been a while.
I have the Percy/Foote book at home if you want it. Also, have you tried the non-fiction? Some real fun stuff there.
PS: I also have quite a few books ON Percy at the Homestead. I always find it interesting to find all the biographical I can on a favorite author -- kind of gives an insight into his writing not found in critical works.
Frank, I would recommend the books of interviews Dad has on Percy. I read them all the time when I am home and they are great, great.
I haven't read "Love in the Ruins" so thanks for the reminder! It is on deck...
Percy should be required reading for anyone interested in diagnosing/understanding the problem of modernity.
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