tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518910185806021537.post8290635806810573928..comments2023-09-17T21:45:39.709+10:00Comments on Classic Readers: ALIA Retirees: The Finkler Question by Howard JacobsonMyleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192872572021046374noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518910185806021537.post-53595538410303732011-09-28T13:45:03.839+10:002011-09-28T13:45:03.839+10:00Thanks, Pat. Interesting to see an older posting ...Thanks, Pat. Interesting to see an older posting getting a comment. I must admit I rarely trawl back past the current one and perhaps the one before that.<br /><br />Howard Jacobsen was one of my tutors at University of Sydney forty-five years ago, and his classes were interesting, stimulating, and enjoyable then. Much more recently I have seen him present interesing television programs. But 'The Finker Question' did leave me cold.<br /><br />John KennedyJohn Kennedynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518910185806021537.post-18048856821539392682011-09-03T14:36:51.549+10:002011-09-03T14:36:51.549+10:00Having just returned from UK, where I enjoyed Jaco...Having just returned from UK, where I enjoyed Jacobson's regular comments in the Independent Newspaper, I was interested in these postings. I did try to read the book, but was one of those who found no interest in the characters ( although the topic is imortant) and preferred to read other more worthy books, as my reading time is so limited.<br />An interesting article,of his was about Genre Fiction in the world of Prizes, "the best fiction does not need a label"! The article resonated with me,as I am struggling with the way many libraries are now shelving fiction by genre, some NF too!Dumbing down, I call it!<br />I hope to read other titles from you lists eventually.<br />Thanks. Pat GallaherPat Gallahernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518910185806021537.post-65189730501870097192011-03-20T17:10:01.957+11:002011-03-20T17:10:01.957+11:00Dear John,
Anonymous was me. I somehow or other m...Dear John,<br />Anonymous was me. I somehow or other missed out on signing off properly. Yes - the way literary awards recipients are arrived at is often cause for much discussion. This one fits that category . Talking about Awards , I have just recently finished "Tinkers" by Paul Harding which won the most recent Pulitzer for Fiction -it is a most interesting book , a bit from the "left field" in a way, I think. Is that what caught judges imagination - I wonder? "Tinkers" by comparison with "The Finkler Question" is by a relatively new writer . It is fun to keep pondering - these major awards garner publicity for writers and literature which is a good thing even if sometimes the publicity is a might controversial<br />Again thanks for introducing me to "The Finkler Question" - it has stayed fresh with me after several months and I find I am still conscious of the debate it promoted in me. A tantalising work , I think.Fayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02024279159956263512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518910185806021537.post-61572268620388998202011-03-01T10:26:20.320+11:002011-03-01T10:26:20.320+11:00Dear John,
You are right - I was the commentator. ...Dear John,<br />You are right - I was the commentator. I hadn't meant to go in anonymously - I just didnt tick the right box.<br />Thanks for the extra points about the lifetime awards . I find the discussion around winners of major awards of real interest - gets some good arguments going. The recent Pulitzer winner for fiction "Tinkers" by Paul Harding gets that sort of discussion going also. I wonder what you might think of that work. Very interesting book - maybe rewarded for being a little outside the traditional. However i am hunkered down in" The Brothers Karamozov" at present and should not be reading anything else. I will post soon on this master work.Fayelawrencenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518910185806021537.post-73919519739883482312011-02-28T09:48:38.584+11:002011-02-28T09:48:38.584+11:00Thank you once again for the picture of the author...Thank you once again for the picture of the author, Mylee.John Kennedynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518910185806021537.post-9244443023002660642011-02-15T16:01:32.929+11:002011-02-15T16:01:32.929+11:00Thanks for your comments, Faye (I strongly suspect...Thanks for your comments, Faye (I strongly suspect the anonymous author is you!). I think you quite rightly point to some merits of the book (the irony, some memorable scenes) that I tended to overlook.<br /><br />I do indeed wonder if the award of the Man Booker should be regarded as more a recognition of Jacobson's body of work than a tribute to this particular novel. In theory the award recognises a particular novel, but it is well known that the Academy Awards to actors, which in theory reward a particular performance, have over the years gone from time to time to performers perceived as being in the twilight of their years and as having been distinguished actors, but who have never quite made it onto the stage to receive the Academy's acolade. Jacobson at sixty-eight was the oldest Man Booker winner since William Golding in 1980, and while one hopes he is not exactly in the twilight of his career yet, there does seem to have been a feeling that he was someone who had been unduly neglected by Man Booker prize panels. I understand Jacobson himself made no great secret of his belief that his award might have come sooner.John Kennedynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518910185806021537.post-2683244772513377072011-02-09T16:45:09.115+11:002011-02-09T16:45:09.115+11:00Dear John,
Thank you for your review which is a pa...Dear John,<br />Thank you for your review which is a particularly good example of your fairness and insight . I must say I find this is a difficult book to analyse . I liked some of it but I have reservations and I think you have pinpointed them for me viz, - the characterisation overall , the idea that the novel is "comic" (I do think it is somewhat ironic however) , and the lack of any depth in the female characters in the book.<br /><br />What I liked about it was the central thematic approach of examining Jewishness and behavourial relationships accordingly in our type of "tolerant" society . I think this "debate" (as it were) worked to some extent . I did find I was trying to think the matters through along with the dreadful Treslove . But it probably went on too long and overdid the point .<br />However the hapless Treslove (a Zelig type perhaps ) has no noticeable redeeming human qualities - as you point out.<br /><br />I had the thought that Treslove was a type of inverted joke by the author - a charicature - a sort of neurotic intellectual Jew of the comic turn variety - who was himself a gentile wanting to be Jewish. Perhaps I am wide of the mark with this thought but it did amuse me at times. <br /><br />So I did found some the scenes and ideas amusing in their irony - Treslove himself , the "pop" philosophy of Sam and the family dinner scenes at Libor's and Hepzibar's. <br /><br />In summary, I thought it was worth reading. I gather it is controversial as a winner of the Man Booker . I heard of one critic complain that it is a good example of a lesser book by a good author being rewarded when he should have been recognised for other works of his which had been short listed earlier ie "Kalooki Nights". A subset discussion about the way literary prizes are awarded seems to be going on strongly with this one - glad we had a look at it and thanks again for a great review.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com