Monday, June 16, 2008

Gore Vidal

Who's read Gore Vidal? Where would be a good place to start? After reading this q-and-a, I want to.

12 comments:

  1. Palimpsest or United States (a collection of more than 100 essays -- great for "sampling" his work).

    Melissa

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  2. And the library has United States, so I'll start there. Thanks, Melissa.

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  3. Anonymous12:38 PM

    I have read only his Judgment of Paris, which I liked. I do mean to get to the American tomes eventually.

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  4. I'll probably catch "heck" for saying it, but I lost all respect for this man a long time ago. I sincerely, and honestly, believe that he's flipped his lid.

    I've read some of his novels, especially his historical fiction, and I've enjoyed them. Others are pretty bad, IMO. But his recent stream of consciousness ramblings to the press leave me cold and make me wonder about his mental stability.

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  5. I haven't read any Gore Vidal, but I'd read either "Burr" or "Lincoln".

    Have to admit, I always LOL at his interviews. But he didn't have to toy with that poor reporter quite so much...she was just doing her job.

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  6. You're right. After reading the Q&A - I feel like reading him too! :)

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  7. I picked up Burr a few weeks ago and had every intention of starting it in the near future, but after reading the Q&A, Vidal's ability to continually become a bigger blockhead than before, made me put the book back on the shelf.

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  8. I remember reading Myra Breckinridge and Burr. I always enjoyed watching interviews with him more than his writing. Especially the debate with Bill Buckley.

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  9. I liked Burr. My husband recommends Julian.

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  10. Okay, I've got the United States on my desk at work and I've checked out Burr to start with.

    As for Vidal's mental stability--well, a lot of people lose that as they grow older. And I always try to separate the work from the creator anyway--hated the way Scott Ritter's personal life detracted from his Iraq insight, still enjoy Woody Allen's movies, etc.

    And I would imagine any reporter who snags an interview with Vidal these days has to know what she's in for.

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  11. Anonymous3:42 PM

    I recommend Live from Golgotha for the satirical hilarity.

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  12. Thanks, Todd. I've added it to my wish list since the library doesn't have that one.

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