Charlie Rose

JohnGelles  07/21/2011 03:29 PM Report

I can imagine experimental (model) lives in which each would be restricted to reading only, talking only (including to myself), and writing only. In this way I would know better the value of each gift in relation to thought and knowledge (especially of people, history and science).

As it is, I have experienced very tiny periods of reading and writing. Mostly I have listened to radio and TV, watched TV, done things, thought about everything, and talked to friends and strangers.

So what about Banville's thoughts as elicited by Charlie? They confirm my appreciation of Irish skills in speaking and writing -- gained while I lived in Germany working side by side with Irishmen for the American Air Force Post Exchanges. All of them, it seemed, had the gifts.

This, of course, is anecdotal -- based on too small a sample to be taken as fact.

In all events, Charlie gives us a chance to meet talented people we never might have found without him. For which we must say --Thanks.

ShalomFreedman  07/18/2011 08:30 AM Report

I do not know Banville's work at all. He has a very big literary reputation. He provides some interesting insights in this interview. I liked what he had to say about the obliqueness of Gaelic and its confrontation with the blunt directness of English. His idea that he wants to writes novels which must be given the all- or- nothing concentration and acceptance of Poetry is also interesting. I understand that his novels have a strongly poetic flavor.

But as a personality he certainly was not colorful or flamboyant. Dry and quite self- satisfied, speaking of himself and his alter - ego in the third person he bordered a bit here on pomposity. Overly-worshipful Charlie Rose was not helpful here.

The real sense however is that the interview is a mask, and to know the real writer and the real personality one simply must read his books ( which I doubt I will ever do)

Writer99  07/16/2011 12:56 AM Report

He's talking about Georges Simenon--hard to pick up.