September 11 and Books
Several months ago I pondered the effect of Hurricane Katrina on literature. My point was that it would only be natural that contemporary books reflect upon the storm since it so deeply impacted the lives of so many people. I expect that it will affect the writers of this generation the way the Great Depression and other major phenomena affected writers of yesteryear.
The Good Life
For some reason I never thought to apply that same logic to the September 11th terrorist attacks. Recently, however, NPR interviewed Jay McInerney, author of The Good Life. This new novel is set in Manhattan only days after the tragedy. The book is largely about the transformation that takes place in the lives of four New Yorkers in the aftermath of 9-11. This transformation, however, is demonstrated in the characters via an extramarital affair, leading to an exploration of the concept of “romance.”
How Good Is It?
I suppose it is the age-old “art mimics life” argument, but I am disappointed that the great transformation in the characters has to center around something Christian readers will judge as immoral. Couldn’t we explore the mental psyche of the characters just from their reflections and dialogue, or at least non-controversial moral actions?
The Sensitive Reader
That is an argument all its own. Suffice it to say, as a Christian reader, I find myself sensitive to certain content and so, based on the excerpt from the NPR article, I probably won’t get around to reading The Good Life. But I do wonder if this is an accurate reflection of post 9-11 transformations and if other 9-11 fiction reflects immorality as an outcome of 9-11’s aftermath?
In Summary
Either way this is a case in point that indeed 9-11 is becoming a setting, if not subject, of American contemporary fiction.
Other Related Articles
http://abbookman.com/ABBookman_F050704a.html
http://collectedmiscellany.com/archives/000117.php
http://www.ljhammond.com/phlit/2001-09b.htm
The Good Life
For some reason I never thought to apply that same logic to the September 11th terrorist attacks. Recently, however, NPR interviewed Jay McInerney, author of The Good Life. This new novel is set in Manhattan only days after the tragedy. The book is largely about the transformation that takes place in the lives of four New Yorkers in the aftermath of 9-11. This transformation, however, is demonstrated in the characters via an extramarital affair, leading to an exploration of the concept of “romance.”
How Good Is It?
I suppose it is the age-old “art mimics life” argument, but I am disappointed that the great transformation in the characters has to center around something Christian readers will judge as immoral. Couldn’t we explore the mental psyche of the characters just from their reflections and dialogue, or at least non-controversial moral actions?
The Sensitive Reader
That is an argument all its own. Suffice it to say, as a Christian reader, I find myself sensitive to certain content and so, based on the excerpt from the NPR article, I probably won’t get around to reading The Good Life. But I do wonder if this is an accurate reflection of post 9-11 transformations and if other 9-11 fiction reflects immorality as an outcome of 9-11’s aftermath?
In Summary
Either way this is a case in point that indeed 9-11 is becoming a setting, if not subject, of American contemporary fiction.
Other Related Articles
http://abbookman.com/ABBookman_F050704a.html
http://collectedmiscellany.com/archives/000117.php
http://www.ljhammond.com/phlit/2001-09b.htm
posted by Lee Ann @ 6:33 AM
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