Are writers jealous of other writers?
Of course we are; we’re not immune. Especially if that writer’s novel seems to have garnered an unfair portion of critical praise. This makes us berserk.
I personally stood in my front yard, when the whole “Twilight” thing took off, and cursed the fickle Publishing gods. You see, I should have Stephanie Meyer’s book deal, and she should have a wart on her coccyx. And every time she scratches it, the gas tank on my hypothetical Mercedes Benz SL550 Roadster should fill up.
But we don’t sling such things over Twitter, or on Facebook, in the New York Times or across the Huffington Post so that the entire social media world can see our inner five-year old throwing a tantrum.
This is why I read with great curiosity the recent tirade launched by popular writers Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Weiner against fellow writer Jonathan Franzen, and the furor surrounding his latest novel “Freedom” (which isn’t even out yet).
The girls are very publicly crying foul over the fact that Franzen has been featured twice in seven days in the New York Times, and has helped himself to a gluttonous slice of the literary review pie. Their charge: female novelists are unfairly overlooked by critics, and Franzen is somehow propelling this along. It’s nothing short of a shit fit.
Never mind that their less-than-good natured Twitter jabs are adding to the Franzen buzz. And he doesn’t need any help; “Freedom” got an invariable executive push towards the bestseller list this week after President Obama scored an advanced copy from a Martha’s Vineyard retailer.
Weiner is known for her snark. The chick-lit author of fluffy books like “Good in Bed” and “In Her Shoes,” both of which I loved, has long been a foe of what her website describes as the “entrenched sexism in the literary world.” (Oh yes, I did call her stuff chick-lit. Her beach-reads are almost soft-core porn for the iGeneration.) So God forbid a boy write better than her.
And Franzen’s works are pure literary fiction, with compelling settings and characters so lush and ripe you could eat them. No fluff here. Weiner, though, has still labeled all the hoopla “Franzenfreude.”
But Jodi Picoult? Perish the thought! Her novels are richly written, the issues unique and usually controversial. As one reviewer put it, “it’s hard to exaggerate how well Picoult writes.” She can wield a courtroom drama better than the almighty Grisham. Hell, even Stephen King is a big fan.
So why all the noise? I would expect better behavior from two bestselling authors like Weiner and Picoult, who can both boast fiercely loyal readerships. Less crap has been smeared in the recent Florida political primaries.
Ladies, save your poison. There’s enough buzz out there for all of us. And, there are much better targets. Like all those “Twilight” fans …
