August 27, 2004

Hey Rob - - long time reader of 'gut' and you're an excellent writer.. enjoy lots of your blog... by the way... does Christopher Hitchens rate on your list of the more professional writers??
Rick in Orlando

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates made my jaw drop. I would stop after a good paragragh... stunned; then think: "Dear God, this bastard can write!"
You once did me a favor by pointing out a book entitled: Earth Abides. It was excellent! If you have not read Revolutionary Road by Yates... do so. And consider the favor paid in full.
You are interesting my friend. I enjoy your blog. Thoreau said, "Enhancing the quality of the day, is the highest of the arts."
You sir, are an artist.
be well budd
d. lee (Just Another Redneck Buddhist)

I like Hitchens, too. He's VERY good... but he can't touch Lileks with a ten-foot pole.

I like Victor Davis Hansen a lot. Dave Berry is entertaining, but I've never considered him a great writer. I'll pay closer attention next time.

P.J. O'Rourke is fantastic.

I cut my teeth on William F. Buckley back in high school. I used to keep a list of words I didn't know, the look them all up and re-read the chapter.

Oh yeah, and I meant to add; Lileks Rules!

I was looking over Vodkapundit last week and Will Collier had a post on Chris Rose. I've never heard of him. I like the read and the subject though.
-G

Just discovered Gnat's Da-dee, huh? I envy you - he has quite a body of work awaiting your discovery. I start off each day with coffee, the Daily Bleat, and a healthy resolve to stay on his good side....

John: Me too. He's one of the few writers who, when he really lands one, can have sitting at my desk and laughing so hard I can barely breathe.

But he did one unfortunate thing lately. His love for 30s and 40s swing music (which I share), and his revulsion for a lot of 60s and 70s commercial dreck (which I understand), led him to contrast and compare a wonderful Woody Herman recording with the theme from "Casino Royale," written by either Burt Bacharach or Herb Alpert. Unfortunately, it's the Casino Royale song that's gotten firmly lodged in my brain, and I hate that song!!!!

Lileks is not fit to smell Dave Barry's shit, to quote Martin Landau in "Ed Wood."

He sucks. I can't believe you tricked me into clicking on a link to that hack.

Never again . . .

I read your stuff daily (multiple times). I read Lileks' Bleat daily and Backfence Thursday's. Both of you have a tendency to ruin my keyboard -- I need a coffee and snot-proof one. Thanks for pointing to JWR - even though I'm Gentile (in central NC, what did you expect), I'll check in on Lileks over there every once in a while now, too. I love this technological crap.

KC, I agree that Lileks and Barry are both very funny writers, and Barry can even be funnier. What sets Lileks apart is that sometimes he seems to have gotten hold of Mark Twain's "Pen that was warmed-up in Hell." For example, read his 9/11 anniversary piece where he writes about the death of Christine Hanson.

Further to the Twain comparison, his Notes from the Olive Garden is as great an example of American humorous invective as Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offenses.