On American Authors

I must admit to not having read a lot of American authors. And sadly, never to have liked any I read. It could have something to do with my bias towards Yanks. A rather negative bias. It could also have something to do with the fact that there are not many American authors worth reading. It could also be that I simply don't get Americans, hence my bias an hence my feeling that there is a lack of decent American authors.

In any case, I was looking for a good read to while away some more airtime. I have become a much traveled lad of late, and my crappy laptop can barely manage 1 hour on batteries (DELL suck, massively!)
So, I have rediscovered my love of reading. The other day, in Ottawa, I had run out of reading and took a brief stay on the ground to restock. I couldn't find anything that perked my interest until i spotted “The End of Vandalism” by Tom Drury. The blurb on the cover says “Remarkably funny, astonishingly vivid”. So, I bought it. It further goes on to say “laugh-out loud funny”

It is a well crafted tale. But funny it is not. I can see why it should be funny, and can even find parts that I think should be considered “laugh out loud funny” Once in the whole book did I smile. Its not that I don't get it, its just not funny. The characters are interesting, and you do take them to heart, but by the end of the book you find yourself simply saying.....So what?

If anyone knows a really good American writer, let me know. Canadians, yes. I still like Douglas Coupland, and Annie Proux is great. I just read “Three day Road” and was lost in its wonders. So why can't they produce anything south of the border. I guess the Hemingway novels are OK, but I can't stand the non fiction. Self absorbed alcoholic! Twain is perhaps good, but he has been dead 100 years. I mean from most other countries I can think of a few great authors. Even back in SA there is JM Coetzee and Justin Cartwright. And Tolkien spent his youth there.

India is simply bursting with talent and the South American Continent is awash with great authors, even if they don't write in English.