A note from Lisa Crystal Carver on her review of Alternadad - By N.L. Belardes
While former President Jimmy Carter is kissing up about passages in his book Palestine: Peace not Apartheid, Lisa Crystal Carver, author of Drugs Are Nice is not backing down from feisty words in her review of Alternadad. I don’t have to say much more about her review, “The Ironic Thing: Why I hate parenting memoirs like Alternadad,” other than her opening line, “Like surprisingly many people, I have always held a vague abhorrence for Neal Pollack.”
Of course I go on to call her a “mean tart” in my comments but really what’s interesting are the many hurt comments from people not getting what Carver’s trying to do. One commenter writes, “I don't understand your take here. This isn't a review of the Alternadad book, it's a personal attack on Pollack. Why? It smacks of jealousy and bitterness… I'm put off by this whole thing. Lisa Carver, I think I'll hold a "vague abhorrence" for you now. Get a life.”
Ouch.
You can read more comments here. And leave a comment on her review!
I go on to write in my comment of her review:
From the little contact I had with Lisa, it took a little while to tune into her unique blend of sarcasm and humor. She tears at the world around her--claws at it, really. And she does so in a way that makes you laugh and makes you squirm. All she seems to be doing is ripping the golden gleam off the gilded world around us. She has her own way of doing it. And that's OK. I get it.
I was surprised to get an email from Carver who felt I actually did ‘get’ her. That’s a relief. Here’s part of my note from Carver:
You are the first of 25 people to figure out that what I want is revolution, not to be liked, or for what's his name to be disliked… That guy shouldn't call himself The Greatest Living American Writer if he wants his books to be judged on a "good enough" basis, rather than is he or isn't he a pioneer, getting hurt and hurting others in his blundering, fearless, (and hopefully funny) fuck you into the scariest part of the woods.
Thanks Lisa.
(Read my interview and review of Carver’s Drug’s Are Nice)
This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on
Friday, January 26, 2007.
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i think its time you updated the look of your site. im sick of the blue.
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Lisa's book review/essay was hilarious. I didn't necessarily agree with it. Of course I say this without actually having read the book.
But it was funny. What was even funnier is the fans coming out of the woodwork to defend the woodwork and her not giving a shit. My favorite response to one of the posters comments with the handle/name "ilovekitties" was: Well, you love kitties.
And the other is to someone who's comment is: you're wrong Her comment back was: you're wrong
ha. That's great! It almost makes me want to buy the book to see if she really IS wrong. Or if she's right.
to defend the BOOK/writer... wtf? why did I type woodwork twice? It was hard enough the first time. ugh. need coffee....
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