Benjamin Kunkel was all over the Sunday New York Times today. He wrote the cover article for the Book Review, and his first and last names are the very first words that appear in an article in the magazine about The Believer and n+1, two intellectual/literary magazines run by people who are around my age. And his new (and first) novel was reviewed on the cover of the Book Review two weeks ago – by Jay McInerney, no less. The magazine article this weekend says that Kunkel “has become the hot young white male writer of the moment, a position once held by Dave Eggers.”
I shouldn’t resent him, of course. He means me no harm. (He doesn’t even know me.) And yet of course I resent him. Resentment and envy. Of him, and of the other people who have started these magazines. Their mere existence allows me to compare myself with them and brood on my own insecurities and my lack of anything to show for myself, and the symbiotic relationship between these two things.
This is nothing new with me, though. It’s who I am. It’s what I do.
Yeah, but his stuff sounds pretty shallow, and you’re not. So buck up.
Not just Kunkel’s stuff sounds shallow – Jay McInerney sounds equally shallow, and I have read most of his books!
a famous greek philosopher of that ancient variety once said that the secret to life is battle, and until you realize that things will not be handed to you– that you will have to fight for what you want– only then will you fully live up to the promise of your talent. your entitlement serves you poorly.
and as a famous little green philosopher, equally ancient, once said, there’s is no try– there’s only do.
so, tinman, to become the literary giant you pine to be, do and then battle away. you will come this way only once, and there has never been a better time than now.
yours.
I very much like M-of-A’s comment.
Although you’ve certainly attained a level of cultural influence not had by many with your blog (i’m not sure you always fully realise this), there is certainly room for improvement, for methods of even greater influence. “Jeffrey is not working up to his potential.”
I think your biggest obstacle is that treasured garden of fear you so meticulously prune and protect.
Rage is the fear-killer.
rob@egoz.org
You wouldn’t happen to be 29 this year, would you? Your post sounds like my entire twenty-ninth year, the theme of which was “What have I to show for myself!?!” Argh.
Criticizing Kunkel unduly doesn’t help at all, David. Catty quips might serve the cast of ‘The Women’ well, but in the real world, they don’t make you Dorothy Parker. ‘Indecision’ is actually a really gorgeous book– I just finished it today.