FANNING THE FLAMES, part 3

i haven't read richard yates, and i don't plan to before i go to watch tao lin read from it at reading frenzy on tuesday, but there's no question that lin has made himself a mainstream name with this book. that jonathan franzen parody cover that the stranger ran turned out to be only the opening salvo of lin's fifteen minutes. richard yates has now also been reviewed for the nyt book review.

if, however, the reviewers are representative of popular opinion, it's looking like tao lin might have some trouble keeping the limelight. even the review in the portland mercury, sister paper to the stranger and the "indie-r" of portland's two weeklies, was consistent in its take on richard yates with the opinions expressed in less quaint/more industry minded outlets. lin's new book sounds essentially similar to his efforts in shoplifting from american apparel, which i did enjoy and appreciate, and the new book should resonate with a similar audience.

maybe. while extreme understatement and the language and manners of the chatting classes are undeniably characteristic of tao lin's so far very polarizing prose, an entire oeuvre dedicated to describing a laconic and anesthetized youth in petty revolt probably won't engender any sustained fascination, even for fans. which isn't to say that lin's style isn't careful and brilliantly expressive of his subjects and their mumblecore world. but as a statement, what lin has done in shoplifting from american apparel and richard yates can only be really profound once. should something perhaps start happening? the emotions we're reading are convincing, sure, but why not just get back to chatting ourselves? that's all i can really say, you know, not having read richard yates and all -- though the speculation no doubt helps convey on me the aura of an active and official book writer. no one at the oregonian has cracked a book since making staff, that's for sure. so if nothing else, it's good practice. not that i aspire to the oregonian, unless, that is, they want me.

maybe it's that i entered into my fascination with tao lin before all of this hullaballoo and the scales are starting to drop. being on trend isn't always flattering. (do you know ugg boots?) maybe i should just read the new book. but i'm seeing my copy of shoplifting from american apparel at the bottom of a pretty precarious stack, and it should take most of the spare time around my other reading to get it out. i do want to have it signed. we'll see.