Reply #41: We all have different criteria. Some choose by the authors' degrees, whom he knows,

[McCamy Taylor]

number of publications, who else is reading the book and whether or not he spell checks before he goes to take a bath (I know how to spell, too. You will have to show me how to fucking spell.)

I choose what to read by the content. There are plenty of Rhodes Scholars who can not write their way of a paper bag. And George W. Bush has met the Pope and the Dali Lama, but his idea of fine literature is My Pet Goat. Zane Gray wrote over 90 books, so that must make him an uber-genius.

When I was back in college, ages ago, I was the only one who dared to say that Robert Frost did not measure up to Wallace Stevens, Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot, whom we studied together in a block. You would have thought I had committed blasphemy. But I am just an ornery southern girl who likes what she likes and gets bored with things that are mediocre. So no one will convince me that anyone is a "great writer" by telling me their qualifications. I need to see great work. I have read work by all the people you mention. I have not seen greatness, just competence. I may change my mind if I read the right piece.

I forgot Bill Moyers earlier and I apologize. He is a brilliant journalist.