I get the LRB which publishes Lockwood pretty regularly and over time my feelings have shifted from admiring her formidable talent with language even if the overall aesthetic is not exactly my thing to thinking "Christ, does this woman ever think of anyone but herself?" Her recent diary piece about saving her husband's life (https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v45/n04/patricia-lockwood/diary) really rubbed me the wrong way – of course I understand that it's meant to be funny and that these experiences are very surreal but it just never leaves the "how does this affect me, the main character of the universe" tone, nor does any of her literary criticism. You could be glib and say of course, that's true of all writers...but it's more true with her!
Also I love By Night In Chile, obviously, but that James Wood quote is so funny. Of course he's literally the "perfect exercises of the great masters" guy from 2666.
That’s sort of my impression of a lot of what I’ve read of hers. There’s even an aside about it being her sister’s story in the book and yet it’s only about Lockwood?? And yes that is characteristic of writers but you’re right. It is funny about Wood!
I get the LRB which publishes Lockwood pretty regularly and over time my feelings have shifted from admiring her formidable talent with language even if the overall aesthetic is not exactly my thing to thinking "Christ, does this woman ever think of anyone but herself?" Her recent diary piece about saving her husband's life (https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v45/n04/patricia-lockwood/diary) really rubbed me the wrong way – of course I understand that it's meant to be funny and that these experiences are very surreal but it just never leaves the "how does this affect me, the main character of the universe" tone, nor does any of her literary criticism. You could be glib and say of course, that's true of all writers...but it's more true with her!
Also I love By Night In Chile, obviously, but that James Wood quote is so funny. Of course he's literally the "perfect exercises of the great masters" guy from 2666.
That’s sort of my impression of a lot of what I’ve read of hers. There’s even an aside about it being her sister’s story in the book and yet it’s only about Lockwood?? And yes that is characteristic of writers but you’re right. It is funny about Wood!