[ailun]

It's not really "Newspeak" at all; if anything, it's the opposite. Newspeak had limited vocabulary. The interviewer is using a bunch of ten-dollar words. Still, interesting interview! I might read some Padgett Powell at some point because of this.

[HillRat]

It's an interesting contrast, because Ah-Sen is an experimental formalist, and his questions progress from that point of view, whereas Powell is (hilariously) ... not. (As this feels like a Q&A-by-email with all the questions submitted en bloc, Ah-Sen probably didn't get a chance to adapt his questions, and their theoretical foundation, to Powell's responses, lending to the surrealistic air.)

[kd5bjo]

It also might be worth noting that both pull quotes are things that Ah-Sen said in the questions, instead of things that Powell said in response.

Some interviewers aim to help to tell their subjects’ stories, but others are looking for a reason to hear themselves speak. This feels like the latter case.

[Jtsummers]

> It also might be worth noting that both pull quotes are things that Ah-Sen said in the questions, instead of things that Powell said in response.

One is from Powell, the other from Ah-Sen.

>> The attractive characteristic of a young narrator is the absurdity of it and the license of it. - Powell

>> The destiny of all books is to become unmoored from the time which birthed them. - Ah-Sen

[kd5bjo]

Mea culpa; I should know better than to comment when half asleep. Thanks for the correction.

[pictureofabear]

Also, shouldn't it be "berthed" not birthed?

[Ar-Curunir]

Er why would that be the case. To be unmoored is to be detached from something. So the quote is saying that the destiny of every book is to be detached and read outside the context in which it was written (birthed).

[basil-rash]

To be berthed is to be attached to your home, as a boat. It makes way more sense to keep the nautical analogy going than to switch it over to biology. This was likely a transcription error and/or pun.

[mrkstu]

Unless you’re going for some meta-joke, no.

[basil-rash]

Why not? If we’re starting with this nautical analogy (unmoored), immediately flipping to a biological one is odd. I strongly suspect this was a transcription error and/or intentional pun - the two are pronounced identically.

[collingreen]

Slow clap

[OJFord]

In the TV series Julia there's a character who's an academic in literature and hosts a public access TV show interviewing authors; I thought it was a bit of a caricature, but it may as well be accurately modelled on Ah-Sen, underplaying it even.

[culi]

> Ah-Sen is an experimental formalist, and his questions progress from that point of view

What does "experimental formalist" mean in this case and what is the associated point of view you're referring to?

[mc32]

Well, there is the bit where the interviewee responds to a question that utilizes SAT words by saying he does not recognize one of them. That tends to imply it's real-time, unless the interviewee is too lazy to look up the meaning before responding to an email or wants to underscore the pretentious use of language by the interviewer, who nevertheless keeps at it.

[ghodith]

The interviewee near the end also says "I confess to feeling loose reading this question." So I'm thinking it's not real time.

[kleiba]

The little info box about the interviewer at the end of the article tells you all you need to know.

[galaxyLogic]

"The little info box about the interviewer at the end of the article tells you all you need to know."

That is a very round-about way of saying something negative about this article. Why not say straight out what you think is wrong with it? Why not? Maybe because it is easier for some people to agree with you when you don't present any actual facts.

What does that little info-box say? And why do you think that is ALL we need to know?

[culi]

I think the implication is that this interview is more about the interviewer than about the interviewee. Not sure I agree. Infoboxes about the author of an article are a common practice. I see them even on recipe websites

[atuladhar]

Hmm, what is it that I needed to know? And what does the info box tell me? As another simpleton in this world, I did not understand this comment.

> Jean Marc Ah-Sen is the author of Grand Menteur, In the Beggarly Style of Imitation, and Kilworthy Tanner. He lives in Toronto.

[01HNNWZ0MV43FF]

You got something against Canadians?

[wmil]

No one has more issues with Toronto writers who claim to be part of the "Canadian literary underground" than other Canadians.

[Mtinie]

Your comment tells me all I need to know about you.

Obtuse commentary is worthless for discussion.