3. LW's nobility is in performance of task of editing, a self-sacrificing profession where you devote yourself to improving other writers
-
-
Replying to @HeerJeet
4. Of of the strengths of LW's book section was he could tap fairly abtruse academic writers but re-direct their prose to wider audience
4 replies 1 retweet 1 like -
Replying to @HeerJeet
5. Protip for anyone studying American history or political theory at graduate level: TNR reviews are great for preparing for the comps.
1 reply 5 retweets 5 likes -
Replying to @HeerJeet
6. LW's reflexively contrarian stance (in keeping with TNR as a whole) was both strength and weakness of his editing.
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @HeerJeet
7. N+1 magazine accused LW of using his reviewers as "designated haters" -- a fair charge. LR liked take-downs of big reputations.
1 reply 1 retweet 3 likes -
Replying to @HeerJeet
8. Hiring James Wood as the regular fiction critic was perhaps the peak of LW's contrarian streak since Wood is so good at debunking
2 replies 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @HeerJeet
9. What's interesting about TNR hit jobs is they are valuable even if you don't agree with them.
3 replies 0 retweets 2 likes -
Replying to @HeerJeet
10. I'm thinking here of review TNR ran of Peter Novick's great "The Holocaust in American Life" -- a book a very much admire.
2 replies 0 retweets 1 like -
Replying to @HeerJeet
11. TNR review (I think by David Bell) was pretty dismissive of Novick, which didn't change my mind but did make me think more about book.
1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes -
Replying to @HeerJeet
12. True also of Wood's reviews of Updike, Toni Morrison, etc. I rarely agreed with Wood's judgement but he helped read more fiercely.
1 reply 0 retweets 1 like
13. Tragedy of Wieseltier is perhaps that he never got to be edited by Leon Wieseltier. His own prose runs towards self-indulgence.
-
-
Replying to @HeerJeet
14. In conclusion, even in bleakest years of TNR (under Sullivan and Kelly) when I could barely stand magazine, I would look at reviews.
4 replies 0 retweets 5 likes
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.