tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018782984608353962.post5723429115803671059..comments2023-10-30T09:56:53.517-04:00Comments on a blog for frances: fictionalizedfranceshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06516026856838148495noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018782984608353962.post-4281821741162497452010-05-23T07:37:50.831-04:002010-05-23T07:37:50.831-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16877468681375632529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018782984608353962.post-76516016351612411872010-05-21T15:01:02.472-04:002010-05-21T15:01:02.472-04:00I have actually thought about this post a lot late...I have actually thought about this post a lot lately. And I have another idea. You mentioned that maybe a reason a book like this doesn't exhist is because the mormon culture is in it's infancy compared to other denominations and religions all together. But could it also be that there IS a great piece of literature already written by a mormon that hasn't had a chance to age? If I remember correctly from my Jr. High art class the art of Vincent Vangough wasn't considered brilliant masterpiece work until AFTER he died. It seems like as the classics age they become better, like wine and cheese. So, not to say that mormonism is young (when it is in fact very ancient) but to say that mormon BOOKS are young may also be appropriate. Maybe we need to wait a few decades to see which books can stand the test of time. Just a thought.PNRBAChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16343280775231581209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018782984608353962.post-19438599430012108872010-05-20T16:23:35.912-04:002010-05-20T16:23:35.912-04:00Interesting post that has left me thinking, so I&#...Interesting post that has left me thinking, so I'll respond more later, but as a side note, funny to see that the author of the Slate article you included is my cousin. That was unexpected. <br /><br />FJ, you are missed in SLC.Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16571406834073766916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018782984608353962.post-26151794753867800212010-05-20T11:06:31.305-04:002010-05-20T11:06:31.305-04:00Glenn Beck.
'nuf said. Nothing BUT fiction co...Glenn Beck.<br /><br />'nuf said. Nothing BUT fiction comes out of that assclown's mouth.<br /><br />okay, but on a more serious note, I know that a lot of people snub fantasy and sci-fi, but I think you may be selling a few authors short. Tracy Hickman (Dragonlance and other fantasy novels) and Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game and other sci-fi novels) have both sold more books than you and I ever will. No... they're not the "Mormon Steinbeck", but their work is notable.stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08934357698695943979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018782984608353962.post-90558137988223563552010-05-19T22:33:36.226-04:002010-05-19T22:33:36.226-04:00dear frances! I just read this article yesterday t...dear frances! I just read this article yesterday too, and I had that very conversation with a friend of mine in Brooklyn as well about why there isn't a great Mormon novel (I vote that he writes it). <br /><br />I agree with you that I think that the religion is too young to have developed a culture of writers in the way say, the Jews have. Also, great novels often deal with conflict and sorrow , but we Mormons look forward with a hope in the gospel, with even the sting of death swallowed up in Christ. It's a great life attitude, but certainly doesn't bring the same tension to works of literature that say, a Chaim Potock or jonathan safran foer does. We like happy endings because our doctrine is essentially a happy ending. I also think that when presenting a story, we tend to over-explain the Mormon parts because we are self-conscious about being misunderstood, because of the lack of accurate information about mormons that the general public has, and we have such a strong missionary culture that it would be almost impossible for a good mormon to write a piece of work without thinking that it could impact someone either positively or negatively about the church (we are always told that you never know who is watching you as a representative of the church). Along that same vein, i disagree that Mormons are afraid to ask questions. i think that we do ask questions and are encouraged to do so-- we just are not very good at being public about our questioning. <br /><br />Anyway, it's an interesting thought and i so look forward to that day when i read a novel by a Mormon, can see my culture reflected in it, and I don't feel like there is an awkward tension, like the author is either preaching or apologizing for it. And it isn't about vampires or another type of young adult novel. One day. I think it is possible.suvihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16324711927133880025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7018782984608353962.post-50201666600784053882010-05-19T20:36:38.286-04:002010-05-19T20:36:38.286-04:00Interesting post my dear. I have to ask what your ...Interesting post my dear. I have to ask what your definition of "seminal piece of literature" is. If you mean purely fictional, I know several best sellers written by Mormons. If you mean historical fiction, I also know a handful of great ones. Please define further. Maybe it would help if you listed some NON-mormon seminal pieces of literature to set the bar. Are you a looking for a book ABOUT Mormons or simply WRITTEN by a Mormon? Is it a Mormon Jane Austin you are looking for or a Mormon C.S. Lewis...or am I way off in left field?PNRBAChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16343280775231581209noreply@blogger.com