The Great Wednesday Compare #11- Margaret Atwood VERSUS John Irving
The winner of last week's Great Wednesday Compare (Margaret Atwood Vs. Toni Morrison), with a final score of 15-2, was Margaret Atwood.Of Morrison, Atwood writes, "[Her] versatility and technical and emotional range appear to know no bounds."
Obviously she's a fan, but the same can't be said about most visitors to my blog. Cited as confusing and unreadable by some, I was starting to expect Morrison would be shut out entirely (which would have been a first). Fortunately for her, two fans came to her defense. Though in response to Zon who asked about Faulkner: I'm also one of those who finds Morrison confusing (not unreadable) and yes, I find Faulkner confusing, too.
But this is a new week, and I'll try my best to appease those that implied voting last week was boring, like picking the lesser of two evils. This week Margaret Atwood is up against John Irving.
Remember, vote simply by adding your comment below, base it on whatever merit you choose (even if that means hair style), voting does not end until Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. (August 28st), and please spread the word!
Who's Better?
Labels: John Irving, Margaret Atwood, The Great Wednesday Compare
posted by John Mutford | 8/22/2007
|
20 comments
That's a scary pic of Irving. Does he always look like that? Shamefully, I've read no Irving, so I'm just going to stay out of this one.
Margaret Atwood. I find it difficult to get through Irving's sprawling, exhibitionist novels.
Oh, this is an easy one - John Irving is one of my favorite authors. There is nothing out there that compares to Garp OR to Hotel New Hampshire. Love him! Go John Irving!!
I love that picture of Irving! I'll vote for him since I like his books and I'm tired of Margaret winnning.
John Irving. No question. Garp alone would have done it for me. 'Sprawling, exhibitionist novels'? Yeah, but so deliciously wonderful.
Wow ... this is a hard choice for me. I love both of them and read them for different reasons. I'd have to stick with Atwood because her writing speaks to me on more levels on a more consistent basis than Irving.
What the heck, John? WHAT THE HECK? Ever since I declared I would never stop voting for Atwood, you've pitted her against all my OTHER favorite authors! But Irving's newer work is not nearly as good as his earlier work, whereas I think Atwood is consistent, so I'm sticking with Atwood.
Margaret Atwood - for reasons already cited: because her writing speaks to me on more levels and more consistently. I think I've read every book John Irving has written, and would have voted for him against many other authors, but I prefer Ms Atwood in this comparison.
So many of my favorite books (Garp, Cider House Rules, Owen Meany) are Irving's that this is an easier choice than I expected this week.
John Irving.
Atwood, no contest. I'm not overly fond of Irving, but have read most of Atwood, so I'll go for her this week.
Hmm..I'm going to have to go with Atwood, but I haven't read any Irving, so...
Atwood. She's got more than one story in her and she knows how to tell it right the first time.
Excellent, John! So who are the other favorite authors of Dewey's that MA is up against next?
I vote for Margaret Atwood. I did thoroughly enjoy John Irving at one point, but then there came a time when he went over the edge for me.
OK...this is really sad to say, but I've never actually READ a book by Irving! I still love Atwood, but I'd probably better abstain this week! Sorry!
John Irving wins and I'm not even mentioning the hair thing again. D'oh!
His early novels and then Cider House Rules, Garp, Owen Meany, fantastic. He's had a few misfires along the way and I hear his latest is a bit of a mess but so's Margaret's hair. D'oh!
Irving gets my vote. A Son of the Circus is one of my favourite books.
Irving, hands down. All you have to read is the first chapter of A Prayer for Owen Meany to know why he's the winner. But if you keep reading to the end, you'll know it was never a fair fight.
I've read one book by Atwood, and will read no more.
This is difficult, but I'm going with Irving.
Am I too late to throw my vote behind Irving? I was away last week!
Voting is now closed.