The Story About the Story
By J. C. Hallman
Tin House Books, $18.95, 432 pages
Hallman has given the literary world an insightful book about the concept of “creative criticism” penned in clever and often humorous prose by a variety of talented authors. Front and center is the Creative Writer vs. The Critic in a historical, celebrity death-match of intellectual literary debate. “…and perhaps even debate is too highfalutin a word,” Hallman writes, “… to describe what has amounted to a decades-long pissing match between creative writers and critics.”
His premise is simple: the ideal solution is a fusion of the two. Using examples of past great writers writing about writing, Hallman successfully touts that wielders of the pen make the best critics; they cannot overlook the anguish/joy of writing, the sweat and toil put into each piece… yet they fervently forbid their fellow writers to pollute the face of literature.
Not only do writers generally find something good to say about the piece being criticized, the review itself is more enjoyable to read, versus the wry platitudes of the non-writing professional critic, who “writes up his report in hideous prose, making sure to flatter himself a bit, and then goes home to a well-deserved drink.” As a novelist, I found this argument both logical and appealing.
Hallman is not alone in his crusade for creative criticism; he builds a decent fortress around his points with a collection of highly entertaining and thought-provoking opinions by excellent writers. The essays (if they can be given such a dry, reprehensible name) are truly a joy to read, ranging from Virginia Woolf-bending a slightly exasperated eye over Hemingway’s work–to Sven Birkerts lyrically philosophizing on the baffling beauty in Keats’ ode, ‘To Autumn’.
Denoted very well throughout this book is this concept: compared to professional critics-who are expected to produce succinct reports–creative writers cannot stop penning words until all of what they mean to say has been conveyed. After each full-bodied opinion, one is compelled to go out and read-or re-read-the piece being critiqued. This merely bolsters Hallman’s theory, that good reviews and literary critiques should be-and can be-written to inspire readers to peruse the books themselves.
Reviewed by Meredith Greene
Thanks much for this kind and very thoughtful take on “The Story About the Story.” It’s not a surprise at all that a novelist would understand the goals of the book, but it’s the emphasis here on two points that is worth repeating: first, that writing that happens to be about reading, or about a particular book, can be enjoyable even if you haven’t read the author or the book in question; and second, that the essay can and should make you want to go and read the author or book itself. Neither “criticism” nor “review” is really an accurate term for these careful, smart, often funny, and sometimes even sad, takes on books. I’m heartened to see the anthology receiving its own careful and smart “review” in turn.
This thoughtful and helpful review was enough for me to add this book to my wish list (which means it then goes into the reading stacks along with the 400+ others). Many thanks to Ms. Greene for her insight.