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Re: Nabokov, Freud, Updike (fwd)
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From: Jim Morrison <jamorrison@metronet.de>
I would like to begin this posting with an apology
for the angry tone of my attack on Boyd. Some of it was out
of line, but I still stand by the substance of my criticisms and I'm
still in favor of charitable readings. Freud is dead wrong about
many things, but I believe there is something to be gained by reading him.
I'm glad that Juan Martinez raised John Updike's name in his
commentson fraud and the lack of credibility Freud has in his life.
Updike, it turns out, has some positive things to say about Freud. He is
also a very big fan of Nabokov. (I started reading Nabokov
because of his glowing recommendations. I love
his observation printed on so many of Nabokov's books
that "Nabokov writes prose the only way it should be written,
that is, esthetically.")
And yet a man who can write such praise has
still been able to level a few criticisms at Nabokov. He is a man who is
a great admirer of Nabokov and he can also say that Nabokov has some
faults. I think that is a good quality in a critic.
I'm impressed by Updike's ability to appreciate both
Nabokov and Freud. Seeing that one has great worth,
read Nabokov, does not mean that the other, read Freud,
is worthless. He can find charm/intelligence/usefulness in
both of them. I'm also impressed by Updike's capacity to be
a deeply religious man who can still appreciate certain aspects
of Freud's writings even though Freud was an atheist
and spoke very negatively about religion. Updike can disagree
with Freud in areas of extreme personal importance and he can
agree with him in others. He has a similar attitude towards Nabokov.
I think he sets an example worth following, an example conducive
to getting maximum enjoyment and education from our reading.
Here is a sample of Updike on Freud:
"He helped me. He definitely helped America...Since
Freud sexuality is something positive, not something negative
as was suggested by the Puritans. Freud's concept of the
death and destruction drive moves me, even if I can't agree
with it."
Jim
I would like to begin this posting with an apology
for the angry tone of my attack on Boyd. Some of it was out
of line, but I still stand by the substance of my criticisms and I'm
still in favor of charitable readings. Freud is dead wrong about
many things, but I believe there is something to be gained by reading him.
I'm glad that Juan Martinez raised John Updike's name in his
commentson fraud and the lack of credibility Freud has in his life.
Updike, it turns out, has some positive things to say about Freud. He is
also a very big fan of Nabokov. (I started reading Nabokov
because of his glowing recommendations. I love
his observation printed on so many of Nabokov's books
that "Nabokov writes prose the only way it should be written,
that is, esthetically.")
And yet a man who can write such praise has
still been able to level a few criticisms at Nabokov. He is a man who is
a great admirer of Nabokov and he can also say that Nabokov has some
faults. I think that is a good quality in a critic.
I'm impressed by Updike's ability to appreciate both
Nabokov and Freud. Seeing that one has great worth,
read Nabokov, does not mean that the other, read Freud,
is worthless. He can find charm/intelligence/usefulness in
both of them. I'm also impressed by Updike's capacity to be
a deeply religious man who can still appreciate certain aspects
of Freud's writings even though Freud was an atheist
and spoke very negatively about religion. Updike can disagree
with Freud in areas of extreme personal importance and he can
agree with him in others. He has a similar attitude towards Nabokov.
I think he sets an example worth following, an example conducive
to getting maximum enjoyment and education from our reading.
Here is a sample of Updike on Freud:
"He helped me. He definitely helped America...Since
Freud sexuality is something positive, not something negative
as was suggested by the Puritans. Freud's concept of the
death and destruction drive moves me, even if I can't agree
with it."
Jim