This is part of an interview with Jeffrey Eugenides - a favourite writer of thenewgreen - in the NYTimes Book Review, October 7, 2012. Eugenides mocks that super-clichéd question, What three authors, dead or alive, would you invite to dinner.
You’re organizing a dinner party of writers and can invite three authors, dead or alive. Who’s coming?
First I call Shakespeare. “Who else is coming?” Shakespeare asks.
“Tolstoy,” I answer.
“I’m busy that night,” Shakespeare says.
Next I call Kafka, who agrees to come. “As long as you don’t invite Tolstoy.”
“I already invited Tolstoy,” I tell him. “But Kundera’s coming. You like Milan. And you guys can speak Czech.”
“I speak German,” Kafka corrects me.
When Tolstoy hears that Kundera’s coming, he drops out. (Something about an old book review.) So finally I call Joyce, who’s always available. When we get to the restaurant, Kafka wants a table in back. He’s afraid of being recognized. Joyce, who’s already plastered, says, “If anyone’s going to be recognized, it’s me.”
Kundera leans over and whispers in my ear, “People might recognize us too if we went around with a cane.”
The waiter arrives. When he asks about food allergies, Kafka hands him a written list. Then he excuses himself to go to the bathroom. As soon as he’s gone, Kundera says, “The problem with Kafka is that he never got enough tail.” We all snicker.
Joyce orders another bottle of wine. Finally, he turns and looks at me through his dark glasses. “I’m reading your new book,” he says.
“Oh?” I say.
“Yes,” says Joyce.
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The truth is a lot of authors do like to get together for dinner, and it can be fun - especially if there is lots to eat and drink. I won't ask hubski the question.
I don't know much about my favorite author's personalities, but I would like to have a nice, long and leisurely dinner with Douglas Adams, Kurt Vonnegut and Kenneth Koch, among others. Those guys really helped me to find joy in the written word and since their words are at the very least fun (and I think, also intelligent) that it would make for a really pleasant evening.
OKAY the question is out there then. Let's answer it. But I'm not sure your dinner party would work out. Who do you think would be more cynical about the future of humanity, Douglas Adams or Kurt Vonnegut? I think Kenneth Koch would rather be around more positive people. He might not go.
You do require a guest list if you have numerous blood feuds on the go. The guest has a right to ask who else is coming. You would think inviting people from different centuries would avoid problems, but apparently not according to Eugenides:
“Tolstoy,” I answer. “I’m busy that night,” Shakespeare says.First I call Shakespeare. “Who else is coming?” Shakespeare asks.
These days, you email the list to everyone. You do not blindcopy. That gives all the attendees a chance to research all the other guests, so that at an opportune moment, one might say, "I see you own a walnut farm in Uttarakhand, India. I hear business is exploding." (At least that's what I do whenever possible.)
Maybe, but I think Koch was really curious about people and the human experience. I mean, why else write books on how to teach children how to write poems? I don't see a real contradiction between cynicism and positivity. I for one, have been characterized as an upbeat cynic on numerous occasions. Yes, we are burdened with the errors of our forefathers and ourselves and are lucky to have stumbled so far, but what luck and what incredible roller coasters we fall onto! All three deal with the particular weirdness of being a human being through a well-conveyed sense of humor and had remarkable insights on what it was to be human, not only in their time, but human, period. While they might not accept invitations to a dinner (especially one held by me) I think that if they were all in a room together, that there would at least be some interesting conversation. Vonnegut's The Sirens of Titan and Adam's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy both contain elements explored in Koch's own work, notably One Train May Hide Another where the life reveals itself in unexpected and remarkable ways. I'm sure there are many other connections to be drawn as well and unless I am very mistaken, I'd guess that each are fairly familiar with at least the gist of the other's work.
I love Kenneth Koch - I've said this before in these posts. You are right about his wonderful book, Wishes, Lies, and Dreams. Are you familiar with his book about teaching senior citizens in a nursing home to write poetry. I believe the book is called I Never Told Anybody. (1978) I'd definitely like to have Homer (if he existed) to dinner. Just picked up a new copy of The Iliad to use as I make my way through mk's Odyssey. If you go to this link, start at the beginning.
John Steinbeck because he would be easy to relate to and I could talk to him about the Salinas Valley. Thomas Pynchon to talk to him about the madness that is Gravity's Rainbow and his literary style in general. Plus he went to Cornell and I know that area so I could talk to him about that. Last, Fitzgerald because why not. I like his work and he seems to have led a very interesting life.
I'm curious when I mentioned that I liked Jeffrey Eugenides? You're correct, I just don't recall mentioning it. Huh.. As for authors I would invite to dinner, I really have no idea. I know most people will pick the great authors of the past but I actually think, based on this Terry Gross interview I just heard and other articles/interviews that Stephen King would be a great conversationalist.