Max, 19, hits the lulz

[rebness]

I finally finished The Brothers Karamazov! This is quite good going for my laziness, considering that I've been reading it for three months, on and off. It was worth the effort, though. I think the three brothers were exceptionally well-drawn, especially Dimitri Karamazov, who is basically my brother Adam in Russian garb. The book seemed overlong -- the most minor character would have to come onstage and give a three-chapter rant about their feelings on God, but in the end it was interesting to see how each little belief and each minor character had their effects (for better or worse) upon the dynamic between the brothers. I thought it was a good read and though Dostoevsky preferred The Idiot, I prefer this. So nur.

I meant to say more about it and explore the philosophy and humanism of the novel, but quite frankly, I have been distracted in the past couple of days by the completely sublime Max Gogarty vs. Mean Guardian readers affair. A talentless, middle-class white boy from North London lands himself a cushy job describing his 'completely mental' adventures-to-be in India and Thailand (he's 'doing' Asia in two months). In the blog, he manages to insult Indians, Australians and basically the intelligence of mean-spirited, 'jealous' Guardian readers who noticed that he is the son of one of their journalists. Comments were open on the blog. Hijinks ensued - from A+ trolling to Guardian staff invoking Godwin's Law to Wikipedia edit wars on 'nepotism'. And yay for OTF_Wank for picking up on it. >:)

Comments

[pandorasblog]

This really is the most magnificent wank I've seen in ages.

I wouldn't be inherently annoyed by the son of a journalist having a blog if it was actually well-written or insightful. What gets me about Max's blog is that it knows it's cliched but rather than sending itself up insightfully, it rolls around in its cliches, shits itself, and then rolls around some more. Please. This is the kind of thing that gives gap-year kids a bad name. I've known nineteen-year-olds who could write much more interestingly than that.

Also, interesting to hear your view on The Brothers Karamazov - it's one of those things I always mean to get around to read. I've just finished The Book Thief and really enjoyed it. (I'm the second commenter.) Very much worth reading if you haven't done so yet...

[rebness.livejournal.com]

shits itself, and then rolls around some more

It's India and those blasted snakes!

I still have yet to get round to The Book Thief. I'm currently reading Suite Francaise, but I'll make it second on my list. Gracias!