imrogers's review
4.0
Chad Harbach's opening essay highlights the writer's dilemma quite well: In a world where writing fiction is a draw for many but not a good way of earning money (at least not right away), how are writers supposed to pay the bills? By either teaching, or working in some aspect of the publishing industry, that's how.
While Harbach's opening essay explores this dichotomy most clearly, most of the supplemental essays also do it justice in fleshing out either the MFA or NYC life, many of them with vivid, personal stories that are both fun to read and reassuring (in my case, knowing I wasn't the only one who didn't have his shit together when he was in his 20s!). There are also gems like most of Elf Batuman's "Get a Real Degree" essay under a different name (why didn't they just print the whole thing???) and Darryl Lorenzo Wellington's piece "Reality Publishing" on an Amazon-sponsored book contest.
While I wish that overall the book had more cohesion behind it (especially near the end, where several excellent essays like the ones I mentioned seem more or less thrown together just because they're related to publishing), this is still an excellent exploration of the writer's dilemma in the 21st century. As a writer who straddles these two worlds (I work as a freelance editor and also teach in an MFA program), I found this book incredibly thought-provoking when it first came out, and still feel that way now.
While Harbach's opening essay explores this dichotomy most clearly, most of the supplemental essays also do it justice in fleshing out either the MFA or NYC life, many of them with vivid, personal stories that are both fun to read and reassuring (in my case, knowing I wasn't the only one who didn't have his shit together when he was in his 20s!). There are also gems like most of Elf Batuman's "Get a Real Degree" essay under a different name (why didn't they just print the whole thing???) and Darryl Lorenzo Wellington's piece "Reality Publishing" on an Amazon-sponsored book contest.
While I wish that overall the book had more cohesion behind it (especially near the end, where several excellent essays like the ones I mentioned seem more or less thrown together just because they're related to publishing), this is still an excellent exploration of the writer's dilemma in the 21st century. As a writer who straddles these two worlds (I work as a freelance editor and also teach in an MFA program), I found this book incredibly thought-provoking when it first came out, and still feel that way now.
offbalance80's review
5.0
This is an absolutely fantastic collection of essays that I can't recommend enough. It's an exploration of the possibilities found in the distinctive worlds of writing that it claims to cover (although I felt that the NYC part focused more on publishing, not actual writing). There were some really insightful pieces, and some amazing laugh-out-loud moments.
cn_scott's review
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
kellylynnthomas's review
4.0
I don't agree with every essay in this book, but it is thought-provoking and actually made me appreciate my MFA even more (as well as reaffirmed that I do not want to be on the academic hamster wheel). It's a solid collection and definitely worth revisiting. The one thing I really didn't like about it was that the editors mostly picked essays from their friends (or, in one case, girlfriend). In theory this isn't a bad thing, but in a book like this, that's taking a critical look at the publishing industry and literary culture in America, that should have at least been acknowledged, in my opinion.
laurelinwonder's review
4.0
This is the most up to date book I think I have ever read on what is going on in the writing world in terms of publishing, academia, and well writing itself. If you are or ever have been in the throws of English majordom, or intend to enter into it in some way, even as a publishing major, I can just about promise you will find yourself among these pages in some way, whether that be in your past, present, or future. I'll be honest, don't go into this book blindly, know that there are some hard truths in here, and it's not always the most positive of truths. This is an accessible book that pretty clearly lays out the cultural, academic, and the ties that bind and break those of us in the throes of the writerly world as we know it now. I recommend this book, even if I did not always agree with it, and that may just be my innate survivalist positivism.
philipachen's review
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
annabella82's review
3.0
This was an interesting read. I liked the collection of essays because each essay was able to bring out its own personal touch. I enjoyed the stories and experiences told by the writers as they were each able to put forth viewpoints I could appreciate.
I also found it compelling how the essays touched on a range of positive and negative responses towards either MFA writers or those without an MFA.
This collection deserves a 3.5 star rating since there were some essays that were less intriguing than others.
I also found it compelling how the essays touched on a range of positive and negative responses towards either MFA writers or those without an MFA.
This collection deserves a 3.5 star rating since there were some essays that were less intriguing than others.
nomadreader's review
4.0
(originally published at http://nomadreader.blogspot.com)
The backstory: I've really been enjoying collections of essays lately, and MFA vs. NYC is perhaps this year's most buzzed about edited volume. It's theme also echoes many of the essays in Goodbye to All That, which I adored.
The basics: Divided into two large sections (MFA and NYC) and three smaller ones, MFA vs. NYC takes its name from an essay editor Chad Harbach originally wrote for n+1. The other essays are a mix of those written for this collection and those adapted from earlier pieces.
My thoughts: Part of what has drawn me to personal essays lately is the fascination with what it means to be a writer. In MFA vs. NYC, that theme is on full display, but it's bigger picture is the current state of American fiction. Obviously, writers are critical to that, and each essay offers different ideas and insights into what exactly it means to be a writer.
I've never seriously thought about enrolling in an MFA program, and what surprised me most about this collection was not only the rise of MFA programs themselves (in both quantity and perceived prestige) but what an MFA program actually entails. The emphasis in this collection is on Iowa, perhaps the most famous of MFA programs, and it would be easy to fill an entire collection with perspectives on this program alone.
If there's a fault with MFA vs. NYC it's that it tries to do too much. The essays are all excellent, but as a collection, it felt more unbalanced as I went along. The first two sections, on MFAs and NYC offered a variety of glimpses into contemporary writing and publishing, but as the themes shifted to pairs of essays, the collection lost a bit of its momentum. It's still an accomplished collection, but as a cohesive piece, it faltered somewhat near the end.
Favorite passages: "It could be argued that any time you get ten to forty people together and have a core group of teachers, some homogenization is going to happen, but, in a sense, isn’t that what culture is? The establishment of a standard and then a resulting attempt to mimic that standard, followed by a passionate revolt against that stupid repressive reactionary standard, which is then replaced by a lovely innovative pure new standard, et cetera?" -- George Saunders, "A Mini-Manifesto"
"Charlotte didn’t think I was an idiot. She explained the ways in which her deployment of orcs and elves in her work differed from and even subverted the tropes of ordinary fantasy fiction. I didn’t mind discussing all this, even as I found it surreal. These were the times we were living in. I was on a college campus. I was a visiting professor. And I was sitting in my office, bearded and wise-looking and, in all seriousness, discussing orcs." -- Keith Gessen, "Money (2014)"
The verdict: Although the title implies an either/or dynamic, the essays in this collection focus more on sharing individual experience than arguing for one and against the other. As a collection of studies of modern American writing, it's fascinating. Anyone interested in the current state of American fiction will find many things worth ruminating over in this diverse collection.
The backstory: I've really been enjoying collections of essays lately, and MFA vs. NYC is perhaps this year's most buzzed about edited volume. It's theme also echoes many of the essays in Goodbye to All That, which I adored.
The basics: Divided into two large sections (MFA and NYC) and three smaller ones, MFA vs. NYC takes its name from an essay editor Chad Harbach originally wrote for n+1. The other essays are a mix of those written for this collection and those adapted from earlier pieces.
My thoughts: Part of what has drawn me to personal essays lately is the fascination with what it means to be a writer. In MFA vs. NYC, that theme is on full display, but it's bigger picture is the current state of American fiction. Obviously, writers are critical to that, and each essay offers different ideas and insights into what exactly it means to be a writer.
I've never seriously thought about enrolling in an MFA program, and what surprised me most about this collection was not only the rise of MFA programs themselves (in both quantity and perceived prestige) but what an MFA program actually entails. The emphasis in this collection is on Iowa, perhaps the most famous of MFA programs, and it would be easy to fill an entire collection with perspectives on this program alone.
If there's a fault with MFA vs. NYC it's that it tries to do too much. The essays are all excellent, but as a collection, it felt more unbalanced as I went along. The first two sections, on MFAs and NYC offered a variety of glimpses into contemporary writing and publishing, but as the themes shifted to pairs of essays, the collection lost a bit of its momentum. It's still an accomplished collection, but as a cohesive piece, it faltered somewhat near the end.
Favorite passages: "It could be argued that any time you get ten to forty people together and have a core group of teachers, some homogenization is going to happen, but, in a sense, isn’t that what culture is? The establishment of a standard and then a resulting attempt to mimic that standard, followed by a passionate revolt against that stupid repressive reactionary standard, which is then replaced by a lovely innovative pure new standard, et cetera?" -- George Saunders, "A Mini-Manifesto"
"Charlotte didn’t think I was an idiot. She explained the ways in which her deployment of orcs and elves in her work differed from and even subverted the tropes of ordinary fantasy fiction. I didn’t mind discussing all this, even as I found it surreal. These were the times we were living in. I was on a college campus. I was a visiting professor. And I was sitting in my office, bearded and wise-looking and, in all seriousness, discussing orcs." -- Keith Gessen, "Money (2014)"
The verdict: Although the title implies an either/or dynamic, the essays in this collection focus more on sharing individual experience than arguing for one and against the other. As a collection of studies of modern American writing, it's fascinating. Anyone interested in the current state of American fiction will find many things worth ruminating over in this diverse collection.
babsduff's review
4.0
Some of these essays are written so endearingly that I've had to check out their author's fiction (Alexander Chee). Others are annoying, but not so much as to hurt the project overall
layiling's review
3.0
An interesting look into different perspectives and experiences into the world of publishing and making a career out of writing. This book should be read by anyone remotely interested in book publishing and/or the realities of the lives of most contemporary non-famous authors. The majority of writers do not earn money solely from writing, and it now seems unusual to find authors without links to the university establishment, too. This book explores the meaning of (mostly American) literature, both in the past and as it moves to a post-modern future and beyond.