In the White House the first lady builds a literary room of her own

Gainesville-Sun ^ | 10/10/2002 | Elizabeth Busmiller

[Utah Girl]

Go, Laura, go. She is a dynamo in her own right. A few backhanded slams in this article, but overall, a very positive impression.

And I think it is astounding to the libs and the far left that yes, there are Republicans and conservatives who will explore new ideas and read books from across the spectrum. Why tie yourself down? And apparently many on the left have, if it doesn't fit into their little worlds of political ideology, then they dismiss the author and those who read the books.

And I was astounded to learn that that one woman author had never read Giant, and that she was surprised that Laura Bush had. Hello!!! It is a very boring world if we read everything that we already agreed with, or read only books and ideas that wouldn't rock our safe little worlds. /rant

[ikka]

Bush always sits in the front row, often nodding and beaming. "I chose Mark Twain to start with because I believe that Mark Twain is the first real American writer," she said in the interview.

I don't think I can agree with that statement. Clemens was born in 1835. What about Washington Irving? I am sure there are many others. Though I love Twain.

[McLynnan]

Laura ping.

Just goes to show our First Lady is deeper than her detractors would have you think!

[Utah Girl]

Still waters run deep. :) Thanks for using your ping list.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

I am sure Laura has been quite an intellectual shock to the liberals. They considered Dubya a slow witted cornpone so they probably thought Laura was his shy demuring equal, or less. Maybe she will be the one who really brings a new tone to Washington.

[McLynnan]

You're welcome. When Laura was First Lady of Texas she held similar events on a smaller scale. The lady has a passion for literacy and an open mind.

[ladyinred]

Laura Bush has class, that these who are so flabbergasted at her invitations have none of.

[lodwick]

Super find and post here - thanks so much. bttt

[AnAmericanMother]

I think she may mean that he was the first American writer to write with a uniquely American style, as well as treat uniquely American themes.

Irving, charming writer though he was, was looking backward at Merrie Olde England (his Christmas stories) or the Dutchmen of Nieuw Amsterdam (History of Nieuw Amsterdam) or Spain (the Alhambra) or the old New England that was already past. And his language was very much turned towards the Old World - the same elaborate periods and classical references that the later New England writers also employed (Melville, Hawthorne, Emerson, Thoreau). I share Mr. Clemens's opinion of Fenimore Cooper . . . another very mannered writer in the classical tradition.

Off the top of my head, I can't think of any other great American writer of his time who got into the nitty-gritty of regional, racial, and class dialects, customs, and attitudes to the extent Twain did. He even explains what he's doing in the foreword to "Huckleberry Finn". Joel Chandler Harris, who had if possible an even better "ear" than Twain and treated the various black dialects distinctly and with great fidelity, came later (first published in 1881). "Georgia Scenes" by Augustus Longstreet (a regional author) was published in 1850 but consisted of the usual high-flown language interspersed with quotes from the country rabble. Twain was arguably the first to speak consistently and with a truly American voice.

[Cicero]

Clemens's first significant story, "The Jumping Frog," was published in 1865, and his greatest novel, "Huckleberry Finn," wasn't published until 1885.

Nathaniel Hawthorn and Herman Melville started publishing a decade before the Civil War. The Scarlet Letter appeared in 1850, and Moby-Dick in 1851.

In my book, that makes it puzzling to say that Hawthorne was the first important American writer. Walt Whitman first published Leaves of Grass in 1855. And although I don't much like him, Ralph Waldo Emerson was also publishing back then.

Not to speak of Edgar Allen Poe, who was considerably earlier.

I'm not knocking Laura Bush or Mark Twain. But if there is such a thing as the Great American Novel, it's probably either Huckleberry Finn or Moby-Dick.

[NordP]

Thanks for the ping - so true!

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Very interesting article. I guess I missed it when it was published. How did you come across a Gainesville, FL paper UtahGirl?

[Utah Girl]

The article is actually a NY Times article, from the NY Times writers group. I just searched for it in Google.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Oh, I see. Yes, the Gainesville Sun is a NYT owned paper and it shows in the editorial policy.

[olliemb]

I agree that Laura Bush will bring a change from the inside. She has so much class in inviting those liberals. She reaches out b/c reaching out is a must. Quite a lovely lady.

[CyberAnt]

Yes, but the backhanded slams became compliments as the guests began to find out what a wonderfully warm and sweet person she is, besides being intelligent and charming. Very unlike what the leftists have said about her.

I do think their surpise was genuine. In fact, this coup is just like the Bush clan; they win them over one person at a time.

I hope she continues to invite those who don't support her husband - thereby showing them up for the snobs they are. While they're busy stabbing her in the back, she's busy showing them what real class is all about.

Who's the "mean-spirited" people now???

[CyberAnt]

Yes, but the backhanded slams became compliments as the guests began to find out what a wonderfully warm and sweet person she is, besides being intelligent and charming. Very unlike what the leftists have said about her.

I do think their surpise was genuine. In fact, this coup is just like the Bush clan; they win them over one person at a time.

I hope she continues to invite those who don't support her husband - thereby showing them up for the snobs they are. While they're busy stabbing her in the back, she's busy showing them what real class is all about.

Who's the "mean-spirited" people now???

[CyberAnt]

Yes, but the backhanded slams became compliments as the guests began to find out what a wonderfully warm and sweet person she is, besides being intelligent and charming. Very unlike what the leftists have said about her.

I do think their surpise was genuine. In fact, this coup is just like the Bush clan; they win them over one person at a time.

I hope she continues to invite those who don't support her husband - thereby showing them up for the snobs they are. While they're busy stabbing her in the back, she's busy showing them what real class is all about.

Who's the "mean-spirited" people now???

[river rat]

"I didn't think I could with any kind of integrity walk into a White House that I take such exception to," said Smith, who disagrees with President Bush on Iraq, the environment and many other issues.

Duh!
You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear..
The clown didn't have any integrity to begin with...
Semper Fi

[Utah Girl]

amen to your comments.