Brain Pain discussion

This discussion covers Part IV: The Reader, Jane Garland – pp. 335-435


In this final section, Michener gives us the perspective of the reader – the end reason for writing and publishing books. Presented as a series of journal entries, we’re given a look at what happens when a writer dies and how his/her posthumous work is preserved and published. Michener also takes the opportunity to make essay-like statements about the importance of great literature versus commercial market-driven best-sellers.

I would have called this, 'the author Michener wraps it up.' Although the book is interesting and I enjoyed it, plus he successfully wrote in several voices, this section, 'The Reader' was the least successful. Not only did it not seem a feminine voice, it also seemed to be James Michener, not a character called Jane Garland. But I completely agreed with 'her' and the other characters' assessment of how good novel writing has changed into a form with vitality and vigor because of shorter descriptions and dialogue, that older styles do not have. (I still love older fiction, because I love good writing and good stories.) I don't agree that there are fewer readers to read better books. I think there are the same usual readers reading, it's more about what and how they are reading. Well-written blogs are taking away readers from magazines and books, for example. Plus, the best books are still being read, in my opinion, if by best books, you only count the ones that first explode on the market and not the hundreds of equally good but clearly derivative copy cats that follow a groundbreaking or commercially popular novel.