Have I mentioned lately how much I like James Wood?
In some literary circles, Mr. Wood has been described as a brutal critic who has debunked many of the country’s most admired writers, including Don DeLillo, Toni Morrison and Thomas Pynchon. Others regard him as one of the most respected critics of his generation.
He famously coined a phrase to describe what he abhors in modern fiction: “hysterical realism,” which refers to a style of writing that features rampant caricature, absurd plots and prose and hyper references to popular culture combined with didactic social commentary.
Going to enjoy seeing more of Mr. Wood in the New Yorker.