Elif Batuman: Life After A Bestseller

The Guardian:

So it's difficult to articulate what possessed me, at a later, boozier point in the dinner, to ask Franzen whether he had any weed.

"Wheat?" Franzen's agent repeated, frowning. "Why would you need wheat?"

"Not wheat – weed."

Read the whole story: The Guardian

Comments

[Caroleeena]

10:18 PM on 04/22/2011

This article is already posted here and has 300 comments. WTH?

[TStringfellow]

06:54 PM on 04/21/2011

Just read the article, good piece. One thing I find odd is that she has no problem using Franzen's name in relation to the weed thing, but the guy she's dating who is also engaged gets to be called "A". Haha, I guess as a society we're finally reaching a point where smoking a joint is clearly a lesser infraction than cheating on your fiance.

[DallasDon]

06:15 PM on 04/21/2011

I already like Frazen; Now I like him even more.
I would imagine that drugs might actually enhance the writing process.

I know that at the height of his writing, Steven King was under the influence of mind-altering drugs, as many artist are.

[TStringfellow]

06:56 PM on 04/21/2011

As a person who smokes a lot of pot and also has a political science degree I can tell you for sure that writing isn't made easier by smoking. The forming creative ideas sure, but the actual act of forming them into a logical structure can be tough when wearing the 'ole "foghat".

[TStringfellow]

06:56 PM on 04/21/2011

Oh, I've also never read Franzen. Is he really that good?

[Ivytwine97]

02:19 PM on 04/22/2011

The books that he got famous for are not the best he wrote a book called "How to Be Alone" which was great.