tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940197.post5494046703629713311..comments2024-03-25T21:14:49.666-04:00Comments on Joel Swagman (Reviews / TESOL): The Intellectuals and the Masses by John CareyJoel Swagmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14948746083822200906noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940197.post-8251493928477970492017-08-02T03:21:25.695-04:002017-08-02T03:21:25.695-04:00The video contains all the same points as are in t...The video contains all the same points as are in the written review, but in a more rambling and incoherent form. I don't recommend you waste your time with it. (I'm still in the experimentation stage of using the medium). <br />Actually you can take that as a general rule--never feel obligated to watch the videos. They're generally just me repeating all the same things as in the written review, but with a lot more "um" s and "uh..."s<br /><br />Interesting about the pub debate. I was approaching this book as an academic thesis that had to be either supported or refuted, but perhaps it does work better thinking about it as just an extended pub debate.Joel Swagmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14948746083822200906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940197.post-86731035002108367042017-08-01T21:22:54.648-04:002017-08-01T21:22:54.648-04:00Great review, man (I haven't watched the video...Great review, man (I haven't watched the video, though -- the day's over for me). I'm a little surprised you haven't read George Gissing. Orwell had mixed feelings about him, but in the main was appreciative for flashes of humanity that Gissing brought out in his portraits of the underclass. I've only read <i>New Grub Street</i>, mind you, so I'm not sure I'm up for a full-on recommendation.<br /><br />I agree with you about the cherry picking, btw, but it didn't bother me. The book read to me like the sort of extended debate that goes on when you start arguing with a Brit in one of their own pubs. I recall very well how I burst out in laughter when he said that bit about Wells' squeamishness over women's genitalia. Over the top, but better for it (to my reader's eyes, at least).<br /><br />I enjoyed this a great deal, Joel -- glad it got to you!Whisky Prajerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14076228013022881173noreply@blogger.com