Pure Imagination
In Which a Boy From Alabama Talks About New York, The Times Book Review, and the Future of Fiction
The New York Times ran an incendiary letter over the weekend, written by a 17-year-old from Birmingham, Ala., named Alec Niedenthal, who wanted to tell the editors of the Sunday Book Review that the future of literature belongs to him. Mr. Niedenthal, who graduated from high school last week and is preparing to attend the New College of Florida, used dramatic language to express this idea. This made him sound like a passionate, big-brained visionary.
"You've heard it straight from the tropical mouth of a teenager who is entirely conscientious of the metamorphoses in ideas, principles (or lack thereof) and influences being undergone right under your collective noses," Mr. Niedenthal wrote in his letter. "The next Great American Novel will come not from Pynchon, Wallace, DeLillo (he’s already had his turn anyway) or any other of your literary heroes."
He went on: "It will spring from the iMac-fettered keyboards of the young, challenging, Facebook-and-MySpace-addled minds that you have so hastily jettisoned as literary jetsam, from those who see and comprehend, still to the delirious ignorance of the villainous Powers That Be, incalculable brands of grade-A terror being perpetrated unabashedly both by those whom we trust and those whom we loathe."
Mr. Niedenthal's rhetoric has not gone unnoticed: In the days since his letter appeared, he has received e-mails from editors at Grove/Atlantic and HarperCollins interested in seeing his work. (His father has also expressed his interest.)
Media Mob thought we should get familiar now, before he gets any more famous. Below, excerpts from a Q&A with the sad young literary man.
What was the purpose of your letter?
It was just sort of to let the current, older, wiser literary vanguard know that we’re out there and that we’re not all complete failures yet. I just wanted to let them know there’s a new literary generation coming, I hope.
What do you like to read?
Right now I’m more into modern and postmodern stuff, not anything really contemporary. Like I’m reading Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell right now. I like William Vollmann, too ... William Gaddis, Pynchon, John Barth, that stuff, mostly.
Are there young writers you like?
Keith Gessen – I really like him. I haven’t gotten around to reading his novel yet. I read an excerpt from it. I just really like his ideas, just the way he portrays the sort of meandering young New Yorker. It’s kind of what I aspire to be, so it’s kind of really poignant. I’m really looking forward to reading that eventually. I just read the excerpt on the n+1 Web site, which I only heard about once his book came out and the hype about him started to circulate. He’s really good. Also I like Scott Snyder. And who’s that guy? I can’t think of his name ... Jonathan Lethem. I like him a lot. And Michael Chabon, of course. And David Foster Wallace, of course—he is absolutely incredible.
And do you think the editors of the Times Book Review just aren’t paying attention?
They’re not paying attention. ... I think it’s really hard for them to look outside of their own purview of the literary world. Not that I’m an expert or anything at all, but that’s what I’ve gotten from reading it a good while, that it’s very incestuous. I really enjoy reading it, but they could stand to step outside themselves a little. I’m sorry if that sounds elitist. They’re all of a single mind-set, I guess. I don’t know. I don’t think I have enough experience to really comment because I’m so new to this kind of thing. But the old literary generation is going to die off eventually, and it’s quite obvious that this new generation is going to be a lot more adventurous and experimental.
What do your friends read? Do you know a lot of young writers? Who is the "we" in your letter?
I don’t really have any friends who are writers, or much of readers for that matter, but I do live in Birmingham Alabama, so ... Honestly, I don’t know [if New York is any better], because wherever you go there are still going to be kids who waste their lives. But there’s definitely a literary set, if you will – the kids going to the bigger liberal arts colleges and stuff. I think that’s mostly the next literary generation. ... It’s kind of intimidating because I didn’t grow up in a literary setting at all. Neither of my parents are big readers at all. I’m kind of freaked out by the whole New York scene. It seems so ... I don’t want to say judgmental, but so ... mutable. It changes so often. I can’t keep track of it. It’s kind of hard for me, because I don’t want to follow any trends in my writing, but I do want to get published. But I don’t want to sell my soul. It’s all very intimidating.
How would you describe your fiction?
Recently it’s far less so, but it’s kind of bloviated – kind of lofty, I guess. Big sentences. My older stuff was basically just a knockoff of Gravity’s Rainbow or something. And I used to be really into Joyce. It’s all very dense but now I sort of make it more readable without sacrificing any of my ideas. And I’m working on something book-length now. I want to have that finished by the end of the summer, if I don’t get tired of it and abandon it, which has happened like three times.
What’s your hometown like?
I live in the suburbs. I live very close to the city, but it’s not really a city. It’s not bad—there’s culture here. There’s music. In respect to literature, though, there’s pretty much nothing at all. I know David Sedaris came last year to read, and I think we have a poetry slam team here. But that’s all.
What happened after your letter was printed?
I got contacted by a couple of publishers—Grove/Atlantic, and then Harpercollins contacted me, too. ... The guy from Grove/Atlantic just said he wanted to see if I had anything book-length. And I said I’d probably have something by the end of the summer, if he wanted to see it then. And the guy from HarperCollins wanted to know what I was reading, and he wanted to see some of my writing, which was just really cool. And then I got a really, really sweet Facebook message from this girl in New Orleans, just some random person. She said, ‘Thank God someone from our generation finally spoke up and out to the literary community and let them know that we are on our way.’
Is that appropriate usage of "conscientious?"
Also, the quote provided from his letter, while demonstrating impressive ability in a teenager, is the sort of bloated, semi-hysterical writing typical of youth and inexperience. I wish him luck in his career however as he has obvious talent.
His letter certainly is a lot more bombastic (tropical mouth?) than his interview, in which he comes across as a decent chap. But he has articulated a viewpoint that has also been made elsewhere that only particular kinds of books get reviewed well at the NYT; naturally, this means that the reviewers there need to start casting their nets wider, if only to get rid of this (mis)perception.
This kid is very impressive. Amazing talent for such a young age. I wouldn't describe his writing as "semi-hysterical", but making a point that young writers are out there and trying to push through the entangled publisher world. I commend him and look forward to reading is first book.
Does he expect to be paid attention to by the New York Times Book Review before he's published a book? I don't get what he's driving at. Or does he mean writers who do publish books he likes who don't make it into their reviewing space.
Come on!
Impressive?
Throw a bunch of twelve dollar words around?
Sounds like the people he was attacking.
Not one of the greatest writers of history tried to sound so obnoxiously like a dictionary.
Hear, hear to Shakespeare. "To be or not to be." Not "To exist existentially or to be bereaved of all existence."
God, New York Times posts a letter of someone who writes like them and now he's famous?
Pshaw. I pity the future of literature.
I would read anything and everything this kid cared to publish. What he will need to do is get a bit less "bloviated" if he wants to reach a larger audience with his ideas, which in the end is important.
"Elements of Style" applied in the Internet Age:
You said, "What he will need to do is get a bit less "bloviated" if he wants to reach a larger audience with his ideas, which in the end is important."
Strunk & E.B. White would have cut that to:
Number of syllables is not equal to the size of your I.Q.
you lack insight on this-
chill out already! U "know" the parents story....NOT!
He is "conscientious of the metamorphoses"? Well, I'm cognozient of the fact that he doesn't know what the word means.
I know this "kid."
He has a talent for writing beyond his years -- probably far beyond the capability of those who have posted above me. Far beyond what I am capable of producing. Regardless of the awkard dialogue of a casual interview, he has wonderful ideas, a broad range of interest, and plenty of potential that pours out from his talented writing.
You know, some of the harsh words above may have some merit: perhaps he uses a bloated vocabulary. Perhaps parts of his letter and this interview itself are inflammatory (I was a bit irked with some of it). Perhaps he is some whiny, well-off teenager.
But you know what? He's 17. Who wasn't whiny at 17? Who wasn't a bit pretentious at 17? Who wasn't a little narrow-minded at 17? So on, and so forth.
Everyone has a lot of learning to do at 17, to say the least, so why must we tear the guy apart for universal faults?
Alec, I have a feeling you've been reading these comments:
Your letter was fantastic. This interview is so exciting and flattering.
I love the picture they used of you at my house.
Just know that negative comments come along with the attention. Every famous writer has good and bad reviews, and unfortunately the open forums of the internet turn out more negative feedback than positive.
Good luck in college, in writing, in life. Just keep an open mind and a pen at the ready!
Good luck in college, kid. Hopefully you'll have a few tough teachers to show you how bloviated even your tone-downed prose is. Keep reading, keep writing, and keep your mouth closed until you're ready for the world.
Mr. College Prof (if that's what you really are), would love to read some of the books you have had published. Can you please tell us the name of some of them so we can figure out the correct way to write. And oh yeah, I hope you aren't teaching at a college my child is going to because your positive reinforcement is just overwhelming. Like the old adage says, those who can't...teach.
Gabie,
Why all the hate??I must say if I were your parent I would take you to the psychiatrist immediately. It would be wise for you to put that enery in a good place. Try and help yourself and re-read what you wrote. You are the biggest fool on this entire posting.
Hey, Gabie,
Since when do you have to be a nice person to be a good writer...?
Amazing that he manages to name-check Keith Gessen. "I really like him. I haven’t gotten around to reading his novel yet. I read an excerpt from it." This kid is much more emblematic than even he knows. Internship granted.
Has anyone dug through the letters section of n+1's back issues yet?
Gabie,
Your response is completely immature and inappropriate. If you have some petty personal problem with the writer, address him in a more personal way, instead of publicly denouncing him in the comments of an online journalistic interview.
Instead of turning me against the author, you've instead made me pity you. I don't know many people so elementary that they would try to attack someone in such a crude and humiliating way.
Let the guy enjoy the attention he's earned, leave personal attacks to facebook -- the proper medium for teenage-to-teenager angst and drama.
Gabie,
Do you have a novel (or short story) ready or perhaps even just an excerpt? Even an errant email or two will do. If that's not available, it would be great if you could just post a reading list post haste or a link to 43things.com.
It is painfully obvious that you have some real raw talent, emotion and Vollmann-esque angst that the youth of America have been dying to read. Alec has nothing on you that Thesaurus.com can't fix! We haven't seen this much incendiary passion since Coupland, Ellis, Eggers or Kunken hit the publishing scene. Heck, McSweeney's should just publish your Facebook wallposts!
Would someone please give Kate Lee a ring so she can sign up this burgeoning literary wunderkind!
Who is Kunken?
Sorry typo. Benjamin Kunkel. Cutie pie neo-post modern novelist. Author of wildly praised debut novel "Indecision."
I am the mother of a fellow student of Alec Niedenthal, the subject of Kathy Kemp’s article “A literary David takes on a giant” in last Sunday’s paper. While Alec may be a talented writer, I wonder if Ms. Kemp, his parents, teachers, the NY Times and others would be so impressed if they took a look at his Facebook page. It is littered with the “f” word (my last count was 10), his religious view is “God and s*%#,” his favorite quotes include a made up statement from Moses that is full of profanity, and until recently, his goal at New College of Florida next year was to “get laid.” If this is Alec’s idea of culture, I, for one, am frightened for the younger literary generation. (Let me insert here that Alec is far from being the only student using such obscenities on Facebook; many of the girls use far worse.) Alec is quoted as saying, “We’re not all complete idiots.” In my opinion, expressing oneself with so much profanity certainly does not indicate a literary genius in the making and indeed perhaps shows a lack of vocabulary, however, I wouldn’t be surprised if the NY Times disagrees.
Anonymous mother:
I don't mean to seem condescending, but have you read any of the influences he listed?
Anonymous Mother: I am glad you took the time to read Alec's facebook. What other snooping have you done. Guess like other Mountain Brook mother's you just have too much time on your hands. Oh by the way, why don't you tell us what your child has accomplished so far. And I am sure your child has never used the "f" word as have you or your husband. why don't you stop making this personal and comment on the child's writing abilities. And while you have so much time on your hands, you may want to look around at what's out there in the blogging world at the least...you'd be surprised how many times the "f" word is used. Oh and please don't be frightened because you are in the little kingdom and you are protected from all that's scary.
To answer the first "Anonymous," I haven't read much of the influences Alec listed, but that is not what I was questioning.
To answer the second "Anonymous," since I work, I don't have "too much time" on my hands. How is it snooping if you are allowed to view? I wasn't questioning Alec's accomplishments, and I'm sure he's a straight A student (or could be). This isn't about my son (an active A/B student who hasn't quite figured out his future goals and that's okay)! I'm not naive enough to think my son hasn't cursed and I admit that my husband and I have slipped on occasion (never said I was perfect), but we don't post a page intended to describe who we are and fill it with profanity. Our son has enough respect not to curse in front of his family and friends, and his Facebook page isn't littered with obscenities or offensive comments. I'm not surprised how many times the "f" word is used in blogs, just sad that so many people can't express themselves without resorting to profanity. To further clarify, I'm not frightened "of" the world, rather I'm frightened "for" the world. You are the one who sounds angry. Perhaps you should get out more.
To the above:
I just happened upon this slew of uterine comments. Anonymous Mother: You need to stop, breathe, and get a fucking life, or at least one that is not spent on the comment board of a week-old article written regarding someone you have never met, and will never meet. It's the Internet. Get over yourself. As someone who is Facebook friends with Alec, it should be evident to anyone with either a) a sense of humor, or b) a functioning brain, that his profile is meant to reflect the levity of Facebook. They're just meaningless words on the Internet. Like everything you have smeared this page with.
To Anonymous:
Your rude, angry and vulgar comments further justify mine which you apparently didn't fully read. You say that Alec is "someone you have never met and will never meet." As pointed out, my son is friends with Alec (on Facebook and otherwise), so that's clearly not the case. My sense of humor is just fine and my brain has functioned well enough through the years that I have been able to graduate from a private university, work in the private sector for over 25 years, maintain a great marriage, and raise a terrific son. While I agree with other bloggers that Alec's letter was a bit pretentious, I certainly admire his passion in defending his generation. Again, I just wish he would set a better example for his peers by not resorting to profanity. Hopefully, his future writings won't resemble his Facebook page.
Oh, hell, let me jump in on the High School BS for a second again.
Anyone can tell from his writing that he's pompous - at best.
Including the whole "what about young writer's" BS. It's the same drivel every senior class spouts, mine including, just before they cry when rejected and end up at Wendy's.
I point once again to Shakespeare.
I dare you to find anything in Alec's writing that even remotely compares to the greatest use of monosyllabic words that has ever been compiled.
Let's add Moby Dick who talked about the "Great White Whale" and not the "enormously gregarious bleached cetacean."
Writers convey meanings, not attempt to obscure them with arcane words learned from lonely nights reading a dictionary.
I'm totally gay
Any kid who reads Vollmann is a good kid in my book.
Not into picture books, sorry.
Craft a real book that compares to the glory of Shakespeare.
I have to completely agree with Jeff Barea on this one. The use of lengthy words is no sign of a great writer, only a great reader (his interview proved that for us). The kid could go on to be a famous author, but would it make him much more than that? Probably not. Count the numbers of Best Seller books which have appeared in the past week, and you will comprehend my conveyance.
As for your idea of the next Great American Novelist, I spit on your ideas of greatness and cringe at the thought of it having any impactious meaning spread across the roots of your paging.
Rather than reading mounts of reproductive literature, how about write something which shall make a difference, truely remind the world of the unique art of literature? A person who reads, and then writes, cannot be great. But one who thinks and then returns to ink, is something different.
Writing is unique, as it should be. It is inventive, as it should be. It is puzzled, as it should be.
Boasting, is only boasting. Patience is a virtue.