The Great Wednesday Compare 2: Robertson Davies VERSUS Nick Hornby
The winner of last week's Great Wednesday Compare (Doris Lessing Vs. Robertson Davies), with a final score of 14-3, was Robertson Davies.Wow, landslide. What happened to all the Lessing love? In case anyone missed it, I finally got around to reading something by her: a short story called "Flight." It was okay.
By the way, last week Remi mentioned the Moxy Fruvous song "My Baby Loves a Bunch of Authors." I was vaguely familiar with the song (Barbara just sent me the cd a couple months ago), so I rechecked the lyrics online. What are the odds that Doris Lessing and Robertson Davies are both mentioned in the same song? I swear, that's not where I drew the inspiration for pitting them against one another-- unless it was all in my subconscious. Weird, eh?
Anyway here's the video:
This week, I'm not referring to any mid-nineties Canadian rock-barbershop songs for inspiration. Instead, I journey to Bybee's blog where her author crushes have come to a head. Incidentally, I had someone else all lined up to take on Davies this week, until I read her post. Even then I wasn't sure. That's when I had an email from Zip.ca saying that they'd shipped a DVD a High Fidelity my way. I took it as a sign.
Remember, vote simply by adding your comment below, base it on whatever merit you choose, voting does not end until Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. (July 15th, 2008), and please spread the word!
Who's better?
Labels: Moxy Fruvous, Nick Hornby, Robertson Davies
posted by John Mutford | 7/09/2008
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17 comments
Oh, surely Davies! Don't get me wrong. I adored High Fidelity and About a Boy, but Davies wit is unparalleled! imho of course!
I haaven't read Davies yet,but I love how that doesn't matter in the Great Wednesday compare.
Therefore, I vote for Hornby!
I have tried RD, I really have, but couldn't read him. There was a weirdness or something I can't really explain. Whereas, I think Nick Hornby is one of the best living writers. He writes about passion in a way no one else does - I don't mean romantic passion, but passion for soccer or music. When I read Fever Pitch and High Fidelity, I felt like I knew this man. And the way he puts words to his passions is amazing. I think he is truly great.
Going with Hornby!
Robertson Davies, definitely. His work is erudite without being pompous, funny, clever, and more than any other Canadian writer he fully understands the roots of anglo-Canadian culture, and how those roots intertwine with the art, literature, and religion of older cultures.
Hornby, on the other hand, is funny and clever and not much else. Beach reading at best.
My vote is for Robertson Davies. I love the Deptford Trilogy. I haven't actually read anything by Nick Hornby.
Tracy S.
Hornby!
This one is tough! I've only read one Hornby book, which I loved, and I am planning to read more, but Robertson Davies formed a lot of my sensibilities about Can Lit.
Ummmmmm, Davies.
Can I split my vote?
Nick Davies?
Robertson Hornby?
D@#$ you, John...I only rushed to read Davies so I could vote in last week's literary smackdown..I didn't know I'd come out of it like Mary #&%$@@@ McGregor!
OK...Robertson Davies.
Has to be Robertson again, for the weirdness and that magnificent beard
I do like Nick Hornby but my vote still goes to Robertson Davies.
Nick Hornby rocks!! He's one of my favorites. Gotta go with him!
I haven't read Hornby. The movie About a Boy was good but only ok.
It doesn't get much better than Davies for me, so I'm again voting for Davies.
On a side note, John, what is your opinion of zip.ca? I'm trying to convince my dh, who happens to be named John as well, that it would be a great convenience to get.
Do you feel your getting your money's worth? Do they have what your looking for? Did you go with the unlimited deal? Hope you don't mind the OT.
forgot to sign up for email comments ooops
I like Hornby a lot, but he is more snack than full meal. Davies, for sure. Besides, who can deny a beard like that?
Davies, no question!
Voting now closed.