The past week has included much buzz on William Vollmann. With his new book out and many interesting reviews from the literary community, I find myself feeling shy. I find myself wishing I had read more of his work so I could join in the discussion. So I could better understand the references to his past work within many of the reviews. I realize that having read Europe Central does not make me a Vollmann devotee. Skimming the abridged version of Rising Up and Rising Down while standing in the bookstore doesn't count either. I am still a novice.
This line of thinking always brings me back to the Vollmann Club - which I often toy with (thinking, what a fantastic idea! this will be great! i will read all his work!) and which I always abandon (wait! there are so many other books out there and his are...well...so long! and there's so many of them!)
As I look at my TBR pile and all the books I hope to enjoy this year, I see that nary a Vollmann title is on the list. I know this places me in an unpopular camp. It might make me seem uncouth, uneducated, or worse. But, really, does it? While it may be litblog suicide to admit this, I kind of don't care for him. At least not right now. Can I say that? With all the intense praise for his work over the years and his "seminal" writing, would you openly admit to never reading Vollmann. If you hadn't?
Update: Ed has just opened up the Vollmann Club for additional contributors. Odd timing no? Fortuitous maybe? Is this the universe's way of telling me I am not allowed to say no to Vollmann, no matter the reason? I must say, it is very tempting to jump in.
