New York Times book critic Dwight Garner tried his best to make Cynthia Ozick's new novel, "Antiquities," sound interesting.
Reading Garner's review Tuesday, I shook my head, wondering why anyone would want to read such a dismal-sounding book.
I had the same feeling about another lauded novel, Nobel Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro's "Klara and the Sun." I just don't care about a robot's angst.
Perhaps I'm no longer attuned with the culture: I was also disenchanted by the Academy Award nominated movies, especially after the ordeal of watching several of them.
Whatever happened to cinematic enchantment? Whatever happened to uplifting stories?
"The Trial of the Chicago 7" delivered 1960s nostalgia. I was captivated by the Disney cartoon "Soul."
But "Mank" was a disappointing slog. If Netflix domination of the film industry results in scripts like that being produced, let's go back to the old studio system.
At least MGM's Louis B. Mayer, slandered in "Mank," knew how to make entertaining movies.
"Nomadland" has drawn good reviews, but I don't want to watch a movie about an underclass of itinerant workers slogging around. "Grapes of Wrath" was enough.
Once Hollywood showed the glamorous Claudia Colbert traveling cross country during the Depression. Now it offers dowdy Frances McDormand.
Don't Mencken it: I know I sound like O.K. Boomer telling all to get off my aesthetic lawn.
Just don't bother me as I head off to read "Great Expectations."