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Bloom's a twerp, says Neil Gaiman 
SEPTEMBER 23, 2003 at 1:42 PM
Posted by RISSA
Source: NeilGaiman.com via The Leaky Cauldron
reports that Neil Gaiman has posted his own thoughts about Harold Bloom's criticisms in the LA Times on his webpage:
Well, Harold Bloom is a twerp. Steve King's best work -- Misery, for example, or The Body, or the Man in Black short story about the kid who met the Devil, picking a few just off the top of my head -- are as good, sentence by sentence and story by story, as anything out there, by anyone.
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Witch
Points: 683
Malakite says:
Twerp. Well, I can't help but say I agree with Neil Gaiman.
Posted Sep 23, 2003 at 2:04 PM EST
Points: 790
M. Sebastian says:
This comment coming from the author of Neverwhere, Coraline, Sandman, and many, many other-to-be-recommended works, is not to be ignored. Wolves in the Walls is a very funny, imaginative book for young readers. Some people don't understand mathmatics (including me). Another person doesn't understand physics (including me). Some people don't understand (or have) imagination. Perhaps their opinions re imaginative fiction should not count for much.
Harry Potter's success is driving them crazy.
Posted Sep 23, 2003 at 2:16 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1092
quidditch_queen says:
Hello, well, there's not too much to say... I agree with Neil Gaiman too:)
Posted Sep 23, 2003 at 3:54 PM EST
Crookshanks Caretaker
Points: 3815
hermionefan1 says:
I totally agree with Neil. JKR and Steven King rule!!
Posted Sep 23, 2003 at 4:42 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2746
Chogiiiirl says:
I agree with M Sebastian Harry Potter's success is driving these simple mindeds crazy!
Posted Sep 23, 2003 at 5:51 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1227
Prongs150 says:
Unfortunately, I can't get to the Bloom review, but if it's bad then anything Mr. Bloom said had to be wrong. I too will have to agree with Neil, although I've never read any of his works either.
Posted Sep 23, 2003 at 6:12 PM EST
Witch
Points: 742
TigerEyez says:
I actually haven't read of Gaiman's works, but I loved his response to Bloom! I'm on Neil's side for this one...
Posted Sep 23, 2003 at 7:04 PM EST
Points: 7828
Rococoed says:
I agree Harold Bloom's a twerp, but Stephen King's novels are too scary for me! Wonder what Bloom thinks of Dav Pilkey and his works "Captain Underpants", my favorite series after Potter. Harold Bloom is just a jealous old guy who pokes children with his cane, yelling "YOU WHIPPERSNAPPERS SHOULD PICK OUT BETTER LITERATURE-AND DID I MENTION THAT YOU MUST RESPECT YOUR ELDERS?"
Posted Sep 23, 2003 at 7:13 PM EST
Witch
Points: 972
Butterbeer says:
I agree with [i]When Hamsters Attack[i/]. Yeah...Captian Underpants rocks!
Posted Sep 23, 2003 at 7:25 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2391
HPN4eveRon says:
JKR is the best author. And thats that.
Posted Sep 23, 2003 at 9:57 PM EST
Transfiguration Professor
Points: 2990
Choralee says:
*PING*
That is the noise of the hammer hitting the nail on the head. How right Mr. Gamain is concerning Bloom. What a complete twerp! Good word as well. Better a five letter word than a four!
Posted Sep 23, 2003 at 10:03 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1093
neoepiphany says:
As one who has read a ridiculous amount of Bloom's criticism (recently graduated literature major!) may I say that twerp pretty much sums up my feelings about the fellow as well.
Oh, yes. Read Gaiman's "Good Omens." (written with Terry Pratchett.) It's hysterical, and it may just change the way you think about things... And I think any Potter fan would like it.
Posted Sep 24, 2003 at 12:50 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 483
Gemmy says:
I can't help but agree with neil here. JKR and Harry potter are in my opinion the most amazing captivating things imaginable! I adore them!!!!
Posted Sep 24, 2003 at 1:05 AM EST
Witch
Points: 611
Mdm Rosmerta says:
What does Gaiman think of the other woman's writer that slagged of JK. I can't remember her name now - that is how unimpressed I was with it!
Posted Sep 24, 2003 at 3:13 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1990
HarrysGran says:
Embarrassing, but I don't know Gaiman, but from all you say he must be a very good writer. Stephen King of course I know, and he is one of my fav writers (besides JKR of course), I love Talisman, Misery, It. It is (besides JKR of course) one of the writers whose books I not only read once or twice or... hm 5 times?
I totally agree that Blooms a twerp, although I could find a lot of other terms for him, but I fear that would be very very rude ones! - By the way, I had to look "twerp" up, didn't know that word. I like it and will memorize it - that shows: Harry Potter not only rocks, but educates!
Posted Sep 24, 2003 at 7:07 AM EST
Head Girl
Points: 468
Charlie'sMum says:
I was hoping this page would pick up Neil G's comment. I read Neil's 'blog' every day (www.neilgaiman.com) and he is very entertaining to read. (and he isn't a comic book 'artist' as someone said, he wrote the stories. Other people illistrated them. Although, as writing IS an art, he is an artist...) Anyone who likes HP would probably like the Sandman series, because Neil, like JK respects his audience and believes that a) they read and understand other things and b) are open to learning new stuff. And I agree with neoepiphany - read Good Omens. Brilliant book.
And Harold Bloom is just a snob. I don't think he enjoys reading. I think he is the type that reads quote unquote literature because he wants to be able to say he is 'well read', not because the books are worth reading. I've read Dickens, Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Austin, Bronte, Eliot, and a myriad of other 'classic' writers, but not because I wanted to be 'well read' but because they are good books. Just like Harry Potter, and just like many of King's books. (not all of them. He does NOT do aliens well. Bag of Bones was excellent, though.) Okay. I'm done.
Posted Sep 24, 2003 at 8:42 AM EST
Head House Elf
Points: 2727
Dobby says:
"Harold Bloom is a twerp."
hmm. that is a good way of putting it!
Posted Sep 24, 2003 at 4:42 PM EST
Witch
Points: 750
siriusgurl says:
he he what is up with all this authors complaining and whinning about each other? I find it very interesting.
Posted Sep 24, 2003 at 6:17 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1093
neoepiphany says:
siriusgurl: it's professional jealousy. If you can't write a book that makes you rich and famous, then by gum, you can tirade against those who can and at least get to see your name in print!
Posted Sep 25, 2003 at 5:50 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 399
Rhiannon Silverflame says:
Ah, Neil Gaiman . . . to whose works I was first introduced by passing references in Tori Amos's CD liner notes, and then by a roommate's best friend, who wrote her senior English thesis on the Sandman series. (There's a brand new Sandman graphic novel out now called Endless Nights, by the way; I can't afford it at the moment but it looks to be up there with Gaiman's best.
I'm going to have to second the recommendation for Good Omens, one of the wittiest and most hilarious books I can remember reading in a long time. Neverwhere, about a man named Richard Mayhew who finds himself in an alternate London -- where there really is an Earl in Earl's Court and creatures on the Underground give you good reason to Mind the Gap -- is also wonderful. I'm regrettably behind in reading much of his other work, so I can't give any other recommendations, but -- I think it's pretty much a safe bet with any of Gaiman's work. If you like dark fantasy and sophisticated dark comedy, this man is a master.
Posted Sep 26, 2003 at 3:44 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 393
HermioneLovesRon says:
Hmm. I do believe that "twerp" is too right the word to use!...although I can think of a few others I'd like to use to describe Bloom...*sniggers*
Ah, to be as lovely as George and Fred and be able to say what I wish...*wink*
~Stephanie
Posted Sep 26, 2003 at 3:57 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 353
Ms. White17 says:
A jealous, half-wit, two-bit talent, twerp who has nothing better to do than criticize literary genius while he himself wallows away is a pool of bitterness; choking on his insufferable air of arrogance...hehe i tried to make a vivid description there.
Posted Sep 26, 2003 at 1:37 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 323
fang says:
over on TLC we've all decided that we know where the term "blooming"-idiot comes from now.....fang
Posted Sep 26, 2003 at 2:20 PM EST
Supreme Mugwump
Points: 2872
S.P.E.W. fan says:
My brother, with his Master's degree in English and literature thank you every much, is the same way. He read SS/PS just to see what all the fuss has about and merely replied, "well, at least kids are reading." The git. After he watched the 2nd movie, he begged me to read my copies and has had to eat his self-righteous crow. But being the literature snob though, he never admitted that he judged prematurely based on the assumption that the masses like crap and We, the snobs are the only ones with a refined literary palate.
Posted Sep 26, 2003 at 4:36 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 547
ivanlo says:
Who here has read American Gods? Awesome. I haven't read Neverwhere but I saw the BBC production, also awesome.
Posted Sep 27, 2003 at 4:14 PM EST
Professional Beater
Points: 20878
feltonluver says:
Wait what does this have to do with harry potter. But i must say there were some harsh words in this short lil paragraph!
Posted Feb 29, 2004 at 8:54 PM EST
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