Very few writers of my liking actually become Nobel laureates, so I'm thrilled to learn that Doris Lessing, the British writer, won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
No, I'm not a feminist.
The truth is, you don't have to be a feminist or feminism-liking to enjoy Lessing(yes, it might be hard to swallow the idea that centuries ago no man exists in the world - The Cleft), but Lessing's writing has a particular sense of humor almost lurking in his imagination and makes every book of hers immensely fascinating.
It's quite ironic, considering only 2 months ago, when Boston Globe interviewed Lessing and asked "Why do you think you haven't won the Nobel Prize", Lessing replied: "There is something hidden here. At a big evening party in Sweden, back when my Swedish publisher was alive, a little gray chap from the Nobel Committee sat down beside me and said: "You'll never win the Nobel Prize. We don't like you."It was so graceless. What was I to say? I didn't say anything. I've never found out why they don't like me."
Well, I guess the Swedish guys have grown to like her after all. Doris Lessing, "that epicist of the female experience, who with skepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilization to scrutiny."
New York Times has a special series on Lessing with Reviews of Doris Lessing's Earlier Books, Articles About and by Doris Lessing and an audio special Doris Lessing at The 92nd St. Y (October 24, 1994).
And I'll review some of her books in the following posts. I love her!
