October 09, 2004

Deborah Solomon Interviews Deborah Solomon

solomon.jpgYou're a moribund NYT journalist who can't even treat Pulitzer Prize winners with anything close to respect. Do you smile much?

Only if you tell me how brilliant I am at making your life a living hell in fifty words or less.

That seems to me a silly way of making a living.

So long as the expense request forms keep clearing for my Prada purchases, I can't complain.

That strikes me as unethical. Do your columns really matter?

Keller keeps me chained to this gig. I've tried pitching him on more feature stories, but he wants me to stay a jaded bitch. Plus, circulation says my shit goes down well right before that Ethicist guy.

Shouldn't you be celebrating your interview subject's achievements?

This isn't People Magazine. This is the New York Times. It's high-profile journalism for short attention spans.

Yes, but when your interviews can be read over a few sips of coffee, how can people enjoy the paper?

They read me again. And again. They see the photo against the white backdrop and they get the illusion of pith.

That sounds more like the Post.

Get with the program, kiddo. Tanenhaus has dumbed down the Book Review. Why stop with that section?

Posted by DrMabuse at October 9, 2004 09:57 PM
Comments

Having only read today's interview with Ed P. Jones, this seems quite appropriate - not to mention hilarious - thanks

Posted by: Dan Wickett at October 10, 2004 04:41 AM

This could apply just as well to her interview with newly appointed poet laureate Ted Kooser on Sep 12.

(http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/12/magazine/12QUESTIONS.html)

Q: As poet laureate, don't you think you should be better acquainted with European poetry?

A: Think of all the European poetry I could have read if we hadn't spent all this time on this interview.

Posted by: Tito at October 13, 2004 10:11 AM

thank you for doing what i've been wanting to for quite awhile. horrid woman.

Posted by: t at November 1, 2004 12:43 PM

My favorite Solomon interview was with Brian Wilson ( http://www.brianwilson.com/media/words/nyt.html ), in which he actually forced her out of bitch mode. Even she couldn't put her heart into beating up on a singer who hears voices yet deaf in one ear because his father "beat the hell the hell" out of his kids.

Posted by: Gene Koo at November 4, 2004 10:48 AM

does anyone have the deborah solomon interview
with Arthur Miller? nytimes 9-19-O4
please Email it.
thankyou

Posted by: herman at November 9, 2004 02:43 PM