Why does Reddit love the following authors?
In some of the general literature subs, I’ve noticed this tendency to recommend the following authors over and over again: Pynchon, DFW, McCarthy, Murakami, John Williams, Dostoevsky, Gene Wolfe (pains me to include him but it’s true). Tracking from there, I’ve noticed that the contents of most posts in author-specific or even general subs are some rendition of ‘Just finished [author’s most acclaimed work]. Wow. Mind=blown. While I didn’t understand everything, I plan on rereading this multiple times!’ Or ‘Is it okay if I’m struggling to understand something? This is the first book I’ve ever read.’ And almost every time, people lap it up. It’s almost as if their enjoyment of certain authors is contingent on consensus opinion. I can imagine that if the consensus opinion of Stoner was that it was ‘pretentious, garbled nonsense’ (it’s not), then the same people would relish the opportunity to dunk on Williams.
Is this Reddit-specific behavior? I’m not saying these authors are bad, but I find it difficult to believe that they’re so many posters favorites. To me, it seems like people are afraid to develop a sensibility. Is it because most people read so little? Or because these authors are good entry points into literature? I can’t imagine that these are anyone’s actual favorite authors. Mine is Studs Terkel (just kidding).
I’m asking because my two friends IRL don’t read. Well, one of them reads biographies.