Comments on: He Is … I Say: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Neil Diamond

By: Brian Winkeler

Brian Winkeler — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:20:47 +0000

I have no idea who Lex & Terry are.

By: Rod

Rod — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:57:43 +0000

I used to look forward to reading Klosterman’s column in ESQUIRE every month, but that was five or so years ago. Now I can’t even get through one; it’s become unreadable.

By: Cameron Hughes

Cameron Hughes — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 07:01:48 +0000

Chuck Klosterman is one of the most overrated and obnoxious writers around.

By: Mark Raymond Falk

Mark Raymond Falk — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:23:59 +0000

You hit the Klosterman thing right on the head. The guy used to be funny especially because his writing/sentiments felt genuine. The hipster-acceptance-Brooklyn-indie-rock-band-cult got lucky when their very own Patty Hearst joined their ranks. Maybe if we’re lucky, Russian Roulette will make its way into the hipster trend scene.

By: David Wild

David Wild — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:41:46 +0000

Louis,

Thank you for this review of my book. I loved every word, except “chubby” and sadly, even that’s all too true.

You are. . . I say a true visionary.

David Wild

By: R

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:41:35 +0000

Bookgasm is one of my guilty pleasures.

By: Allan

Allan — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:27:29 +0000

Like all misunderstood geniuses Diamond's greatness comes from his willingness to approach, reach, commune and then transcend true awfulness. The boundary between greatness and utter failure being so slim that the only way most people can avoid the latter is by never attempting the former. That said, I think you're WAY too hard on Klosterman. Killing Yourself to Live was pretty much a dud, but IV his follow up collection of magazine essays was good old-fashioned Klosterman at his best and brightest.

By: Christopher Sharpe

Christopher Sharpe — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:44:53 +0000

Really liked your comment about “guilty pleasures” because I don’t believe in them either. I recently had an extended conversation about this and how I think the concept is ridiculous.

“Solitary Man” is one of my favorite songs ever.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:50:37 +0000

Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow) and I’m A Believer are just awesome, that apperance in the Last Waltz eeew

By: Rod

Rod — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:52:07 +0000

I once knew this too-cool-for-school kid who thought I was insane when I said I liked Neil Diamond. His name was … Louis Fowler. Glad I was able to convert him.

I still can’t stand his Streisand duet or the E.T. song, but man, that early stuff is so good. Speaking of, I was listening to the Lex & Terry radio show on the way in to work as I always do, and the topic of Neil Diamond arose. Terry purported to be a huge fan of “early Neil Diamond,” but yet he claimed he had “never heard” the songs “Solitary Man,” “Cracklin’ Rosie” or “Kentucky Woman” when they started playing snippets. The only one he recognized was “Sweet Caroline.”