How Fiction Works/James Wood

So first I read this: http://harpers.org/archive/2009/02/0082377 and I thought it was provocative and quite funny, but mostly it just made me want to read Saul Bellow. But then I read this, http://harpers.org/archive/2003/07/0079679, about Wood's novel. Raven, while I'm not sure what Mason intended, I agree with you that the ultimate effect was that I really had no desire to read Wood's novel--it sounds over-cautious and a bit shriveled. Not even sure how Mason got his "giddy sense of gratitude" unless it was for the discussion The Book Against God provoked.
Then I read this, http://www.observer.com/2009/media/i-harpers-i-colson-whitehead-accuses-james-wood-being-gasp-aesthete-and-traditionalist and now I've been reading Whitehead essays and editorials all morning!! Now it seems his recent Harper's piece was so much more toxic... It's been very bad for my productivity levels! Perhaps we should inject a bit of controversy into our meetings-of-the-club-that-will--remain-nameless?? I for one am curious about the play between perfection of form, Wood, (Bellow, Nabokov?? I don't know...) and ideas, Bolano (Whitehead, Smith?). Peech I don't know but it's out me in a good mood! See you Sunday. LOVEElien