Arnon Grunberg
Words Without Borders

Like Darwinism, intellectual property is just...

Like Darwinism, intellectual property is just a theory

A refreshing article by Frank J. Prial appeared today in the International Herald Tribune on the clichés connected to writing about wine.
And talking about wine, of course. Some people happen to have elaborate conversations on wine.
Mr. Prial gives a few convincing examples of how words are used, and abused, by wine writers and talkers, like the word “nose.” As for me, the wine-tasting ritual in a restaurant is a disgrace. I love to say, “It's good,” even before I really have tasted the wine.
And on the rare occasion that the Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa has a strong aftertaste of vinegar, I’m more than happy to blame the fact that I brushed my teeth shortly before dinner.
Generally speaking, I would say that the whole business of brushing your teeth is strongly overrated. Especially when you are not married and your girlfriend is studying in Hong Kong. Once a week is more than enough.
There is a disturbing similarity between writing about wine and the act of blurbing. Disturbing, yes. Every author or poet, even unknown and forgotten authors, will be asked on a regular basis to give a blurb for a collection of short stories by a writer even more forgettable than the blurber.
A blurb consists of, usually, let’s say twenty words. They are often the same words, “Funny," or, “Extremely funny,” and “Witty.” Now and then, you get “Hilarious.” More often than not, “Clever.” The frequent reader longs for the short blurb, “Not funny at all.” But the blurb-dictionary contains more mysterious words, like “disturbing.” I have seen so many different novels being described as “Disturbing” that I’m not really sure what disturbing means.
In 2006, what makes a novel disturbing? The only thing I can come up with is blatant and outspoken plagiarism.
Such a novel could start with this sentence: “Like Darwinism, intellectual property is just a theory.”


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