In one of his "What I'm Reading Now" columns in The Believer, Hornby argued that books are better than other media in almost all cases - like War and Peace versus Meatloaf's Bat Out of Hell. Tolstoy's taking that one home. Hornby admitted a few exceptions, like maybe The Sopranos beats The Good Earth or whatever. But mainly books are tops. Or are they?
Howard's End versus Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV)
Entertainment: First, Buffy has vampires, which Howard's End sure could have used. Second, Howard's End was slow-going for the first 150 pages or so, whereas Buffy starts with the kicky theme music.
Art: A close call, actually. Howard's End is clearly art, but Buffy was about death and loss, corruption, inner strength, hope, good and evil... Howard's End was often about the stresses of the idle rich.
Desert Island: Definitely Buffy - more hours, more shiny, more characters, more stories, plus I could learn kung-fu, probably.
Winner: Buffy. Loser: No one loses! Even E.M. Forster would have loved Buffy! It's got everything!
The Great Gatsby versus Law & Order
Entertainment: L&O is entertainment crack. I watched 13 episodes in a row once.
Art: I don't think anyone has ever referred to L&O as art, artsy, artistic, artish, artlike, or artastic.
Desert Island: Well, my first instinct was Law & Order, but I worry about getting bored. Every episode is basically the same. And by "basically" I mean "exactly, right down to the commercial breaks." Then again, I think Gatsby is probably just as boring after the third time you read it that first week on the desert island. And the symbolism is clunky, and it's overrated entirely, and I kind of hate everyone in it.
Winner: Law & Order. Loser: My high school English teacher.
The Babysitters' Club versus Saved By The Bell
Entertainment: Yes.
Art: No.
Desert Island: Saved By The Bell, for the Zack.
Winner: Saved By The Bell. Loser: Stacy's stupid diabetes.
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