I didn't realise that other people had problems with him too!

I agree about closeness to culture. I don't know about his long term rep, but I think it will be slight. Compared to what is happening, the voices that cannot speak and the strangulated songs, what he wants to say seems so slight. Which is fine. There is room for slight. But it feels like he's missing the real thing.

Also Running in the Family exposed a snobbishness and world view that made me cringe a little. but it is quite readable and funny, and i think, less overwritten than his other work!