Re: Italy Will

Paul Kennedy (kennedyp@toronto.cbc.ca)
Thu, 22 Apr 1999 18:28:38 -0400 (EDT) 

Well, I guess it behooves (sp?) a bananafish to explain himself:

Each of the writers on my list has earned--correct me if I'm wrong, Will--a
somewhat less-than-respectful bad rap from certain more-than-respectable
critics.  What I mean is that I don't think people who LOVE Tom Robbins are
supposed to talk about it in "serious" company....  I LOVE TOM ROBBINS
(Phew!, there now, I've said it!  This feels almost like some sort of twelve
step programme.)  I also love Mark Helprin (even though I can't remember the
title of his novel about Italy during the war) and Jay McInerney (read the
early book about Japan.... DAMN, I can't remember the name of THAT book
either!  Was it RANSOM?) but I've been told that tastes like these lead
directly to the litcritical gutter.  



Who gives a shit?

But Armistead Maupin is in a class all his own.  I started "Tales" in a
waiting lounge at Ohare Airport in Chicago.... I'd missed my connection, and
I would have to wait 12 hours.  There was a two-year-old asleep on top of
the luggage cart, and we'd just come in from four months in China.  The
selection at the airport bookshop offered a toss-up between Danielle Steele
and Henry James.  Then I saw Maupin and remembered that a friend had warned
me about Armistead addiction.  But I bought and read at least three or four
of those books that day in Chicago.  The following day, firmly ensconced at
home, I sneaked out to the local bookstore to buy the rest.... Not since
Catcher, many many years earlier, had I encountered such compelling
characters encapsulated in perfect amber prose!

Then again, I've been politely informed by reliable sources that Tales of
the City is frowned down upon by literary luminaries (not to mention the
normal "moral" prudes....)

Do I repeat myself?  Yes, I repeat myself!

Who gives a shit?

Cheers,

Paul

OSO--More of a question than an observation, really.... And I know that YOU
know the answer Will, because you made a passing reference during our
conversation a while back.....  But, HOW DOES KENNETH CAULFIELD DIE?






>Yeah, I had a similar reaction too, Camille, but about his reference to
>Mark Helprin :)
>
>I think his Winter's Tale is wonderful.  Flawed, but almost an epic.
>
>Jim
>
>On Thu, 22 Apr 1999 11:34:32 +1000 Camille Scaysbrook
><verona_beach@geocities.com> writes:
>>Paul Kennedy wrote:
>>> (I wouldn't dare even mention
>>> Armistead Maupin in this company....!)
>>
>>Why not? I think he's great!
>>
>>Camille
>>verona_beach@geocities.com
>>@ THE ARTS HOLE http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Theater/6442
>>@ THE INVERTED FOREST http://www.angelfire.com/pa/invertedforest
>>
>
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