I Cannot Wait To Hear What Joyce Has To Say About Salinger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           This is so interesting to me, girls, because I have such an ambivalent relationship with both authors.  As a teen, I thought Salinger's was "the voice of truth," but it had nothing to do with "The Catcher In The Rye."  To this day, I regard his signature work as good, but overrated, preferring instead, the book "Franny And Zooey," and anything written about the Glass Family.  I always saw myself more as Zooey Glass, rather than Holden Caufield.

                                              Joyce was an author I came to at a young age--when she was young (we are barely a year apart; she older!) --fueled with resentment, over a success that I righteously felt should have been mine, not knowing what the price of that success would hold for Joyce, nor what direction life would take me, in order to give me my own voice, which I then so ardently craved.

                                                Forty years later, I can appreciate Salinger's linguistic brilliance, but have to agree with Joyce, when she calls him a "victimizer," not just of herself, but of others.  At the time of the Joyce-Salinger relationship, which someone like me, who follows literary gossip, was aware of, back then,  I
found myself asking of myself--If I had written a published piece, and, say, Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, or Gore Vidal (all of whom were still alive, and all of whom, by then, I had read, and admired, as
writers) had written to me, might I have taken up with them?  At that time my answer would have been an unhesitant "Yes;" now, seeing the effect Salinger had on Joyce, I am less so, because, had this trajectory happened, who is to say what kind of shape I would be in now?  I was carrying enough issues of my own at that age; this would inevitably have added to them.

                                                  So, at my present age, I am glad things happened the way they did--and didn't--and I can appreciate the horror of what Joyce must have gone through--and apologize for the distorted perception I let other emotions of my own give her.

                                                    I think Salinger was a brilliant writer. But he was also an arrogant prick.  I would hope that the film makes both abundantly clear, and I am eager to hear how Joyce contributes to that.

                                                      However, with regard to what I said in my recent post, where I cited David Gilbert, like most straight, male writers, always including the wife and children in their publicity, as some sort of way of proving their heterosexuality, this same male, heterosexual literary cognoscenti seems determined to ban together in some kind of  fraternal solidarity, to protect Salinger.  With him gone, whom are they really protecting?  Themselves?  And what are they trying to prove?

                                                       And it is not like I write from some kind of self unawareness.  I am perfectly well aware that much of what motivates my actions is to proof to myself how mistaken my parents were, for placing me, early on, in an educational situation that was far beneath my capacities.

                                                          Salinger had his PTSD, which was the war.  He never got over it.
If what I just spilled is mine, so be it.  But I don't go writing letters to teen-aged boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                            I cannot wait to see the Salinger film. My fear, though is the wrong viewpoint will have the last word.

                                                             Or the last laugh.



foundm

Darlings, If This Makes The New York Times Ten Best List For 2013, I Could Lose My Respect For That List!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       The first thing I want to say, girls, to David Gilbert, regarding his novel, "& Sons," is, "Honey, get over yourself!"  I can just picture Gilbert, sitting and writing this, spewing out this pretentious crap, while thinking, "Oh, boy, I am going to be the toast of the literary world!!!!  This will be Book Of The Year!!!!!!!!!!"

                                         Well, guess what, David???? You are wrong!

                                          The book is a downer.  But that is not its  problem.  The trouble is, it is all over the place, and unfocused, with a narrative voice so indistinct readers have to keep reminding themselves who that narrator is!!!!!!!!!!

                                            Not to mention the book has no real focus.   Sandwiched between two funerals, is a Louis Auchincloss type novel (the kind that has not been written since Auchincloss died!!!!) about fathers and sons, and loss.  What Gilbert has done is thrown everything into the pot--J.D. Salinger, John Knowles, "A Separate Peace" (all  of which are mentioned within the context of the story) and an account of alleged homosexuality which is the trauma at the surface of everything, and suggests Gilbert may have rubbed himself off too hard and red, while watching "Tea And Sympathy" as a youngster, and eroticizing Deborah Kerr!  Hey, David, even I, as a gay man, can tell you, the film to eroticize Deborah in is "From Here To Eternity!"

                                            As if things cannot get worse--and, believe me, they do-- midway through the story, he goes all Kazuo Ishiguro on the reader, suggesting, that Andy Dyer, the junior son of the Salingersesque/Knowlesian author at hand, who was conceived during a hypocritical dalliance with an au pair, is a clone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Give me a break, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            The most fascinating, and tantalizing, situation is the series of letters Andrew, the shit author, father, and human being, writes as a child to his best friend, Charles Topping--a friendship that is betrayed when they are older boys, when Topping, who isn't sure yet (as many boys are) exactly how
he feels about his friend Andrew, tries to tell him, and in return is attacked and verbally spat on by Andrew for alleged homosexuality!  Fuck you, Andrew!  I hope you rot in hell!  And you know something?  I hope David Gilbert does, too, because something about his tone seems to advocate this viewpoint!  I hope one of those children you exploit in your publicity, to prove your heterosexuality, (which is the reason literary men always mention their wives and children; the ONLY  reason, in fact!!!!!!!!!) turn out to be gay; let's see how you deal with it, or maybe they will spurn you, like Dyer's sons do!!!!!!!!!! Dyer and David deserve everything they get!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Charles Topping, who is dead when the novel begins, and is the novel's sole sympathetic character, is at least delivered of having to live among these rotten excuses for humanity!  Just as the reader is excused, when, in relief, he closes the jacket of the book, at the end!

                                             Darlings, you can bet I consigned this one to the slag heap!  For a novel that is full of potentially good ideas, (all of which, including the alleged classic novel within this novel, "Ampersand," a complete rip-off of "A Separate Peace," as is the Andrew-Charles relationship to the Gene and Phineas one!!!!) Mr. Gilbert gets lost in the mire of his own literary egotism.  It is  ironic that I am writing this on the morning that the documentary "Salinger" opens in theaters.  Gilbert obviously sees himself as the successor to such, but I have news for him--he's not!  I can spot a phony a mile away, and there is no phonier novel this year than David Gilbert's "& Sons."

                                              Now, if there is a prize for THAT, it will be the only honor it wins!

                                              Up yours, David!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, What Am I Going To Do About My "Glass Menagerie" Dilemma???????????

                               Tonight, at the Booth Theatre, the curtain goes up on this latest revival of Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie," a play I have lived with since my theatrical infancy, and featuring Cherry Jones as Amanda, and the one I have the most trepidation about--Celia Keenan-Bolger, as Laura!!!!!!!!!!

                                  However, I have to admit, from this photo, Celia is looking pretty Laura-ish!!!!!!!! And there are a couple of other photos to show she might be heading in the right direction, as Laura.  However, there are some other photos, where--I don't know if it is accidental or not--Celia as Laura is showing just too much leg, or flesh!!!!!!!!!  Laura Wingfield would NEVER do that!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   Now, Amanda would!   Even though she is just some dried up old thing, she thinks she still has it, so Amanda would lower her shoulder strap, or do whatever it takes.  Not Laura!  Which is what makes this tragi-comedy SO tragic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    Of course, I am on the fence now, darlings!!!!!!!!!  Should I go see Celia do Laura, or not?????????  If she WOWS me, great!  If she does not, then I have spent a disappointing evening in the theater; few things are worse than seeing BAD Tennessee Williams. And I have.  For those old enough, on here, I will just say--Vanessa Redgrave in "Orpheus Descending!!!!!!!!!"

                                      Now, don't think, for a minute, dears, that I want to horn in, and play Laura. Not that I probably couldn't, but my days of being a shrinking violet have been left far behind!!!!!!!!!

                                       When it comes to "The Glass Menagerie," even if this one turns out to be good (and if I go, I will let you girls know!!!!!!!!!) I have two ideas.  The first is to have a production where MERYL does Amanda and Laura simultaneously.  Being MERYL, I know this is not impossible, and it would be marvelous to watch!

                                         The last revival I saw had Jessica Lange as Amanda (ugh!!!!!!!) but was redeemed by Christian Slater as Tom, and Sarah Paulson, as Laura!  I think it would be fun to have Sarah
come back and do Laura again....but this time, she plays Laura as her character on 'SVU', sociopath socialite, Anne Gillette!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           Now, THAT would be a new take on Tennessee Williams, darlings!!!!!!!!!  Amanda wouldn't stand a chance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   

Did Cujo Hold A Press Conference, Yesterday, Girls????????????????

                                  As I remarked, yesterday, darlings, I was so disappointed at not seeing our lovable neighbor, Cujo, on his terrace, yesterday morning, while I was on the way to work.  But then my partner filled me in on some valuable information.

                                   Yesterday, for those in the know, was the first day of Rosh Hashannah.  And, while I went to work, and sang about seedlings and sunflowers, Monsieur stayed home, and made a scrumptious meal, then went to the local synagogue.

                                      He took the same route as we take to the 77th Street, Bay Ridge station, each morning.  It was sometime in the afternoon, and, when he passed a certain terraced house, whom should he see out there, but our beloved Cujo?????????  I was so happy he was all right!  Monsieur said he was surrounded by a bevy of people, which caused me to wonder several things--

                                       1. Are Cujo and his owners Jewsih?  And do they celebrate the
                                              High Holidays???????

                                        2.  Was he having some kind of press conference?  Is he some
                                                  sort of celebrity we don't know about?

                                          3.  Had people read this blog, and now, in addition to us,
                                                  Cujo now has his own fan base?????????????

                                      In any case, I was happy to hear he was out, about and all right.

                                       Now, this morning, I feared I was having the same experience.  I looked up at the terrace, called, but no Cujo!!!!!!!!!!!  I called Monsieur, and reported his absence.  But, for some reason, I stood, off to the side, and called again.  And, when I did, Cujo came running from the back yard, to the front gate, blocking the driveway from the street, where he greeted me, then ran back to this guy in a white shirt, with black hair, who must be his owner!  I can only imagine what he must have thought!  But he let Cujo and I have our moment!

                                        One of my coworkers thinks the real owners are getting a kick out of this.  I can only hope so, since both of us like Cujo so much!  In fact, I want to ask Cujo, what he would like for Christmas.  For, once the Winter months set in, he will be holed up, in front of the fireplace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          But for now we have our big, lovable Cujo, who brings happiness to our day, every time we see him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             We love you, Cujo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Is NO Baby Ruth, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!! And Don't Even Think For A Minute That That Blonde Hair Is Natural!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 Remember how Ben Stone, in my favorite Sondheim musical, "Follies," asks Sally Plummer, when they first see each other, "Did you eat Baby Ruths for breakfast?"  Well, with that line, plus all the attention being recently given to Cate Blanchett channeling Blanche Du Bois, in Woody Allen's latest, "Blue Jasine," I thought it was time that Ruth Madoff got her due, as Bitch Of The Week.  Because, in many ways, Cate is as much playing a version of Ruth as she is Blanche.  Only Jasmine in the film comes off a bit more sympathetic than Ruth in reality.

                                  That Ruth Madoff!  She was a crafty one, living high off the hog, of hubby Bernie, as he bilked so many out of their personal savings, bringing grief and misery to all, when filling his coffers!!!!!!!!! Did Ruth ever wonder how those coffers got filled so abundantly????????  But, I guess, with all that travel and fashion wear, the poor dear didn't have a moment to herself, to wonder!!!!!!!!! Yeah, right!

                                    The suicide of son Mark was a tragedy I would not have wished on anyone, let alone the Madoffs!  Perhaps it was a wake up call, but when you go from living in Boca Raton, to living on property owned by your other son, in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, that downward trajectory is not too far, now, is it???????????

                                       You better believe it, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!  That Ruth was as cool and calculating, in her own way, as hubby Bernie.  Too bad she could not be prosecuted for living off the misery of others, for as long as she did!!!!!!!!!! Does she even care?  The fact that that question has to be aired, in light of "Blue Jasmine" is what makes Ruth so perfect, and long overdue, for Bitch Of The Week!!!!!!!!  Congratulations, Ruthie!!!!!!!!!!!  You finally made it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        Just don't expect to make the invite list at MY place, darling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, I Cannot Wait To Hear Jessie, As Carole King, Sing "Jazzman!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                           We all know, darlings, that Jessie Mueller is just going to nail those Carole King "Tapestry" classics, when the show "Beautiful--The Carole King Musical," comes to town, about two months from now.  But I wonder if we will get to hear something not on "Tapestry," and that is the great music classic, "Jazzman."

                                             I have to say this song owes a debt of gratitude to Yeardley Smith, as Lisa Simpson.  Who could forget the episode where Lisa's musical mentor, Bleeding Gums Murphy, passes on, and a bereft Lisa goes up into the mountains, with her saxophone, and before you know it, she is belting out the Carole King classic, "Jazzman!!!!!!"  I am telling you, there has been nothing like it, before, or since.  Who would have thought Lisa/Yeardley had the musical chops for this???????????????

                                              Jessie Mueller's chops are indisputable, so I cannot wait to hear her belt out this great standard.  But, until she is added to the pantheon of great renderings of this song, I am going to give out the two best to date--Lisa/Yeardley, and Carole herself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Here they are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              And I would bet Carole approves of Lisa's, too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              So, until we get Jessie, enjoy, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where Is Our Cute Cujo, Darlings?????????????????????

                                     Girls, let me tell you, aside from my morning coffee, and teasing Big Boy, one of the highlights of the early part of my day is the subway walk to 77th Street in Bay Ridge, with Monsieur. When we turn onto said street, and pass the tailor shop, we encounter the house with all the birds and dogs, many of whom are often out, which we love to see and greet. Sometimes, this big, white toucan, is out, and, a couple of times, he has sauntered close to me, and raised the feathers on his head in greeting!!!!!!!!!!  I just  love it, and so does Monsieur.

                                         But, a couple houses up, at 325 77th Street, lives a huge dog, who looks to be a boxer, but suggests to me a combination of boxer and Great Dane.  He used to bark at us all the time as we went by, so one day Monsieur dubbed him "Cujo," after the dog in the Stephen King story.

                                            Let me tell you, girls, Cujo has quite a life!!!!!!! He has his own terrace, which he often looks out on, like a canine Evita, and, when he is there, we wave, and call out lovingly to him cooing to Cujo!!!!!!!!!!!!  It has gotten so that he responds to us, which makes me wonder what the poor owners
think of all this!  They have a gated driveway, with a "Beware Of Dog" sign, which I think is bogus, because
Cujo is so cute and lovable, how could he harm anyone?  He just wants a big, old hug!  And, unlike what Monsieur says, he does not go about devouring the heads of babies.  That distinction does go to Democratic Mayoral candidate, Christine Quinn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            One morning, we passed by the house, and were not sure Cujo was out.  When I called out to him, he arose, and greeted us, which shows how much he loves answering to "Cujo," even though Monsieur says his name could be "Petunia."  But I think it is sweet of Cujo to acknowledge us!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              So, here is hoping we see Cujo in the near future!  The day somehow just is not complete, without him!  Hey, owners, let us see more of Cujo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                We love you, Cujo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!