Speaking of unbearable, "Chronic City" was a huge chore to read. Hard to believe nobody said, "John, could you maybe tart this up a little bit? Put in some likable characters, throw in a plot twist or two?" #jonathanlethem
This is historic, all right. Once the formerly great Hemingway allowed one intrepid reporter, Lillian Ross, into the domain of Him and Mary to observe them for two days. She did, for a portrait that ran in New Yorker in the spring of 1950. Papa and Mary read it, saw as how it was all right, and passed on it. Pals of the Hemingways thought it was a hit job, and said so, and the Hemingways joined in at the tail end of that march.
See, the doddering old man who had to be reminded to take his glasses to be fixed, who uttered teeth-itching pedestrian comments, was simply not the wise and witty Literary Lion of Libya of his own self-portrait.
I remember a sampling. He and Mary in a bar referred to a 'sea heel.' Lillian wondered what that meant. "The sea's bigger than the land," answered Mary. Oh, said Lillian. Ouch, said us. #jonathanlethem
@Tremonius: HA! I totally love that classic Lillian Ross profile of Papa Hem.My favorite part is the Marlene Dietrich cameo appearance--she shows up drunk at Hemingway's hotel, eats some caviar and chugs some Champagne, affectionately brawls with the celebrated author, who affectionately calls her "the Kraut." Then they swap WWII stories.
@snugbug: Lillian Ross actually defined film for me in her Picture about the making of Red Badge of Courage. The great auteur and his crew were so very pleased with their artistic integrity and creativity and such until the first sneak preview in which their stellar work was knocked flat in ratings cards by knobby-kneed schulbs from Bayonne. The artistes descended into backbiting, then, with arty parts praised before now dumped on by backstabbers as the cause of the catastrophe. A somewhat adulterated version was released to tepid reviews. #jonathanlethem
Y'know Hemingway's cats descendants are still roaming around his home in Key West. Makes you wonder what kind of wildlife will survive Lethem. [www.hemingwayhome.com]#jonathanlethem
@BookishLookish: Her quote about her living quarters was, "All I need is room enough to lay a hat and a few friends."
However, at one point she shared an office with Benchley and described it as, " He and I had an office so tiny that an inch smaller and it would have been adultery."
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See, the doddering old man who had to be reminded to take his glasses to be fixed, who uttered teeth-itching pedestrian comments, was simply not the wise and witty Literary Lion of Libya of his own self-portrait.
I remember a sampling. He and Mary in a bar referred to a 'sea heel.' Lillian wondered what that meant. "The sea's bigger than the land," answered Mary. Oh, said Lillian. Ouch, said us. #jonathanlethem
11/02/09
Good-effin' times! #jonathanlethem
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[www.hemingwayhome.com] #jonathanlethem
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However, at one point she shared an office with Benchley and described it as, " He and I had an office so tiny that an inch smaller and it would have been adultery."
10/16/09
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Edited by Milf Hunter with a foreward by Captain Stabbin'.
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10/14/09