Well, we just got back from the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, one of the few events that make me feel like there really are good, worthy people in Los Angeles. I got to see Jane Smiley interview Gore Vidal, and it was very entertaining. She introduced him, saying, "He is reviled in all the places that decent people want to be reviled." He was very erudite, and it made me feel like yelling "Yes! Why isn't he more places saying these funny and important things!" Why is Paris Hilton everywhere I turn and Gore Vidal is not! But he was there today, and if I saw him face to face I wouldn't bother him with questions, I would just say, "Thank you". Because that is really what I mean.
Mr. Vidal answered Jane Smiley's questions and came back with clever and interesting answers. He mentioned Ayn Rand, saying, "Oh, you can't talk to Ayn Rand...." as if to say that she simply cannot listen. The other moment that sticks in my head is when he was asked if he thought that Truman Capote died as a result of publishing "Answered Prayers" he answered in a buttoned down, ironically cheeky way: "Are you implying that there is a god?"
I also saw one of my favorite people today, my former writing teacher, Lisa. We sat in the shade a talked for a little bit while her little boy kindly shared his toys with my daughter. It was really really nice.
Peanut is passed out from all the excitement. Kids! And Books! It's all so amazing!
1 comment:
Funny I was going to attend this event, but something else came up. Of course, I should have guess you would go!
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