Mailer Story in Esquire...

... and no, I'm not plugging my own shit.

But in the January issue -- online now -- there's a great story by Tom Junod about Norman Mailer. I'd link it if I knew how... Just go to esquire.com, and it's right there near the top. LAST MAN STANDING.

Reading it just now, even though there's a thread of sadness in it -- Norman's damn old, and he uses two canes, and he nearly dies each time he climbs the stairs to his apartment -- I found it incredibly inspirational: It made me want to live life, to fight, to write big.

If you're a Mailer fan (and I still believe The Naked and the Dead is one of the great novels), you'll enjoy it, I think. Even if you're not a Mailer fan, you might get something out of it, especially if you're in a rut or you need a little spark. It's a good writer writing about another good writer, mostly about his writing. Fucking A.

 

I haven't read it yet, but I thought I'd post the link for the lazy (Hi XXXX) among us.

http://www.esquire.com/features/articles/2006/061207_mfe_January_07_last_man_1.html

 

I look forward to reading the article, but I won't until my issue comes in the mail.

 

Wait, you can subscribe to Esquire directly!?! I've been sending $5 each month directly to Jones so he'll Xerox articles and mail them to me. He's quite good about it. I should be getting the September issue any day now.

 

There are pictures of women in Esquire?

Damn it Jones, I want my money back! And not in Canadian dollars either.

 

Jonesy, I already told you Junod is my favorite writer at that rag. Can't wait until my issue comes in the mail.

 

Didn't Mailer do a book about a guy on death row in Utah? Gary Gilmore? I recall having read that in college. I then picked up his space book, but I left it in the rear of my Ford Festiva, and it was covered in a thick green mold the next time I saw it. Just to complete the story, the library sent me a bill for that about a year ago. That would be 2005. The book was due in 1998. I guess they're under-staffed.

 

Wow, I just got the issue today as I left for work and didn't notice the story being in there. I cannot WAIT to get home and read it, even if it describes how far gone Mailer is now. Saw him at a narrative journalism conference two years ago. He remains the only man other than my father to truly intimidate me from saying even a word to him.

 

I can't bring myself to read something that long (even though I know it will be amazing, as are all of Junod's pieces) on the Web.

I tried. I can't.

Hurry up, mailman.

 

Heddy, did you click the link? (Thanks sportschick.) Otherwise, you owe me a nickel.

Inky, the Gestetner won't do women. But the ink... It smells so sweet.

And Heiney, I think the first book you're talking about is The Executioner's Song (although I'm totally ashamed to say that I haven't yet read it). His space book is Of a Fire on the Moon. That one, I have read. If the library doesn't charge you $217,898.34 for losing it, you should check it out again. It's a spicy meatball.