PPPS 9-24-2010

[ I am back working through my pretrial detention journal. It is out of order… Well, the order is as I have opened boxes. The date in the title is the date it was written. I hope this is not confusing. You can find everything from my pretrial detention journal that is published under the "Pretrial Detention" link under topics on the right hand of your screen. This was from a letter sent to KH.  What you are reading is what you get for your tax dollars. sch 11/08/2025] 

 I finished Garp. In 25 minutes, Dad will be here. Not sure I can handle this at all. Between the book and knowing this will be the last time I see him, it feels like death.

I am thinking Irving may be the best thing we have going. Read Garp. The death of Walt was too much for me.

I am getting ideas about the Great America Novel. And about America. I want to get back to writing. Terry always said I had terrible timing. 

I also have been thinking about Fitzgerald. Maybe I can live long enough to prove American lives can have a second act - or even a third. I hope you can stick around for the next twelve years.

Working title for the next novel - America Eats Its Young. Only a working title, as I am stealing it from Funkadelic. America hate making America violent. There can be no great American novel because there is no real America - it changes by geography and by times. America always reinvents itself - no history.

sch

 [This is 2025 commenting on 2010; this is 65 looking back at 50. I still think John Irving is underrated - not the belle of stylist's ball - that will be Pynchon or DeLillo or McCarty (who would've been in the future from 2010). I think it is the best novel for anyone wanting to be a writer. The novel that had its roots in 2010 is still being worked on in 2025. Yes, it was the last time I saw my father. He hugged me. I do not recall him ever doing that. He died in 2018.

In 2010. I knew the Funkadelic song by its title only - definitely a fecund title - but for you and thanks to YouTube, here is the song:

  sch 11/08/2025]