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November 1, 2002:

A FINE NOVEMBER

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, we had a splendid Halloween here at haineshisway.com. We had creepy crawly posts aplenty, we scared the daylights out of various and sundried people, and we had mirth and merriment and laughter and legs. I gave away lots of candy to trick or treaters, and I showed great restraint and did not eat one single bite of one single candy. I even managed to do a spot of writing in between trick or treat visits.

All right, the vote is split – some want the live chat on Sunday, some want it on Monday. So, here is what I say – we will start on Sunday – this Sunday – with our very first live chat. We will alternate – the next chat will be on a Monday, the next on a Sunday, and so forth and so on, etc. etc. etc. So, tune in on Saturday and Michael Shayne will give us all the proper link and directions, and we’ll repeat that information on Sunday as well. The live chat will convene at six p.m. pacific time, nine p.m. eastern. Oh, what fun we shall all have, but do not let it stop us from posting all the live-long day.

Tomorrow is the first part of our one year anniversary – tomorrow marks notes number 365, but our actual anniversary is November 9th. The 9th will be our big celebration, but there will definitely be a mini-party here on Saturday, so do stop by. And don’t forget, Saturday is the day I answer all your excellent questions.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below before inertia takes over this section and causes us all to take a nap.

If they asked me I could write a book, and so I did. And I am now two-thirds of the way through its sequel. I have no idea if I like it or not, but I mush on. I did get a most wonderful e-mail about Benjamin Kritzer – from author Martyn Bedford, a Brit who, in my estimation (IME, in Internet lingo) wrote one of the finest first novels I’ve ever read, and certainly my favorite book of the 90s, Acts of Revision. I’d corresponded with him a few times (I’d given Acts of Revision to Ira Levin, who loved it as much as I, and he wrote Martyn a note as did I), and I recently sent him a copy of my book. Well, he wrote me the most wonderful e-mail and it made me feel swellegant indeed, dear readers. I’d like to share part of it with you now (warning – there is a small spoiler included, so if you haven’t read it and are planning to, proceed with caution):

You write with such verve and humour, and with such an authentic “voice” (writing as a nine-year-old when you’re long since grown up is a tough act, but you pull it off brilliantly.)

There is so much insight into the way it is to be that age that just about anyone could identify with it. I grew up a gentile in London in the 60s rather than jewish in L.A. in the 50s, but so much of Benjamin’s childhood could have been drawn straight from mine.

Benjamin is a terrific character, and his friendship with Susan is so true and affecting – when he discovers his mother has intercepted and destroyed Susan’s letter, I’m right there with him, hitting her with that hanger!

Also, the evocation of time and place is so impressive.

So, many thanks and many congratulations. I hope the book does as well as it deserves.

With best wishes,
Martyn

P.S. I showed the book to my wife and she said: “What is it, fish?”>

Isn’t that a lovely note? I was unprepared for it, really, and it made me feel lovely. As, of course, did all your wonderful comments, too.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, but before I do them shouldn’t we call attention to the fact that it is November? Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, it is November, and here’s hoping that November is a fine month, a month in which nothing but fine things happen in a fine manner. In fact, if November tries any monkey business, I shall fine November for not being fine. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday, the day in which you get to tell what is currently in your DVD and video player, and your CD player. I’ll start – DVD player, Mysterious Island, which I haven’t seen in quite some time and which I’m enjoying. CD player, the Warner Bros. Jimmy Durante collection, and a two-fer of Dominic Frontiere “pop” albums from 1959 and 1960. Your turn. And discuss anything else you feel like while you’re at it. And don’t forget the mini-party on Saturday and our very first live chat on Sunday.

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