Customer Reviews

Cannibals and Christians

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This is a collection of Mailer's work from 1960-66 and includes political articles, book reviews, a couple of stories, a few interviews, and some of the worst poetry ever written. Most readers either liked or hated Mailer, but whatever side of the fence you came down on it was impossible not to realize, even appreciate, the seriousness of his intent. Probably a quarter of the book is in some way concerned with Lyndon Johnson, and although he is highly critical, especially concerning events in Vietnam, he is also respectful and deeply reflective. Mailer also writes about the Kennedys, NYC politics, architecture, and a number of writers, including James Baldwin, Mary McCarthy, and Philip Roth among others. Of the interviews (one of which appears to be made up by Mailer), the best is the Paris Review one, where he is at his most speculative and ruminative. The stories, one a SF experiment, are forgettable, and the poetry, which is sprinkled throughout the book, is embarrassingly bad. The non-fiction Mailer represented here shows the author in full stride.

...and the kind of writer that one either loves or hates. However one reacts to his turbulent personal life -- which he never tried to keep separate from his writing -- his work always fascinates. He had insights that compel us to see events and ideas from fresh points of view, and he expressed himself in ways that will intrigue those who love the creative use of language.