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Banner file photo/Wood
John Buffalo Mailer in Provincetown last year during the staging of his play “Crazy Eyes.”
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Banner file photo/Harrison
Norman Mailer at home in Provincetown. |
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All in the family
Norman Mailer initially had no interest in co-writing a book — a virtual discussion — about politics and current events. He says that when you’re an established writer, you want to keep your tendency to mix ambitious books with those that are less ambitious in check. And he was in an ambitious state of mind.
But the literary tough guy isn’t so tough when it comes to his children. His youngest son, the writer John Buffalo Mailer, really wanted to record an intergenerational discussion with his dad. He figured they had half a book already — he had interviewed his father on politics for New York Magazine in 2004, on sex for Playboy magazine the same year and on boxing for Stop Smiling in 2005.
“Well, you know, John got a wrestler’s grip on me and got his way,” Norman says, with a laugh, by phone from his Provincetown home.
“I enjoyed doing it more than I thought I would,” he says, adding that he liked working with John.
The result is the thought-provoking and highly entertaining book “The Big Empty: Dialogues on Politics, Sex, God, Boxing, Morality, Myth, Poker and Bad Conscience in America” (Nation Books, 2006, soft back, $14.95). The tag team discusses all of these subjects — but the book is more than that. It gives an inside look at the relationship between father and son.
In the section of the book titled “Generations,” John says to his dad, “You have a great line about technology: ‘More power, less pleasure.’/ NM: Take out ‘great line.’ From now on, no compliments. You are my son. You can’t go around giving me compliments./ JBM: (laughs) All right, I’ll never compliment you again.”
John, who’s 55 years younger than his father, thinks that moments like this are more important than, say, even talking politics.
“The one thing I love about this book is that I’m going to be able to hand it to my children and say ‘This is your grandfather,’” John says, agreeing that these conversations do capture their relationship. “The biggest critique of this book is that it’s a battle. [But] it isn’t. It isn’t what we do. [People] were really disappointed that it wasn’t a fight.”
Still, there are times when Norman cuffs John a bit, such as when he jabs him for buying and wearing shirts with logos that advertise corporations. John, 28, admits he did wear shirts like that in high school but doesn’t anymore.
“He was right about that,” John says, adding that paying for something that is advertisement for a corporation is absurd. John starts talking about his new favorite T-shirt — one he can’t believe he found, he’s so happy about it — on which are images of American Indians and the words: “Homeland Security: Fighting terrorism since 1492.”
The book explores other parts of their relationship, such as their mutual appreciation for boxing, poker, women and writing.
“I think honestly one of the cool things about this book is that he trusted me and he knew I wasn’t out to get him, so we could have a much freer dialogue,” John says. “I think I do put him at ease a little bit, as opposed to other journalists.”
Beyond the personal, the National Book Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning author talks with his playwright-actor-journalist son about George W. Bush’s re-election campaign, the war in Iraq and other current events. (John will talk about his father’s political leanings during a panel to be held from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Friday during The Norman Mailer Society’s annual conference. John says he isn’t sure what he’s going to say. “I usually don’t plan these things, I usually just stand up and say things the people want to hear.” Go online to normanmailersociety.com/conference2006.htm for further details.)
“The Big Empty” does indeed bridge the gap between more than two generations — 20-somethings and those decades older will find a common ground. The book may even serve to allow each group to understand the other better. Still, humor is key.
“If you live in P’town and you haven’t bought this book yet, you’re a bad American,” John says.
awood@provincetownbanner.com
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In the Arts
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Oct 12th, 2006