[kabar]

(Did you ever read a book from that era by Norman Mailer, "Armies of The Night"?)

I did. I also read his The Naked and Dead (my favorite of Mailer's given his wartime experience) and The Executioner's Song.

Mailer had a charismatic persona, bigger than life. His debates with Buckley, McLuhan, and Vidal were epic and enthralling. Mailer was the hip, acerbic rebel. His personal life was a mess.

[a little elbow grease]

Mailer had a charismatic persona, bigger than life. His debates with Buckley, McLuhan, and Vidal were epic and enthralling. Mailer was the hip, acerbic rebel. His personal life was a mess.

_____

I hear you. His personal life was less than peaceful. However, I thought his ability to write and vividly describe everything around him was # 1. I love Somerset Maugham .... a writer who said the most important things in life very simply.

But Mailer was truly brilliant getting down and dirty in those turbulent times. I thought he was the greatest wordsmith of his time.... or ever.

And those debates were unreal with their energy.