TBLBITW 2.0

During our lively Nov. 1 discussion of The Best Little Boy in the World, the 1973 memoir by "John Reid" (Andrew Tobias), David Boxwell shared that he had read the follow-up volume Tobias published 25 years later: The Best Little Boy in the World Grows Up.  David wasn't particularly impressed by either book, if memory serves, but was kind enough to lend the latter installment to me.

Now that I've finished it, I can assure those of you whom the original book's tone put off that you would find TBLBITWGU a relief.  True to his title, Tobias really did grow up (in most respects, anyway), and has the grace to acknowledge that he has rethought some of his past attitudes.  

That said, if you really couldn't stand "John Reid," you won't enjoy the company of Andrew Tobias, either.  But I did.  In fact, if he were to publish a third volume (in the tradition of Michael Apted's acclaimed series of "Up" movies) about being a gay widower in his 70s, I'd be eager to read it.

The Pug-Nosed Punk

Came across this while editing Robert's post. Not [!?] in Edmund White's bio. No idea where it comes from or when. The cutest pic of him I've ever seen!  Somehow in the back of my mind I've always had the grizzled geezer glowering o'er the page. Feel as though I owe it to Divine to sit right down at my prie-dieu and reread Our Lady of the Flowers.

RSVP

The NGA Vermeer-Genet Connection

I stopped by the National Gallery to see the Vermeer Exhibit.  The line was long and my time was limited so I went to see an exhibit called "Posing for the Camera".  Came across this photograph of Genet by Brassaï (1948).