david mamet: south of the northeast kingdom

picked south of the northeast kingdom in a bargain bin somewhere, mostly out of curiosity with how mamet would write nonfiction. it is not surprising to read his eloquence and sureness. mamet is a man of opinions, and takes pride in the idea of having one. sometimes it feels a bit forced. other times he repackages old ideas with great phraseology, such as in the defense of ceremony:

Barbara Bush went to speak, during her period as First Lady, at one of the Seven Sister schools. A group there protested her presence, as she was being honored not for any personal accomplishment, so they thought, but as an adjunct of her spouse.

What a barren view. How many people have been made happier by reason than by ceremony?

Is the soldier's widow more comforted by a policy statement, or the honor guard?

he revels in the details of vermont living, openly admiring the authenticity of its citizens. in the end, however, mamet conveys the idea that even after 40 years of living there he still feels like an outsider. judging from the way mamet perceives the world, i think he would feel like an outsider no matter where he was. he approaches the world as an alien might, distant and curious.

while i didn't agree with some of his sentiments, i couldn't help but enjoy his ability to draw the narrative out of vermont.

{April 22, 2004 07:56 PM}