BEg2 some good questions - thanks, JT!

[Michael Bailey]

These are some good questions Joseph posed, and I quote (& briefly respond.)

*why did TP write this book,  *

*a) that’s what he does… (-;*

*b) timely; also follows AtD in the heavy, light pattern.*


*why **did I, the reader, keep reading*

*a) I enjoyed the prose & the story*

*b) unlike Richard M. Zhlubb with the harp, I couldn’t put it down *


*what is he trying to accomplish*

*a) a lovely screenshot of the place and time *

*b) some rearranging of data according to his personal style,
simultaneously defusing the worst conspiratorial miserabilism by
reductio ad absurdum (time travel, dude going into the computer like
the little girl in Poltergeist goes into the TV, the guy with the
gifted nose) and craftily doing a subliminal “did ya ever notice”
running shtick.*

*c) I think he always really (rilly) likes his characters, and is
getting better and better at making (some) readers feel it too*


* what **questions is he asking *

*a) what should we then do? (in a general sense)*

*b) is it possible for kids to happily grow up, separated couples to
reunite, adults to maintain ties with their aging parents?*

*c) what are some cool things going on in this world of ours?*

*d) what are some dangers to watch out for?*


*what patterns is he pointing out*

*a) late capitalism*

*b) family ties*

*c) wide variety of cultures in lovely New York (David Dinkins’
gorgeous mosaic)*

*d) humans act like humans*

*e) some problems with cultural trends*

*f) some fun things too*

*g) eternal verities*


*why do we care **about the characters, the situations etc.? *

*a) because they’re well written in a style (his fans) like*

*b) Maxine is a peach. And (spoiler) she can pole dance.*


*Obviously this also serves as a **review of a soul shaking event and
the weirdness that preceded and followed
** 9-11.  *

*a) from a perspective of having fictionally dealt with WWI and II, inter alia *

*b) with an accessible optimism*

*c) and some chuckles when appropriate *