Former mayor
Satan
A while ago a friend said about a certain novelist that he was the most hated man in New York City.
That was before Madoff became a household name.
I find it difficult to not have sympathy for Bernard Madoff.
Zachery Kouwe writes in today’s Times about Madoff’s victims: ‘“I told the judge that when Bernard Madoff leaves prison, which means after his death, that he will then go down to the depths of hell where he’ll join those other people who are in the mouths of Satan,” Burt Ross, the former mayor of Fort Lee, N.J., who lost $5 million with Mr. Madoff, told the crowded press corps outside the courthouse.’
What was Burt Ross thinking while investing $5 million with Madoff?
For a while Madoff gave Burt Ross the illusion that there are shortcuts to prosperity. In my modest opinion this illusion alone is worth $5 million -- even when the illusion doesn’t last longer than let’s say three years.
On the other hand, ‘The mouth of Satan’ is a great image. Much greater than Burt Ross can imagine, I am afraid.
Ah well investment schemes are a game; you win some. You loose some. Cheating in a game might be thought of as bad and unfair but isn't that just an essential part of it one should consider before entering?
Leidsche Rijn
Reading your stories about your stay with these families in Utrecht, I wonder, how many of these people had actually read any of your books? You mention one man who could identify himself with a character from Tirza, were there more people who could identify themselves with characters from your books? Did you encounter any fans?Hordijk
Most of my hosts didn't mention my books. They knew that I was a writer of course, but that was about it. One host had read quite a few of my novels but I would hesitate to call this man a fan.Arnon
Were there painful silences during dinner? What kind of questions did people ask you?Batta
Read my articles carefully. Except for one dinner there were no awkward silences. And I asked most of the questions.Arnon Grunberg
It seems weird. But probably for a lot of people, a writer is simply a writer, someone who makes books like a carpenter makes furniture. They probably weren't interested in the qualities of the books you make at all. Probably a book is just a book to them. If I got a writer over, I'd be very keen to read his novels.Hordijk
It is possible that at least some of the hosts had read one or more of my books, but didn’t feel confident enough or didn’t have the temptation to discuss their reading experiences with me. In many ways this made my work only easier.By the way one hostess said to me: “I read you novel. Can I be honest? I found it a rather dreadful experience.”
Hordijk
"Your novel." Apologies for the typo.I appreciated her honesty.
Another host had told a local newspaper (AD) that I was a great but humorless writer. I appreciated that as well.
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