Home > Media > Books > Norman Mailer and John Buffalo Mailer - The Big Empty: Dialogues on Politics, Sex, God, Boxing, Morality, Myth, Poker And Bad Conscience in America
Norman Mailer and John Buffalo Mailer - The Big Empty: Dialogues on Politics, Sex, God, Boxing, Morality, Myth, Poker And Bad Conscience in America
interpreter's Full Review: Norman Mailer and John Buffalo Mailer - The Big Em...
Reading Norman Mailer's book "The Big Empty..." is like sitting at a bar and listening to the guy in the next stool. The guy's half drunk but not totally drunk, so his thoughts are clear enough to agree, yet bits and pieces become absurd.
This was my reaction to reading Mailer's book on politics, sex, god, boxing, morality, myth. poker, and bad conscience in America. Needless to say, I enjoyed the book, yet not all the ideas.
This story is about Mailer and his son, John Buffalo, having worldly discussions. Yes, discussions similar to the ones ancient Greeks philosophers had when the likes of Plato walked the earth.
There is humor, nevertheless in their talks. Mailer talks about his six wives and his eight children with his son, John Buffalo. And of course, Mailer talks about women and his seesaw relationships with them.
His son seems to be in the book simply to keep the conversation and ideas on worldly matters moving. The book is about Norman Mailer's thoughts and feelings, not really his son's. Although John Buffalo does get his points and remarks into the discourse.
Yet the son is there basically to take notes like Plato took notes for his teacher Socrates. John Buffalo is no slouch, however, a filmmaker and artists, he also has craved his own identity in this world, yet no where as near as immense as that of Norman Mailer.
Mailer is a literary super-star. He's won three Pulitzer prizes. And is world recognized as a literary genius.
Even though his ideas are debatable, something his son should have done more to challenge, Mailer's idea are at worst entertaining.
The book is structured as a dialogue. John Buffalo asks questions, Norman replies. Sometimes with good humor, sometimes with passion, sometimes with humbleness.
In a way this book is like a biography. Mailer talks about his failed 1969 run for NYC Mayor. His failed marriages. And his uncertainty about certain matters.
Yet the topics of this book are clear. Just read the title. He talks to his son about politics, sex, god, boxing, morality, myth poker, and bad conscience. Throughout the book, Mailer is not shy about giving his opinion and not embarrassed by the realization that he doesn't know it all.
At 81 years old, Mailer seems still not sure where he's life is going. He's sure about where he has been and done, but the next step, like tomorrow, puzzles him. Such is Norman Mailer.
This book is a great read if you are a Norman Mailer fan. If not, you might find him crass by his sometimes gruff remarks yet still find him interesting.
Mailer, no doubt, is one of the great American writers in post World War II. This book shows his genius. That alone made this a good read.
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