Talking About Things That Matter

Written in 2011 and set in 1998 or so, Visiting Brooklyn reads like an episode of West Wing (which ran from 1999 - 2006). But I'd say, even more timely, pre-figuring the political discourse of 2025.

Don't be offended by the W-word; just enjoy the sardonic humor:

"Patrick Connor was not a member of the press or a politician. He was a political consultant and lobbyist, a 'whore maker.' He took somewhat normal people and turned them into political candidates who ran for office, and often with his help they won congressional seats. On occasion, he helped Senate candidates be elected, though he preferred members of Congress because there were 436 of them, and they ran for office every two years.

"He called himself a whore - maker because that was what polticians became once they were elected. If they wished to be re - elected, they had to whore themselves out to various special interest groups. Special interest groups liked whores and paid them well to be good boys and girls and vote their way; and as whore makers see it, they get into bed with them.

"Patrick preferred working with the Democratic whores because his level guilt was less, though he had worked both sides of the aisle. Usually Republican whores had more money to spend, but the Democratic whores were better at parties. It really did not matter any more to him because after hanging out with the whores for so long, you became a whore yourself." (2)

When Patrick strikes up a relationship with an athletic trainer / medical doctor from Russia, they struggle at first to find a balance of acceptable conversational topics:

"Americans are very sensitive about their height, weight drinking and clothing size. So when you mention they have problems, the first thing they want to do is deny it, to say they don't have those problems. Denial is very much a part of the American character. (136)

" . . . like most Americans, the first thing they asked you were personal questions about yourself. Where do you work? What do you do for a living? Why not ask about books, plays, ballets, or poems? Why did Americans seem so preoccupied by the work they did?" (149)

Being truthful doesn't always come easy for Patrick. As he admits earlier in the novel, "he never really talked to anyone about anything that mattered." Yet he finally settles upon a topic of interest to share with his new friend:

"She wanted to know about St. Louis and Brooklyn . . . about growing up in Brooklyn. Where would he start? Where would he finish?" (37, 175)

Luckily for the reader, we get to hear this story too!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meeting up with the author at a recent school reunion.