"It [the New York version of nostalgia] involves an almost fatalistic acceptance of the permanent presence of loss. Nothing will ever stay the same. Tuesday turns into Wednesday and something valuable is behind you forever. An “is” has become a “was.” Whatever you have lost, you will not get it back: not that much-loved brother, not that ball club, not that splendid bar, not that place where you once went dancing with the person you later married. Irreversible change happens so often in New York that the experience affects character itself. New York toughens its people against sentimentality by allowing the truer emotion of nostalgia. Sentimentality is always about a lie. Nostalgia is about real things gone."by Pete Hamill
Downtown: My Manhattan is my current audiobook. This passage really struck me yesterday as I was listening, and I was happy to find the quote on the author's website. Pete Hamill is the next speaker at the Rosamond Gifford Lecture Series.
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Great teaser. It sounds like a book that really gives you something to think about.
ReplyDeleteWow. I'm a New Yorker myself, and that quote resonates so well. Thanks so much for point out this book!
ReplyDeleteI love that passage. But I guess I would have to pipe up and say that I think this is not just New York, it is life. (I suppose it is more dramatic in New York becuase everything moves faster there.) You can't ever go back. It makes me kind of sad to think about actualy.
ReplyDeleteHow true, not just NY but life. My quote is here.
ReplyDeleteWow, the "permanent presence of loss"! Now that certainly evokes a whole trove of emotions.
ReplyDeleteMy teaser is here:
http://laurel-rain-snow.blogspot.com/2009/11/teaser-tuesdays_24.html
Great teaser, I love how he captures the essence of the city. Here's my link: http://thecrowdedleaf.wordpress.com/
ReplyDeleteWow interesting teaser. I do enjoy going NY but I wouldn't want to live there for those reasons - to much change.
ReplyDeleteHere is mine
http://teawithmarce.blogspot.com/2009/11/teaser-tuesday-pact-jodi-picoult.html
I love that as well. It is so true.
ReplyDeleteGreat teaser! Here's mine.
Interesting teaser. My TT: http://www.rundpinne.com/2009/11/lonesome-teaser-tuesdays.html
ReplyDeleteGreat teaser. I have another one of his books hanging around somewhere- gotta go give it a look. :-)
ReplyDeleteThis teaser certainly gives one something to think about. Very true!
ReplyDeleteLove this teaser! I have only read one book by Pete Hamill and loved it. I need to read more. Thank you for reminding me about this!
ReplyDeleteAs for this passage, I like it and really want to think about it. I would love to be able to talk to Mr. Hamill about this as I'm not sure I totally agree with this. Maybe I need to read the book! (there it goes, on my tbr list lol)
Excellent teaser and passage...he sounds like an interesting person. He should be a great speaker!!
ReplyDeleteGood teaser. But I imagine the same thing could be said about any large, urban area - not just New York. Sounds like a fun read - Pete Hamill is always interesting.
ReplyDelete