Some of the South American writers are good, although I don’t share the seemingly universal love for 100 Years of Solitude. I do love Borges, and a recent book by a Brazilian — whose name may be Joao Ubaldo Ribeiro — called Sergeant Getulio was very good. I’ve been living a sort of nomadic existence, so I don’t have books with me and I can’t look at the shelf and see what I’ve read. I do have a novel I’ve just started reading called Desperadoes by Ron Hansen and I think it may be interesting. If Carlos Castaneda’s books are novels they are high on my list anyways. High on my list anyway as a matter of fact. Also enjoy John Mcphee — If you haven’t read Encounter with the Archdruid do so, because I know you will like it. Also The Pine Barrens + The newer one Coming into the Country. Tom Wolfe’s new book is very good (The Right Stuff) and Joan Didion’s The White Album. I haven’t read her novels but I really like her earlier essay, Slouching Towards Bethlehem — and this new book. I don’t know why we have such crackerjack essayists and no fiction writers. A good esaysist like Gore Vidal — for instance — just falls apart the minute he makes an essay at “fiction.” I heard Mailer’s new book is good — he’s another case in point. Do you know Guy Davenport’s stories? Tatlin published by Scribner, and a new book just out — don’t have the title at hand but I think you would find him interesting. Also really liked Michael Herr’s Dispatches and have been reading Flannery’s letter with great enjoyment.

Thank you for the invitation. Would enjoy meeting you and your family if I should get up east again. Right now I’m finding an excuse to move south, or southwest, as the winters here are a bit bracing for my taste. Keep in Touch.

All the best
Cormac

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