Channeling Norman Mailer

He illuminated the second half of the twentieth century … With his death, a friend felt the color had faded from the world … He was the best argument ever for reincarnation … You never had the slightest idea what he would say next … It was so much fun to be there, of course, because he was so many people … He was totally unpredictable … A bold provocateur, a revolutionary, enjoying decades of fame … His body of work is unparalleled … He kept alive the idea of the novelist … He believed that a great novel could change your life … In writing he became a kind of combat soldier.

These are just a few of the things said about the late Norman Mailer at the memorial for him Monday in Carnegie Hall. This SRO event ran two-and-a-half hours, and had a few distinguished souls who got up but forgot to say who they were — as well as the other few who got up, were very conscious of who they were and had too much to say.

Charlie Rose elegantly opened and closed the proceedings saying in the beginning, "Let me start this afternoon with two words — Norris Church," and he nodded to Mailer’s beautiful widow, sitting in the third row on the aisle. Much later, Charlie closed, saying that though the program was long, Mailer believed some very long novels were worthwhile as well.

The star of this parade of memorialists was the luminous presence of his nine children, his sister, and several nephews and/or cousins. The entire Mailer family is talented — very, very talented it seems. These dozen speakers were worth anything you could name, and I hope Random House recorded this so that their presentations can be bound in a book.

I can’t recall exactly what every relative said, but each was perfect in his remembrance, whether comic or sensitive. Michael Mailer told of being called at the hospital as their father was dying. Brother John Buffalo asked, "Michael, do you think dad would like a last drink?" This question, relayed to Norman — who could not speak — elicited his interest. He shook his head to Scotch, vodka, bourbon, but was enthusiastic when Michael asked, "Orange juice and rum?" John arrived and the drink was mixed as Norman watched eagerly. Though he wasn’t supposed to swallow as he might choke, he insisted on a real glass and took two big sips. Then the children shared the glass as they all said goodbye.

Norman, Norris and Liz

It was Stephen Mailer, however, who stole the memorial even from his equally gifted siblings. He said of Norman: "A candle in the wind? If anything, he was a forest fire in a hurricane." Stephen offered to channel Norman right from the podium and he did, falling to floor as if knocked down in a fight, then rising as Norman — imitating his walk, his swagger and his voice. It was eerie, funny and fabulous.

As he shuffled back to the podium, Norman’s voice was heard again, saying, "Carnegie Hall? Carnegie Hall? Why the fuck not!" The audience howled. At the end, after demonstrating some of Norman’s chops, Stephen turned on his siblings, assembled on stage, and snarled in their father’s voice, "So keep on writing, you rat fucks!"

One pro I really liked was Tina Brown, who succinctly described his great body of work. As she closed, she said, "We miss you, Norman, but we have you!" Then there were many quotations by Norman Mailer that are memorable.

I managed to jot just a couple. "I’ve never met a beautiful woman who wasn’t angry" — that was truly telling! Plus, "Writing a novel is like being married to a woman you are not too happy with," and "Non-fiction is fiction because you never get it right." As well as the admonition and chagrin in Norman’s, "My country has not become as great and as noble as I wanted it to become!"

But, again, it was the sons, daughters, sister, cousins and nephews of Norman Mailer who truly scored. They were simply great. And also, there was the photo montage of Norman and Norris over her recorded singing of the country-western lyrics, "You’ll Come Back (You Always Do)," which Norman had written for his movie "Tough Guys Don’t Dance." That one broke my heart a little.

If I seem proprietary about Norman Mailer … he and I shared the exact same birthday. We always addressed one another as "Aquarian." He was a great and gallant friend. One of the greats of our time.

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