If you’ve never read the book Downtown by Pete Hamill, then you’re definitely missing something. The author eloquently expresses his love for New York, and sketches the history behind this great city. The narrative covers the transformation of Bowling Green to 42nd Street from the settlement of the Dutch in the 17th century, and explains how Times Square became a New Year’s Eve tradition, the graveyard past of Washington Square, the emergence of Fifth Ave and the recent birth of the department store, among other things.
After polishing off a cheese Danish, 73-year-old Hamill dropped in on our class today. Looking exactly like he does in the book cover’s picture with a black crew collar shirt and tan striped blazer, Hamill sat at the head of the classroom nursing his coffee and spoke about the process of writing “Downtown.”
When asked why he undertook such an immense project, he explains, “I have a grandson who’s 10, and I wanted him to be able to understand why this weird old guy with a beard had such a passion for a place without cows.”
Hamill goes on to explain his writing routine: he will turn on jazz music—nothing with words—and settle down in an oversize, plush chair, then write three or four pages longhand on yellow paper. He will then go to the computer and retype his material.
Jazz, he reveals, is one of his passions. When writing he probes, “What’s the music of this piece? What’s the beat?” Often when listening to a musical phrase he will improvise words to match.
“Jazz is something I can connect to. It’s one of the great triggers,” he says.
When asked what he remembers of the Meatpacking District before gentrification struck, he chuckles and tells the story of his black Labrador, Gabo, with lively animation.
“The creature who loved MePa was our dog, Gabo. He loved the odors of MePa. Big sides of beef hanging around…chunks of fat thrown into piles…he wanted to live there.”
After an engaging hour and a half of Hamill’s personal stories, he finished with a reading from the last chapter of Downtown, and signed my book, twice.
1 comment:
What an interesting guy! Your write-up makes me want to read some of his books.
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