Dear Neal,

I just finished reading your book, "Never Mind the Pollacks". I know
it's been around for awhile, and you've probably had your back patted
a number of times, but I thought I'd send you my praise and
congratulations anyway. Not only am I not at a the forefront of the
latest/greatest in contemporary literature, I am barely able to call
myself an informed reader. I just tried to read "Everything Is
Illuminated" a few weeks ago and couldn't make it through the first 50
pages. I'm about as far from the literary elite as one could get.

That being said, I think your book was one of the most satisfying,
entertaining and fun reading experiences I've had in a long time.
Reading it really felt like sitting on the floor with a glass of
whiskey, listening to the best records of the last 50 years while
imagining what strange and bizarre environments and personalities
could have produced such sounds. I guess that's kind of obvious, but
I just want you to know how much I appreciated the experience.

I am going to read your other books now, and I will probably read your
next books, whenever they might appear. I think you're a great writer
and I'm glad I discovered "Never Mind the Pollacks", even if it was
after all the hip kids.

Thanks a lot - and good luck.

Sincerely,
Alex C. Blagg

ps. Having grown up there, I laughed out loud when Neal proclaimed
Memphis to be "the greatest city in the world".

Posted by at 10:55 PM | Permalink