Photo NY Times
Happened to catch a piece in yesterday's NYTimes reviewing E.L.Doctorow's new novel, "Homer and Langley." The novel is another Doctorow blend of fiction and fact to tell the story of two brothers who lived in New York city in their Harlem brownstone during the first half of the last century. I love Doctorow's books, so I'll make sure to catch this one.
The bothers in this story/history were somewhat eccentric, to say the least. And they were collectors, too, but referring to them that way, might be the understatement of the modern age if you check out the article and their history. Here is a hint: the bodies of the two men were found in their home by police in 1947, one buried under a pile of trash kept inside the house and the other of starvation.
As a collector myself, I often worry what our children will have to deal with if my husband and I do not divest ourselves of years of stuff. Just read a couple of posts back and you will see what one son did with his mother's stuff. Oy.
Apparently, Andy Warhol suffered from the same malady that I and countless others have, which makes us loathe to part with things. Check out this news item about what going through HIS stuff entails. At least I threw out any wedding cake I have had left over!
In all truth, I am not so bad compared to the people I have read and written about. I'm very selective about my junk. I actually go out and buy it, as opposed to hoarding it. Why I even will go so far as to say I pale by comparison! I'm a piker!
Hey, guess what-I just had a revelation: that means there is nothing wrong with taking Mom out for lunch and junking today to get more! Off to the antique races!
I thought that article was so fascinating. Can't wait to read the book.
Posted by: Vivian | September 05, 2009 at 12:07 AM