Dial up the Diaz

Recently had the pleasure of hearing Junot Diaz (www.junotdiaz.com/) speak before an audience on topics of interest to the author. The whole world -- the friggin' universe -- is of fascination to this dynamic intellectual, so the talk was, well, wondrous. Some are born to write; some to speak. Diaz does it all.

He spoke of coming of age as a Dominican American on the East Coast of the USA. Of the immigrant experience. Of his mother (oh, just wind him up, get him started on the topic of family, and watch him go-go-go!). His friends think he's a political activist who writes on the side.

He told of trees, tales, and the forests that they may comprise. What it was like for him to inculcate the love of language, art while teaching at MIT (hint: no slacking for Mr. Diaz's minions). It was pretty much a love-fest between artist and audience. Then -- one audience member respectfully inquired about the story behind this year's Pulitzer Prize for Literature. In short, it hadn't been awarded. Which sucks! I mean, if nobody had it squared away, surely someone (hey, I have a corner of a closet I'm not utilizing...) should give this prestigious award a home.

Diaz explained that there are rules about what the Pulitzer Prize committee could disclose -- but he could say that they (the committee) had their reasons -- he just couldn't elaborate. He also said that winning the prize was a big deal, and he could understand and commiserate with the confusion that not giving out the award had caused, especially since the novel as we know it, and since its inception, has been a delicate thing, worthy of nurturing and protection.

He claimed that yes, in some ways, winning the Pulitzer Prize in 2008 for The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao had changed his own life. Deadpan, he continued, but not as much, as, say, writing a novel about werewolves. (Hint: I think sparkly, polyamourous werewolves are the best!)

And so, all in the auditorium looked up at Junot Diaz, smitten, driven, in love with the word -- and the individual before us who captured the essence of story so sublimely.