Celebrating Colum McCann

Special thanks to all IAW&A members and friends who attended the cocktail party in honor of Colum McCann winning the 2009 National Book Award for LET THE GREAT WORLD SPIN. The event took place at Glass House Tavern in Times Square and was hosted by MARY PAT KELLY, a co-director of IAW&A. Author THOMAS KELLY introduced Colum, who read a few short passages from the book. There was food and drink and much spirited conversation. It’s not often that we get to toast one of our own winning such an important honor. It was a fun event. MEMBERS: check in regualry with the IAW&A Facebook page and this page for news of future events.

SPOTLIGHT ON: George Carlin

GEORGE CARLIN: West Side of Manhattan Irish American. Need we say anything more?

There is a new book on the market called LAST WORDS, billed as being “by George Carlin with Tony Hendra.” All Carlin fans will want to read this book. However, though it is being promoted as an “autobiography” wrttien by Carlin, this is somewhat misleading. The book is based on conversations Carlin had over the years with Hendra, but it was not crafted by Carlin or even authorized by him in any way. Carlin had ideas for an autobiorgaphy at the time of his death, and they did not involve Tony Hendra. That said, you will hear Carlin’s voice in the book, and the anecdotes are his, so LAST WORDS is a worthy tribute to perhaps the most brilliant comedy mind of all time.