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Pete Hamill on “The Christmas Kid”

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    Author Pete Hamill on his book of holiday short stories.

  • Duration 5:05
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-- you know governor for forty years now.

House -- it's -- I have bureau left -- or go to Texas all time.

There's less and there -- gonna want to whether you're going to have.

People argued sluggish.

There's no way not a lot of people.

Yeah no not yet an -- people Brooklyn stuff.

And when their breast when it's a crisis 1 September 11.

The next day it's September 12 that nickel and trying to get to work when they get up.

And I hope you know that sense that -- New York is different from the rest of the united states of news.

But it's very much the same.

It's very simple -- people and.

Actions are great -- but some -- -- -- arsenal but there are no better.

And are much like the people of new York and I think a misconception -- -- just saying.

As the people of New York are not like the people and cultural and they are.

Yeah and there are yes yes there's every block as a as a city unto itself so yeah every neighborhood salute yet.

And -- Peter -- the Christmas -- Another -- -- and storage.

A partial American great Christmas gift that's one -- sure they are great stories who thank you tell me about a Christmas can.

The Christmas kid's story itself is about like.

The young Jewish kid.

Who was what was then called the -- And that means people -- law school -- relatives.

Of holocaust of bombings to war.

-- And he comes to this little.

Part of Brooklyn that I grew up it.

To stay -- uncle who's a book maker.

And it's what happens as he tries who -- jokes that this notion of something called Christmas.

Which is totally alien to -- and the kids are trying to figure out.

But.

They're asking questions like but he's had true.

And somebody -- one of the kid says -- the cheeses was that you who.

How come Hans at the other guys don't get me -- you know that's another thing.

And is so it's a Christmas story for Jewish people who is aware that the thinking of the -- kept getting mail about it over the years.

-- economies said I think I've got to try to put the spectrum -- Seep whether it still works.

-- doesn't minutes that's good point are alarming and admitted to.

Wonderful -- -- real treasurer for.

Facilities and so -- connected to guide to this -- Douglas and and I love the idea when -- breeding them for the first time in thirty years China.

And remembering the city thirty years ago -- crack was everywhere.

When heroin and wasted neighborhoods when the manufacturing jobs were -- -- so the white working class was shrinking.

And remembering the kind of paranoia that was around and fear.

And how we cut -- We came through it is now in the city isn't allowed better shape now there was -- -- years ago.

When you're it is -- Christmas took one -- wrestler restaurant.

Must've been 82.

To do you think you could write it better now than it did them.

It's a very good -- I think -- I don't know you know I don't think you have to about a further the distance from the ear now.

You know the the more light on the annual book writers -- -- -- yourself.

Hunter's amendment couldn't ignore -- now that's why and our reader to.

The you know that the value of -- only had another day -- derided or share or more inches of type who you might have been better.

And so I don't sit around reading my letter of sorts of so.

A lot of -- -- -- president.

Yes I'm very long -- and of them Henry James.

And making them worse Broadway.

They will better the first -- -- -- a souls -- garden plus solar flourish and but thank you after Thanksgiving and all used to.

-- -- stuff undertow African in my.

-- preamble of the Christmas tree on and other Brooklyn stars.

Our great election of wonderful stories.

And you wonder -- to get somebody.

Who don't wanna get on the whole adultery and you can get on this legend -- read his little short stories and on it and turn them out of the -- -- somehow Washington being.

-- -- -- Other customers compete -- -- minister until it.