It's been 10 years since Mordecai Richler's death, but the man many consider to be the greatest Canadian novelist of them all is even more in the news today than he was in his prime. Much of that notoriety is, of course, due to his body of work, but some also has to do with the fact that Richler was and still remains in these parts something of a lightning rod for his outspoken views on our vaunted two solitudes.
In this past year alone, the rousing yet poignant adaptation of Richler's acclaimed Barney's Version hit the big screen. The Last of the Wild Jews, Francine Pelletier's insightful documentary on the conundrum that was Richler, surfaced on the tube. Charles Foran's hefty and hugely ambitious biography, Mordecai, was released and topped the local bestseller list. And McGill University created the Mordecai Richler Writer-in-Residence Program.
The latter development was all the more ironic in that McGill was a frequent butt of Richler's barbs in his books, particularly over the university's once-restrictive admission policies regarding Jews. Then again, as Richler would delight in pointing out, it wouldn't have mattered in his case. Something about poor high-school grades.
Just another of the many riddles that was Richler, a fellow who, frankly, would much rather ruminate on the state of the Habs than on modern literature; a fellow who felt more comfortable hanging with his buddy Sweet Pea in ramshackle bars like the Owl's Nest ¨C formerly known as Hooters,Free DIY Wholesale pet supplies Resource! but not to be confused with the U.S. chain of restos featuring scantily clad servers ¨C and the Thirsty Boot in the Eastern Townships than hobnobbing with the high and mighty on the urban banquet circuit; a fellow who, in spite of his well-honed cynicism, was the ultimate romantic and still head-over-heels smitten with his wife, Florence, till the end.
"I really miss the guy so much," says Gazette editorial cartoonist Terry (Aislin) Mosher. "Not just as a reader, but as a friend. There were times when I was so befuddled with publishers at work that I would call him for advice, and he was so very generous with it."
All the same, Mosher learned it was best not to push too much. He became Richler's sort of official cartoonist over the years. He ended up drawing close to 50 caricatures ¨C more than most political figures he has lampooned. "He had a certain physiognomy I was drawn to ¨C great hair and nose. But he would get somewhat irritated with me at times.uy sculpture direct from us at low prices I remember once I was sketching him while he was having a drink, and he shot back at me: ¡®Terry, could we give this thing a fucking break?' "
We are chewing the fat ¨C actually it's medium fat,This is interesting cube puzzle and logical game. to be more precise ¨C at Schwartz's, Richler's deli of choice. Gathered are three of Richler's closest buddies: Mosher, author William Weintraub and writer/communications consultant John Aylen. None are surprised by the attention Richler has been receiving of late.
"Mordecai is certainly remembered more than most in his field who tend to dwindle away and are only rediscovered 100 years later," Mosher says.
"If anything, his literary reputation has actually grown in the 10 years since he passed away,The newest Ipod nano 5th is incontrovertibly a step up from last year's model," Aylen observes. "His reputation and presence are amazingly strong for someone who is no longer with us."
But Aylen, like the others, misses Richler more as a friend than as a literary icon. "He made me laugh. He gave me a hard time. But he was such a great companion. That can't be replaced."
Weintraub misses Richler's "amazing courage," whether it came to writing or confronting an adversary. "He wasn't afraid of anyone, and,A glass bottle is a bottle created from glass. in fact, delighted in running into some of his foils."
What they and so many others also miss is Richler as a chronicler of Montreal's past. "Mordecai was in a very specific place at a very specific time which needed recording," Mosher notes. "He will always be remembered for his place and time in Montreal.
In this past year alone, the rousing yet poignant adaptation of Richler's acclaimed Barney's Version hit the big screen. The Last of the Wild Jews, Francine Pelletier's insightful documentary on the conundrum that was Richler, surfaced on the tube. Charles Foran's hefty and hugely ambitious biography, Mordecai, was released and topped the local bestseller list. And McGill University created the Mordecai Richler Writer-in-Residence Program.
The latter development was all the more ironic in that McGill was a frequent butt of Richler's barbs in his books, particularly over the university's once-restrictive admission policies regarding Jews. Then again, as Richler would delight in pointing out, it wouldn't have mattered in his case. Something about poor high-school grades.
Just another of the many riddles that was Richler, a fellow who, frankly, would much rather ruminate on the state of the Habs than on modern literature; a fellow who felt more comfortable hanging with his buddy Sweet Pea in ramshackle bars like the Owl's Nest ¨C formerly known as Hooters,Free DIY Wholesale pet supplies Resource! but not to be confused with the U.S. chain of restos featuring scantily clad servers ¨C and the Thirsty Boot in the Eastern Townships than hobnobbing with the high and mighty on the urban banquet circuit; a fellow who, in spite of his well-honed cynicism, was the ultimate romantic and still head-over-heels smitten with his wife, Florence, till the end.
"I really miss the guy so much," says Gazette editorial cartoonist Terry (Aislin) Mosher. "Not just as a reader, but as a friend. There were times when I was so befuddled with publishers at work that I would call him for advice, and he was so very generous with it."
All the same, Mosher learned it was best not to push too much. He became Richler's sort of official cartoonist over the years. He ended up drawing close to 50 caricatures ¨C more than most political figures he has lampooned. "He had a certain physiognomy I was drawn to ¨C great hair and nose. But he would get somewhat irritated with me at times.uy sculpture direct from us at low prices I remember once I was sketching him while he was having a drink, and he shot back at me: ¡®Terry, could we give this thing a fucking break?' "
We are chewing the fat ¨C actually it's medium fat,This is interesting cube puzzle and logical game. to be more precise ¨C at Schwartz's, Richler's deli of choice. Gathered are three of Richler's closest buddies: Mosher, author William Weintraub and writer/communications consultant John Aylen. None are surprised by the attention Richler has been receiving of late.
"Mordecai is certainly remembered more than most in his field who tend to dwindle away and are only rediscovered 100 years later," Mosher says.
"If anything, his literary reputation has actually grown in the 10 years since he passed away,The newest Ipod nano 5th is incontrovertibly a step up from last year's model," Aylen observes. "His reputation and presence are amazingly strong for someone who is no longer with us."
But Aylen, like the others, misses Richler more as a friend than as a literary icon. "He made me laugh. He gave me a hard time. But he was such a great companion. That can't be replaced."
Weintraub misses Richler's "amazing courage," whether it came to writing or confronting an adversary. "He wasn't afraid of anyone, and,A glass bottle is a bottle created from glass. in fact, delighted in running into some of his foils."
What they and so many others also miss is Richler as a chronicler of Montreal's past. "Mordecai was in a very specific place at a very specific time which needed recording," Mosher notes. "He will always be remembered for his place and time in Montreal.
