Did it feel more literary last Sunday? It might have had something to do with the Cambridge City Council declaring January 25, 2009 to be Junot Díaz Day. Bostonist is a fan, but we were curious. We asked Junot about it, and he actually wrote back.
It appears Councilor Ken Reeves was behind the declaration. Councilor Reeves nor his office responded to our inquiries, but our favorite Pulitzer Prize-winning, MIT professor-ing Cantabrigian is worthy of celebration.
However when combining Díaz's cryptic response (below) and the silence of Reeves, either a certain city councilor lost a bet or accidentally ran over the cat belonging to a certain author.
Bostonist: How did "Junot Diaz Day" come about?
Junot Díaz: I have absolutely no idea, but I know who to blame for it.
What did Cambridge say to you?
All nice things. The beatdown comes later.
Did you do anything special on Sunday?
Besides put on a suit? Not really. Still, I got to see a ton of my friends and
that was stupendous. First time I ever saw so many different elements of
Cambridge together in one place. The kind of community Cambridge claims it is,
but that it really manifests.
Your birthday was last month, but did you go get anything for free?
Nada. Zip. Zero. No, wait. I did get a great present from my friend Amy that
she got from Japan. A little box that when you press a button it makes the
popping-bubble-wrap noise [
Not fight any wars? Not be a jerk to your kids? Not voting for conservative
assholes?
On another subject, John Updike died [January 27]. Did you ever talk to him? What
were your impressions of Updike?
Never met him and really wasn't that into his work. Which sounds worse now that
he's dead.
Photo by Orlando Santos, used under Creative Commons license.
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