Life in Miami and Autumn Reading: Back to Blood by Tom Wolfe

 

There haven’t been many good depictions of Miami in the past or as of late, but because we’ve only lived here for a few years, I’m still interested in learning about the idiosyncrasies of this place. The dapper Tom Wolfe (Bonfires of The Vanities) put on his journalistic hat again and set his latest novel, Back to Blood, in Miami. Although this book got mixed reviews, it’s well established that this novel is an exposé of all things Miami. Tom Wolfe is known for depicting American life but anyone who’s ever been here really knows that it isn’t a typical American city, just a demographic extension of South and Central America and the Caribbean. I suppose after chronicling the times in every other city, he’d have to eventually include this one in his collection of writings.

Back to Blood by Tom Wolfe

Critics have complained that Wolfe’s style of writing was pompous and that he “looked down at his subjects”. Well if you expect the worst from people, you’ll most likely get it. Wouldn’t you hate being summed up too soon? It probably stemmed more from ignorance than racism though. He was also accused of being too negatively incisive, but I’ll read it regardless, good to know what the other side thinks, especially if they don’t share your views. In the same vein, there are very scandalous things that actually do happen here, the same goes for every other place in the world. For the most part, it’ll be interesting to read a contemporary view of an outsider’s perspective of Miami. Is life here really excessive and absurd? It can be. Can it really be so dubious and dangerous? Absolutely, especially if you’re in the right car at the wrong stop light, in the wrong neighborhood at the wrong time. Then what’s this place good for, if not just for the beaches and the laid back lifestyle? Everyone’s reasons for being here are different and ours is that the entertainment business has never been more thriving.

Night View of Miami's Brickell Skyline

The HD-enhanced Miami that most people see on TV is actually enjoying a major spotlight right now. This city’s for ballin’ because that’s what people do here. It’s never about boasting, just about celebrating one’s life to the fullest and sharing that joy. Like most of the other transient locals, our stay won’t be long term. We’re here to get as much work done in the sunniest weather possible. Do I miss the winter? The snowy beauty of it, sure! Do I miss waiting for my plowman to shovel me out of my driveway after a four foot Nor’easter? Hell no! Same goes with stacking cords of wood and raking endless leaves in the once, glorious fall! So, living in a condo at the beach now feels like a respite, and at least for awhile, you’ll find me on Collins Ave. sipping a nip over a long lunch with G and baby Q in tow.

SoBe's Ocean Drive by Mark File

Miami has become the new definition of a melting pot. Having patience is a virtue here, especially if you don’t speak Spanish because English is considered the second language despite being in Florida. I was expected to know how to speak the language because I looked the part: tan, dark-haired. G was expected to know just by being associated with me and he’s as tall, blue-eyed Anglo-Saxon as it gets. I’ve experienced more prejudice from the very people I thought would embrace me, so it’s been challenging. Do you know how many times I was accused of ‘faking not knowing how to speak Spanish and being ashamed of my Latin heritage’ when in reality I was an English-speaking Asian all along?

A large part of the population are recent immigrants and they’re not your stereotypical ones either. My new neighbors are the millionaire arrivistes from Brazil, Argentina and Russia. Of course, this is the “6th borough” and you’ll find plenty of New Yorkers every winter and for a good six months, the Canucks head down too with their Ontario and Quebec license plates and bad driving to match! There’s a distinctive francophone accent that evokes the honking sounds of our beloved Canadian snow geese that also come South to winter! It’s good to see them. I love my fellow Canadians and am always happy to be amongst them! Although we’ll only be in this bizarre city for as long as the work keeps us, the ocean is great but for the rest of it, we’re hoping that if we seek hard enough, we’ll find beauty.

Check out Birds of Paradise and Swamplandia below, two other books that were set in the Sunshine State!



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