O Pinions!

I grew up in a non-politically-correct place and time.

I wrote a 'review' but I didn't pull punches. It triggered how unrealistic some of the writing is here. Folks write about things they've never experienced in polite terms that never applied. So if you don't like how I responded and the language I used I understand. But read what aged wrote. It feels authentic. The language used feels appropriate. In my opinion it is not necessary to whitewsh reality. My response is lightly edited.

> Comments regarding "Invalid Item" :
>
> First. Know that I really liked it.
>
> I don't know what criticism you received [about language]; but, I grew up in a city where the
> Eye-talians (actually Sicilians) and Micks (Irish) fought each other over the bridge...
>
> Not exactly politically correct am I? But... that was reality not some fiction made up by
> the "can't we all get along"? crowd. Or their 20 year old children who
> don't know their not-so-pretty history.
>
> I could've answered back then, NO, we can't! That answer now is YES, we can.
>
> More authentic pizza places in the Irish neighborhood than most anywhere else. Not as
> many pizza parlors as bars... but that's another stereotype that actually fit my city.
> Rewriting history won't scrub out the generational stains of red sauce, tears or suds.
>
> So yeah... it feels authentic. Because? It could easily have happened where I lived...
> except it was the Krauts, Micks and Polacks.
>
> I wasn't allowed to use language like that; but, it didn't stop my friends growing
> up in that blue-collar factory town! Injuns and Niggers were seldom talked about. Why? 1.
> they didn't exist and 2. they were not allowed to live there.
>
> To write authentically a writer needs to capture the characters, the setting, the culture.
> That's a struggle when I travel. How can I depict a place or person I've only know
> once?
>
> Advice: the 6 senses... smell, taste, touch, sounds, sight ... and je ne sais quois...
>
> How about a description or two? Was Joe or Rocky tall or squat, or did they speak in a
> certain way? Yes, if this is from memory... just make it up. Your reader won't know
> nor care. Or... contact someone else who grew up there! Joe or Rocky still around?
>
> And Hartford is just a name... was it a commercial street, a factory neighborhood,
> thriving with Italian markets with eggplants fresh out of the back garden? Was there a
> Catholic church on the corner? Did the Irish have lace curtains (only the wealthier Irish
> in non-sooty neighborhoods did)?
>
> I had a red wagon. Did it squeak? Did anyone in the neighborhood shout? Did
> traffic squeal? How about robins? Was weather an issue?
>
> What did that paper feel like? Heavy, smooth, rough? Sunday papers were encyclopedia
> when/where I grew up.
>
> A word here, a word there... but avoid an adjective dump. I can go there but can other
> readers? Grab them by whatever's available and drag them there. They will thank-you.
>
> Mentioning a year may not be necessary; although, it can be in the title. To me it feels
> like 1958... but who knows! Even if a year isn't mentioned you should have one in your
> mind (events, old cars, style of dress). [I guess it was circa 1948]
>
> There are some grammatical and formatting issues. That's always fixable. I do like the
> casual conversational style. It draws one in.
>
> Rate? It's not in its final form. As is, it's a 4.2 but worthy of a higher rating
> once worked on. Memoirs like this are priceless.
>
> Peace, K (as in Cory)
>
> PS: I don't rate and review here very often. (I'm pondering whether I should do a
> public review and leave out the slurs ... because ... some folks object to reality ... cue
> the dancing kitties and unicorns).

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