Gay Talese, Back in the Mix

Posted on May 2, 2006

Zuade Kaufman, Truthdig

Gay Talese on the UCLA campus April 29, during the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.

By Blair Golson

Upon the publication of his first book in 14 years, the legendary reporter talks sex, plagiarism and his place in the journalistic pantheon. Check out the exclusive Truthdig interview.

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Excerpts:

“I have some reluctance with being identified with New Journalism because it suggests a little sloppiness with the facts. And I’m very much concerned with not being sloppy.”

“My book ‘Honor Thy Father’ ... may have spawned the Sopranos, for all I know.”

“I’ve been criticized for taking too much time. You’d think people should be criticized for not taking enough time and doing a sloppy job. I take a lot of time, but I’m always working. It’s not like I’m lying around playing golf, or going to the horse races. I took 13 years because I believe that book was worth 13 years of my best effort. And I did it, and I’m proud of it.”

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