the zadie report

La Zadie showed up on time, looked bashfully down while Benjamin Weissman delivered a glowing introduction, and then walked up to the rostrum and began reading. Her voice was huskier than I expected and she oozed confidence. She read three passages from The Autograph Man. The audience swooned at her fantastic delivery and humor. But when she finished reading she announced that she was told not to take questions. Oh, what a disappointment it was. Apparently, the folks at the Armand Hammer were hosting a Seabiscuit party and wanted to get the common folk out of the way before the beautiful people started showing up.