What a splendid way to end the year! Yesterday, The New Yorker published a re-appraisal of John Dos Passos’ U.S.A. trilogy.

On this day, 1970, writer John Dos Passos died in Baltimore, MD. He and my grandmother had an apartment there.

People have complained before that Dos Passos’ U.S.A. trilogy is hard to read, beyond just the length. I get it.

I’ve been re-reading The 42nd Parallel. It might be the 3rd or 4th reading. I’m nearly finished. With this reconsideration of the work, I was hoping to come into wisdom, and I think I did.

It’s been a remarkable couple years for the John Dos Passos legacy. I feel so fortunate to have witnessed it.

In 2013, musician David Bowie posted his list of 100 favorite books. He included The 42nd Parallel on the list!