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[[Newspaper clipping with handwritten note: this is an incredible story. altho swings behavior does not surprise me. I think hes [sic] a major ass-hole! B- ]]

BEHIND THE COVER American Book Awards: Family ritual instead of star-spangled glory By John Blades Editor of Book World

 If there's anything people in publishing love to hate, it's the American Book Awards.  TABA-as it's unaffectionately called-is their baby, but one they're always ready to disown and abandon.  Don't misunderstand:  Publishers are just as  happy as writes to win awards; it's the awards ceremony they have all come to dread so much.   This year's ceremony, held recently in New York, was fairly dreadful.  But, as always, it had its share of comic, even bizarre diversions; chief among them was the sight of novelist John "Garp" Irving changing from a literary lion into a goat before the audience's very eyes, like one of those monsters in a neo-horror-and-gore movie.
  Irving's startling transmogrification was the only extravagant note in a comparatively austere, bare-boned ceremony.  After TABA deposed the venerable and respected National Book 

Awards four seasons ago-largely to give equal time and glory to the increasingly dominant paperback interests-there had been a mighty effort to turn the occasion into a weeklong bacchanal, with cocktail parties, receptions, luncheons, banquets and, as a climax to the revelry, an Oscarized presentation night, featuring such guest stars as Barbara Walters, Lauren Bacall and John Chancellor, the better to lend the ritual some sex and glamor, and, not incidentally, to bring out the TV cameras.

Caption on photographs of two men's faces Lows and highs of TABA Day: From Irving [left], unforgivable boredom; from Houseman, fond memories of cooking oil.