Jan. 13, 2026 6:30 AM PT
To the editor: John Wirth’s regaling of the trauma he and his household suffered by seeing their dwelling diminished to ash throughout final January’s fires and the balm that John Irving’s novels introduced him took me again to Steven Soderbergh’s great Oscar acceptance speech (“John Wirth: After the fire took my home, John Irving’s books became one,” Jan. 8). “I believe this world could be unlivable with out artwork,” the filmmaker mentioned.
In the identical manner Wirth has been moved by the phrases of his favourite creator, he did a lot the identical for me and I’m certain many others. “The 4 of us sobbed as we entered the Palisades village, making an attempt to make sense of the ravaged city.” How might one not really feel their ache?
Phrases can generate empathy. Wirth’s phrases — his artwork, because it have been — introduced me nearer to these flames than every other author thus far. In doing so, he made me sympathize that rather more for the fireplace’s victims. Irving could be proud.
William P. Bekkala, West Hollywood
