By Willa A. Cmiel This Tuesday marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Malcolm Lowry. His novel Under the Volcano, which pops up on all kinds of read-before-you-die lists, was the first book in years that I just couldn’t get through. In desperate rationalization, I labeled it “man lit” and argued that the only people I ever knew who loooved the book (and people really love it) were middle-aged men. And while the book is certainly Joyce-ean in its […]
Six Words vs. Six Words?
Oh, this is a quaint idea, a six word memoir of sorts all based on that Hemingway “White Baby Shoes, For Sale, Never Worn” story thing. These people at fashion blog Seasick Mama might be onto something, but I can’t get this nagging feeling that I’ve heard about this before.
Cosigning: Twitter is Not Apocalyptic (Neither is This Blog)
Anne Trubek, a Rhetoric and Comp professor at Oberlin, considers social media in an optimistic light for More Intelligent Life. From her essay “We Are All Writers Now”: My friends and I write more than we used to, often more than we talk. We correspond with each other and to colleagues, school teachers, utility companies. We send e-mails to our local newspaper reporters about their stories; we write to magazine editors to tell them what we think. And most of […]
Dent May invades a Mexican resturaunt
I was hooked on Dent May’s sound – that is pure Jonathan Richman playing a ukulele – after the first listen. I wondered “is there anyway I could like this guy more?” Here is the only answer I need. Yours Truly Presents: BANDITOS Episode 1 with Dent May & His Magnificent Ukelele from Yours Truly on Vimeo.
Bites: Nabokov with naked women, Tao Lin selling bumper stickers, Sufjan Stevens, and the zombie train adds an extra passenger
Well, some of us are actually gonna have to buy Playboy for the writing it seems, because they are giving us a 5,000 word glimpse at Vladimir Nabokov’s final, unfinished novella, The Original of Laura in their December issue (which comes out Nov. 10th) a week before it ships for sale. An all string reworking of Sufjan Stevens 2001 album Enjoy Your Rabbit will be out in November. I’m happy about this. The title of the album is Run Rabbit […]
Bites: Fake ass Wes Anderson film, writers battle to the death over favorite Sonic Youth songs,
Wes Anderson Trailer from Alex Cornell on Vimeo. In talking about the above film, should we be pleased or alarmed by the quotes on The Tripwire today including, “almost out Andersons Mr. (Wes) Anderson” and ” would we call it “Andersonian” or “Weslyan”? I will let you be the judge of this yourself. New York PBS launched a video site today, giving me yet another reason not to buy a high def. television. Bonnie Prince Billy, Mt. Errie, Espers, The […]
Untitled, by Justin Maurer
Last month, after finding a last-minute cheap flight to the states, our favorite expat, Justin Maurer made it up to the Vol. 1 stage, and told this story about his distaste for doing readings. I hate giving readings. It is one of the most uncomfortable, embarrassing, and awkward moments for me as a person, a human bug living in an ant farm of six billion writhing maggots. That’s not really how I feel about humanity. I love people. The last […]
Vol. 1 Brooklyn Story Series, July, 2009
“Beach Boys”For our July installment, Vol. 1 is excited to present five storytellers who will dig into their souls for moments in their lives that were influences by the beach, boys, boys on the beach, or bands named Beach Boys. Bob Powers —Reading from his new book “The Terrible Horrible, Temp to Perm Debacle” Adira Amram —New cd “Hot Jams For Teens” out now Julia Wertz —Comic artist, fartparty.org Zack Lipez —Singer of the band Freshkills. Writer. Jason Diamond —Vol. […]