Reading Brian Evenson Reading Chester Brown: Notes on “Ed vs. Yummy Fur”

Ed vs. Yummy Fur by Brian Evenson Uncivilized Books; p. My birthday gift to myself two years ago was Chester Brown’s Ed the Happy Clown–a comic I first heard mention of in my late teens, thumbing through (if memory serves) old issues of Film Threat. A few years ago, I read Douglas Wolk’s Reading Comics, a large portion of which is dedicated to profiles of significant modern creators. Chester Brown is one of them, and the then-out-of-print Ed piqued my interest. I remember taking […]

Continue Reading

An Unsettling Voyage Into Text From Brian Evenson

If I were to put a sign on my porch that read elephants, perhaps people would start to notice that elephants are present, and that they have always been present, but have gone unnoticed. The terrible constancy of the elephant’s presence leading to the simulation of their absence. -from “Three Reports,” Brian Evenson’s latest excursion into unsettling the reader on myriad levels, which is up now at BOMB.

Continue Reading

#tobyreads: Short Works, Plus the End of the World

Writing this column poses something of a conundrum, as nearly all of the reading I’ve done this week has been for upcoming freelance assignments. So expect to see more of a focus on shorter works this time out: stories and essays I’ve encountered in publications in print and online. Plus one novel about attraction, a declining Iowa town, and giant bugs.

Continue Reading

Afternoon Bites: “Rebecca” Remade, Tilda Swinton and MoMA, New Brian Evenson Fiction, and More

Brooklyn Vegan chatted with the guys in Paint it Black about their new 7″. Sounds like there’s going to be a new cinematic adaptation of Rebecca. Mark Kozelek covered Jason Molina for an upcoming benefit compilation. The American Reader has new fiction from Brian Evenson. Hey, it’s art in Brussels. Are you curious about what Aaron Gilbreath’s working on? (Hint: Canada.) Jerry Saltz on Tilda Swinton, MoMA, and “living art.” Maria Sherman has some thoughts on the breakup of My […]

Continue Reading