January "2oo5" C.E. - ?What Are You Reading?

[QUOTE=Dr.Jekyll&Mr.Hyde]altohugh your're wrong about this. i can't say it sucks. It has that twisted flare to it.[/quote]

I assure you, it sucks. Need a new vacuum cleaner? Don’t spend the money; just use the dust jacket to _Haunted_.

[Quote]I think I like it because it reminds me of a baby/adult wrapped into one.[/QUOTE]

Are you talking about the (also sucking) illustration that accompanied “Guts” or the no-one-has-a-mouth-that-small sucky out of focus, possibly pastel thing for _Haunted_?

Um, still reading work stuff.

Fess up, son,
j(ay)

[QUOTE=jay]I assure you, it sucks. Need a new vacuum cleaner? Don’t spend the money; just use the dust jacket to _Haunted_.

Are you talking about the (also sucking) illustration that accompanied “Guts” or the no-one-has-a-mouth-that-small sucky out of focus, possibly pastel thing for _Haunted_?

Um, still reading work stuff.

Fess up, son,
j(ay)[/QUOTE]

That's for guts? shit, i thought that was haunted. the out of focus one, i must admitt, i don't like. if that Baby/Adult illustration is for guts, i do like that one.

i have to agree that i don't like the haunted one if the out of focus picture is the cover. honeslty, they could have done a lot better. just look at the submissions Dennis put up.

[QUOTE=Dr.Jekyll&Mr.Hyde]That's for guts? shit, i thought that was haunted. the out of focus one, i must admitt, i don't like. if that Baby/Adult illustration is for guts, i do like that one.[/quote]

The one you like accompanied “Guts” in Playboy.
(notice how it looks like he’s underwater and getting his colon tweaked? And the other one says **HAUNTED** on it?...go have a coffee and try again, doc.)

[Quote]just look at the submissions Dennis put up.[/QUOTE]

Totally.
Is Chuck at the point where he has creative control over covers? I would think so…

We should probably just continue this on some ‘holy hell the cover of Haunted sucks chicken cloaca’ thread…

Oddly enough, I’m still reading “Modulation in Alzheimer’s Pathology by…(etc)”

j(ay)

No, Chuck is not yet at the point where he has creative control over his covers. Nor authority over his titles [for the most part] really.

Yeah, that blue-grey The Scream rip-off Haunted cover sucks. Bad.

Bad, bad.

But, what can ya do ? Im still getting it.

PG. i read Bright Lights BC after a Chuck essay last year. I did enjoy the zone it put me in.

Mirk didnt send me Blackbox, which I will be getting anyway, but she did send a soft cover copy of Jesus' Son ( among other things ! ) for my birthday. I all ready had the novel--err, sorry, book of short stories--but I had it in hard cover and now with the soft I've been taking it with me everywhere for the past week, reading a little at a time, just getting lost in the world of that disillusioned kid a little bit at a time, and getting lost in the vulnerability that the narration shares just a little bit at a time. That gift has become a part of my active life for the past week and is just a fantastic read, especially if read slow, consciously. Taking it around with me is one of the reasons I prefer trade soft covers. I was so happy when I got it, and started carrying it around, that I sent her a Thank You package as a surprise. So dont none of you bastaches tell er, iight ?

kabol

Must admit, Hempel wrote a solid story in playboy. It was a good play on the idea of "afterlife." The idea that those stuck in the afterlife are those that live and don’t let go. Anyhow, I agree with jay on this one. It was a solid story and I really enjoyed the subtle tone it was written in.

Ps.
And yeah jay, did find a playboy in the city, although they still carded me, and jumped back when they read the age.

[QUOTE=Dr.Jekyll&Mr.Hyde]...they still carded me, and jumped back when they read the age.[/QUOTE]LOL I swear. A few have even gone so far as to call me a liar. To my face. Like it's so easy to get a pass able ID in the bible belt. Shakes head.

Yes, though, great story.
kabol

[QUOTE=JKabol]LOL I swear. A few have even gone so far as to call me a liar. To my face. Like it's so easy to get a pass able ID in the bible belt. Shakes head.

Yes, though, great story.
kabol[/QUOTE]
good man i'm happy to see you got it. i was on my way to send it to you. good thing i checked this thread. i also like the painting with the story.
cheers

[QUOTE=jay]PG, take a small break from the B.E. Ellis and J. McInerey, you’ll love it. ;)[/QUOTE]
Jay, I really don't know what you are getting at here - and I'm not trying to be sarcastic.

I've only read a few of BEE's books and one of McInerny (sp?). Maybe I am misunderstanding something or something went over my head... who knows?

[QUOTE=PGoutis01]Jay, I really don't know what you are getting at here - and I'm not trying to be sarcastic. - I've only read a few of BEE's books and one of McInerny (sp?). Maybe I am misunderstanding something or something went over my head... who knows?[/QUOTE]

I was just somewhat bustin’ your McNuggets.

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain…
j(ay)

[QUOTE=jay]I was just somewhat bustin’ your McNuggets.

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain…
j(ay)[/QUOTE]
Hey Now!

If you're going to be busting my McNuggets - at least offer me fries and a drink with that.

I started reading [i]The Autumn of the Patriarch[/i] by Garcia Marquez today and I just got to say wow. It's a very poetic novel. The narrative is brutally swift in pace, its sharp points falling upon its subjects in a rain of daggers. Basically, its a nightmare labyrinth of time and space, in which the reader is almost meant to construct the story themselves out of fragments.

[QUOTE=JKabol]No, Chuck is not yet at the point where he has creative control over his covers. Nor authority over his titles [for the most part] really.[/quote]

Astounding. What the hell do agents do these days?
Certainly there should be a clause in the contract that once the NYTimes’ bestseller is hit (_Choke_), control is handed over.
It certainly seems that Chuck has some editive (new word) control; either that or his editor(s) are complete, sloppy idiots (which most are).
Chuck has consistently had the worst covers I’ve (possibly ever) seen, aside from the hardcover _Fight Club_.

I’ve only asked TC Boyle about the cover-thing and he got control with _Riven Rock_. Why it took that long is unknown, and really pretty pathetic.

[QUOTE=Dr.Jekyll&Mr.Hyde]i also like the painting with the story [Hempel’s “The Afterlife”][/QUOTE]

Yeah, pretty good. Kind of like an unfinished Balthus.

[QUOTE=PGoutis01]If you're going to be busting my McNuggets - at least offer me fries and a drink with that.[/QUOTE]

Sorry. Kindly PM me your mailing address and I’ll send you the literary equivalent to ‘fries and a drink,’ hand delivered by a feisty yet sexually aroused Grimace or Mayor McCheese (your choice).
j(ay)

I just finished [I]Their Eyes Were Watching God[/I] by Zora Neale Hurston. I was underwhelmed to say the least.

[QUOTE=Vendetta]I just finished [I]Their Eyes Were Watching God[/I] by Zora Neale Hurston. I was underwhelmed to say the least.[/QUOTE]

I read that several years ago for an English class, I think I still own it. It was alright, from what I remember of it. Nothing too exciting.

[QUOTE=JKabol]

Mirk didnt send me Blackbox, which I will be getting anyway, but she did send a soft cover copy of Jesus' Son ( among other things ! ) for my birthday. I all ready had the novel--err, sorry, book of short stories--but I had it in hard cover and now with the soft I've been taking it with me everywhere for the past week, reading a little at a time, just getting lost in the world of that disillusioned kid a little bit at a time, and getting lost in the vulnerability that the narration shares just a little bit at a time. That gift has become a part of my active life for the past week and is just a fantastic read, especially if read slow, consciously. Taking it around with me is one of the reasons I prefer trade soft covers. I was so happy when I got it, and started carrying it around, that I sent her a Thank You package as a surprise. So dont none of you bastaches tell er, iight ?
[/QUOTE]

I was suprised!

So I wasn't sure if you'd read Jesus' Son or not but I just knew you'd love it if you hadn't. I also knew if you had an extra copy, you'd eventually send it to Russia or give it to your brother-in-law or something mister passer on of cheer and good books

So I just read [B]In the Cut [/B] this pass weekend, sent to me by the Kabol and it was an interesting read. I like the author's tone very much but some of the sex scenes were too graphic for me. I just don't like to "watch" people having sex. I even get grossed out by kisses in movies that are a little to loud or sloppy. That said, the ending was breathtaking and shocking and will probably haunt me for some time. I'd definitely read another book by her.

Err. I gave a copy of Jesus' Son to my brother-in-law at Christmas 2K3

I did finally get the Whiteness of Bone by Moore a few weeks ago, but I havent gotten to it yet. Am now reading True Grit by Charley Portis. Halfway in. Great read, so far: that fourteen-year-old girl is bad-ass.

Good side note: I have a friend that manages Cajun's Warf, which is a half seafood restaurant and half bar/club. He says that "Charley" comes in every few months. Sits at the bar, asks that the music be turned up, and sits to his whiskey and cigarettes, just puffing drinking and listening. That friend of mine promised me that he'd call me the next time "Charley" comes in, so I can go and meet him. Portis is a LR native. And Cajun's is just down the road. And the word is that he is a man of "grit".

Pretty soon, I'll get around to ordering his other four novels cause Ive heard they are all " GREAT ! "
kabol

[QUOTE=jay]Sorry. Kindly PM me your mailing address and I’ll send you the literary equivalent to ‘fries and a drink,’ hand delivered by a feisty yet sexually aroused Grimace or Mayor McCheese (your choice).
j(ay)[/QUOTE]
I liked the HamBurglar so much better than everybody else. He seemed like he was a crack head that would slice someone's throat for his next fix - always fidgety and jumpy like. But, I guess I can settle for a Grimace.

I don't know who Mayor McCheese is though. The name sounds like a McPedophile.

[QUOTE=PGoutis01]I finished Bright Lights, Big City today. At first I didn't like the book at all. But about halfway through it, I started to dig it. JM takes you on a journey and just drags you along with your feet scraping the pavement. You know you shouldn't be doing the stupid things you do, but you have no choice... I liked the book a lot and would recommend it to anybody that asked.

Started Penny Dreadful by WCB.[/QUOTE]

Glad to see you liked Bright Lights, Big City. From the first line I was totally into that book and couldn't stop reading it. I've probably read that book twenty times, it just reads so fast.

i finished Crying of Lot 49 a few days ago
Was it supposed to be funny? Bceause I laughed, and then was confused, and then sad, and then I laughed more and then it was over.

[QUOTE=PGoutis01]I liked the HamBurglar so much better than everybody else. He seemed like he was a crack head that would slice someone's throat for his next fix - always fidgety and jumpy like.[/quote]

I always felt that way about Ronald McD himself…scary.

[Quote]I don't know who Mayor McCheese is though. The name sounds like a McPedophile.[/QUOTE]

Sorry, my age was showing.
Apparently some years ago us kids had to be coerced into buying everything with nifty cartoon(-esque) characters; Twinkie the Kid, the Magician Fruit Pie, Frankenberry, etc. Everything had a mascot.
Somewhere along the line the evolution of consumerism just fragmented into a, “fuck it, let’s just buy everything!”
Hence, the near-extinction of said mascots.

And I’d file Ronald or the now-extinct pirate (I have no memory as to what food-product he was supposed to be pimpin’) as the resident McPedophile. Or that nasty new(ish) bird.

Also, Hamburglar once looked a hell of a lot scarier.

And in answer to your PM, no, I don’t believe the McRib is here.
I never go in The Big M, but can tell you due to fine advertising that were you so to, you’d be able to purchase such non-McDonaldian things like spring rolls and other fast-food Chinese stuff, and burgers (or is that “burgers”?) with various Swiss cheeses, and other things that would highly disrupt the static menu loved within the U.S.
Oh yes, and some Chicken-thing promoting “The Incredibles” that seemed to be about the size of an aged infant.
And from what I can tell, the McDs here partake in no breakfast.

And that about sums up McDonald 101 for this semester.

Happy dining,
j(ay)

[QUOTE=Proton]i finished Crying of Lot 49 a few days ago
Was it supposed to be funny?[/QUOTE]

Sure. Entropy can be a real hoot.

Must reread that novel…
j(ay)

Almost done [I]devil in a white city.[/I] Good information, but the narrative is dry as hell. But what can you expect from a historian?

About a hundred pages from finishing[I] kiss me Jud[/I]as. I do like once you get into the meat of it. I like stories the mess with perception, and I think Baer's writing style is gritty, honest, and fast paced. still not crazy about the plot, but will see how it flips out.

Umm.. Then I hit [I]eyre affair, survivor,[/I] and I think Paz's [I]labyrinth of solitude[/I].

Oh yeah, jay might get a kick out of this.

Yesterday a friend gave me[I] Bag of Bones [/I] on audio tape. When it comes to King I feel guilty, I don't live far from the bloke, but I have yet to finish one of his books. I can barley get through his short stories. Ever read "riding the bullet." It is such utter shit I.... nevernind

I'm thinking I can passively get through [I]bag of bones [/I] while listening to it. I must admit, he's no wear as awful as Brown, but that's comparing him to earlier stuff, and those were still books I still didn't get through. Anyhow that's it.

[QUOTE=jay]I’ve only asked TC Boyle about the cover-thing and he got control with _Riven Rock_. Why it took that long is unknown, and really pretty pathetic. [/QUOTE]

I'd like to hear (or read, whatever) about your meeting with Boyle. I like his work but always miss his readings or his teleconferences he has with a former professor of mine every year or so.

[QUOTE=JustinHolt]Glad to see you liked Bright Lights, Big City. From the first line I was totally into that book and couldn't stop reading it. I've probably read that book twenty times, it just reads so fast.[/QUOTE]

I read this and saw the movie for my english class during my freshman year of college. It's been a while, but I recall liking it, I should re-read it sometime. I remember my professor mentioning that book was McInerney's one-hit wonder, which I've read in interviews too. Have you guys read any of his other books, and are they worth the time?

[QUOTE=jay]I always felt that way about Ronald McD himself…scary.

Sorry, my age was showing.
Apparently some years ago us kids had to be coerced into buying everything with nifty cartoon(-esque) characters; Twinkie the Kid, the Magician Fruit Pie, Frankenberry, etc. Everything had a mascot.
Somewhere along the line the evolution of consumerism just fragmented into a, “fuck it, let’s just buy everything!”
Hence, the near-extinction of said mascots.

And I’d file Ronald or the now-extinct pirate (I have no memory as to what food-product he was supposed to be pimpin’) as the resident McPedophile. Or that nasty new(ish) bird.

Also, Hamburglar once looked a hell of a lot scarier.

And in answer to your PM, no, I don’t believe the McRib is here.
I never go in The Big M, but can tell you due to fine advertising that were you so to, you’d be able to purchase such non-McDonaldian things like spring rolls and other fast-food Chinese stuff, and burgers (or is that “burgers”?) with various Swiss cheeses, and other things that would highly disrupt the static menu loved within the U.S.
Oh yes, and some Chicken-thing promoting “The Incredibles” that seemed to be about the size of an aged infant.
And from what I can tell, the McDs here partake in no breakfast.

And that about sums up McDonald 101 for this semester.

Happy dining,
j(ay)[/QUOTE]

While you guys are waxing nostalgic here, I'd like to mention that several of those mascots you mentioned above are still alive, so to speak, but they aren't advertised or exposed in advertising anywhere near as much in the 80s or however frequent they were thrown at kids in the 70s or 60s or whatever decade before my birth. The Frankenberry/Boo-Berry mascots are still on cereal boxes, and I think the Fruit Pie Magician is still around, at least the last time I had one, which was my senior year in high school. As for the McDonald's characters, I just assume they're all pedophiles. I'm surprised you guys didn't mention that purple blob with arms and legs. He's in it too, I bet.

So Jay, when's the McDonald 203 honors course, and do I have to take that annoying 2-hour Saturday lab with it too?

[QUOTE=Dr.Jekyll&Mr.Hyde]
Yesterday a friend gave me[I] Bag of Bones [/I] on audio tape. When it comes to King I feel guilty, I don't live far from the bloke, but I have yet to finish one of his books. I can barley get through his short stories. Ever read "riding the bullet." It is such utter shit I.... nevernind

I'm thinking I can passively get through [I]bag of bones [/I] while listening to it. I must admit, he's no wear as awful as Brown, but that's comparing him to earlier stuff, and those were still books I still didn't get through. Anyhow that's it.[/QUOTE]

This reminds me, my sister has a copy of this book, which I still have in my room and it stands as the only book I've read and haven't finished. I started reading it in '99 and am maybe halfway or two-thirds through it. It was difficult for me to read it because I was in a somewhat-bad car accident just before reading the book and all the descriptions of the car crash made me cringe and have flashbacks of my accident. I would pick away at it off-and-on for the next few years but haven't bothered picking it up again. I bet my sister forgot she had the book. I'll have to look in my desk when I get home tonight for this.

[QUOTE=Undertow]This reminds me, my sister has a copy of this book, which I still have in my room and it stands as the only book I've read and haven't finished. I started reading it in '99 and am maybe halfway or two-thirds through it. It was difficult for me to read it because I was in a somewhat-bad car accident just before reading the book and all the descriptions of the car crash made me cringe and have flashbacks of my accident. I would pick away at it off-and-on for the next few years but haven't bothered picking it up again. I bet my sister forgot she had the book. I'll have to look in my desk when I get home tonight for this.[/QUOTE]
cool undertow, if you get back into it we have to bullshit about it--so i don't feel so dirty.

I started reading it at least six times, but I never could get past the first chapter--after the accident scene. I still haven't nailed why King's work doesn't work for me. It's easy to say it's "bad writing." But I just feel absolutely nothing for the characters he creates. and it normally puts me to sleep. i have learned a lot about the art of writing GOOD fiction in the past year. so I'm hoping I'll be able to pin point why King's work doesn't work for me. in that respect it's good to read not so good writers.

i know after reading the dumbass COde that i never in my life want to write like that. it really made me aware of how NOT to write.

but yeah. hopefully I'll get past the first chapter on the audio. cheers

[QUOTE=Dr.Jekyll&Mr.Hyde]Yesterday a friend gave me[I] Bag of Bones [/I] on audio tape.[/quote]

Yikes. ‘With friends like that…’, etc.
But you’re in luck, last I heard tape is still flammable.
Collectively, to save yourself time and neuronal expense, we’ll all come up with excuses for you for when “friend” ask what you thought of it.
My contribution is to deny all knowledge of it. Even if he personally handed it to you. Just deny its existence.
Or, “I accidentally flushed it down the toilet.”

[QUOTE=Undertow]I'd like to hear (or read, whatever) about your meeting with Boyle. I like his work but always miss his readings or his teleconferences he has with a former professor of mine every year or so.[/quote]

Mmmm, I’ve bumped into him a few times. He’s a nice chap. I’m not much for being ‘star struck’ so generally don’t say a whole lot (although conversation with Harold Bloom always just came natural). I don’t know why or where I came up with the whole ‘when did you receive creative control of covers?’ thing. I don’t think I’ve asked anyone else that.
Not sure where you live but I know he’s due for a tour shortly and is again doing Europe.
Check out [url]www.TCBoyle.com[/url] , he also posts on the message board from time to time.

[Quote]Have you guys read any of his other books, and are they worth the time?[/quote]

I’d comment further on McInerney but…I accidentally flushed him down the toilet.

[Quote]The Frankenberry/Boo-Berry mascots are still on cereal boxes, and I think the Fruit Pie Magician is still around[/quote]

They may still be around but they’re not utilised. Kind of a mascot purgatory. Whch doesn’t sound so bad actually…

[Quote]I'm surprised you guys didn't mention that purple blob with arms and legs.[/quote]

The Grimace got his props, don’t worry.
j(ay)

[QUOTE=Dr.Jekyll&Mr.Hyde]cool undertow, if you get back into it we have to bullshit about it--so i don't feel so dirty.

I started reading it at least six times, but I never could get past the first chapter--after the accident scene. I still haven't nailed why King's work doesn't work for me. It's easy to say it's "bad writing." But I just feel absolutely nothing for the characters he creates. and it normally puts me to sleep. i have learned a lot about the art of writing GOOD fiction in the past year. so I'm hoping I'll be able to pin point why King's work doesn't work for me. in that respect it's good to read not so good writers.

i know after reading the dumbass COde that i never in my life want to write like that. it really made me aware of how NOT to write.

but yeah. hopefully I'll get past the first chapter on the audio. cheers[/QUOTE]

I've only read Different Seasons, parts of Bag of Bones, and I know there's another one or two I'm forgetting, but I can sum up my dislike of him in one word: overkill. His books are always freaking [I]enormous[/I], and he always goes off on a tangent about some random bullshit that has nothing to do with the story. I have a good feeling he could omit chapters from a book, trim off 100 pages, and probably not compromise the story. Again, just a hunch, since I'm not THAT familiar with his works, but what I've read so far wasn't that interesting. Actually Different Seasons had its moments, but it wasn't consistently good, as I recall. I haven't read that since, I don't know, eighth grade, maybe my freshman year in high school, whenever it was that Shawshank Redemption was made into a movie?

I've only read 2 of his books and do not anticipate reading another. It's his overkill of description that bores the living shit out of me! He describes shit for the entire first half of his books, THEN he lets us know that's going on! He could take 5 pages to describe pencil lead I swear, and the only reason it would have any reference in a book is because some did a crossword with it! That's why I can't stand his work.

Whew! Finally got that off my chest.

Next complaint...................

[QUOTE=jay]
Mmmm, I’ve bumped into him a few times. He’s a nice chap. I’m not much for being ‘star struck’ so generally don’t say a whole lot (although conversation with Harold Bloom always just came natural). I don’t know why or where I came up with the whole ‘when did you receive creative control of covers?’ thing. I don’t think I’ve asked anyone else that.
Not sure where you live but I know he’s due for a tour shortly and is again doing Europe.
Check out [url]www.TCBoyle.com[/url] , he also posts on the message board from time to time.[/QUOTE]

Been on the site, but not in a while. I've got a few posts in his message board, questions about his writing that he responded to and I used in a term paper about him. Got an A-. I mentioned this on the board and he wrote, "Maybe next time you'll get an A+!" Funny man. He just visited Chicago, about a week before Palahniuk last stopped in town. I was pissed that I missed it.

[QUOTE]They may still be around but they’re not utilised. Kind of a mascot purgatory. Whch doesn’t sound so bad actually…
The Grimace got his props, don’t worry.
j(ay)[/QUOTE]

I mentioned they aren't utilized, yeah. They're just put in the background, only really noticed by those who remember seeing them back in their heyday, I suppose. So it was The Grimace? Ok, I forgot the name. Cool!

[QUOTE=Undertow]I've only read Different Seasons, parts of Bag of Bones, and I know there's another one or two I'm forgetting, but I can sum up my dislike of him in one word: overkill. His books are always freaking [I]enormous[/I], and he always goes off on a tangent about some random bullshit that has nothing to do with the story. I have a good feeling he could omit chapters from a book, trim off 100 pages, and probably not compromise the story. Again, just a hunch, since I'm not THAT familiar with his works, but what I've read so far wasn't that interesting. Actually Different Seasons had its moments, but it wasn't consistently good, as I recall. I haven't read that since, I don't know, eighth grade, maybe my freshman year in high school, whenever it was that Shawshank Redemption was made into a movie?[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Cindy Weston]I've only read 2 of his books and do not anticipate reading another. It's his overkill of description that bores the living shit out of me! He describes shit for the entire first half of his books, THEN he lets us know that's going on! He could take 5 pages to describe pencil lead I swear, and the only reason it would have any reference in a book is because some did a crossword with it! That's why I can't stand his work.

Whew! Finally got that off my chest.

Next complaint...................[/QUOTE]
Good point you two. I forgot about his writing style since it's been so long since I've read his shit.

Also jay is making me question if I should even bother..

I don't know.... The sad thing is I could easily run into the bloke. He honestly doesn't live far from me. it would be cool if I could sit down with him and talk about his writing, but I'd feel like a Dick if I never finish his stuff.

[QUOTE=Dr.Jekyll&Mr.Hyde]Also jay is making me question if I should even bother..[/quote]

oops. Well, no pressure. But can’t you just explain that you’ve kind of moved on from King? Just be honest and sincere.
Your personal writing has undergone new influences and while you may have used King as a stepping stone as a youngster, you don’t benefit anything from him anymore.

You probably don’t listen to [insert whatever singer/band was the bee’s knees when you were a kid here] anymore either. So what would you do if you were given a New Kids on the Block (hah! I’ve got you pegged, boy!) CD?

Rhetorically,
j(ay)

[QUOTE=jay]oops. Well, no pressure. But can’t you just explain that you’ve kind of moved on from King? Just be honest and sincere.
Your personal writing has undergone new influences and while you may have used King as a stepping stone as a youngster, you don’t benefit anything from him anymore.

You probably don’t listen to [insert whatever singer/band was the bee’s knees when you were a kid here] anymore either. So what would you do if you were given a New Kids on the Block (hah! I’ve got you pegged, boy!) CD?

Rhetorically,
j(ay)[/QUOTE]
It would be [COLOR=Magenta][B]WHAM[/B]! [/COLOR] for me.
[COLOR=SandyBrown][SIZE=5]
"Wake me up before you go go, don't leave me hangin' on like a yo yo"[/SIZE][/COLOR]

Fuck, now that's gonna be in my head all day! Shit.

yeeeaaahhh...thanks, cindy.

I am reading 'Potatoes not Prozac' by Kathleen DesMaisons

[QUOTE=Cindy Weston]It would be [COLOR=Magenta][B]WHAM[/B]! [/COLOR] for me.
[COLOR=SandyBrown][SIZE=5]
"Wake me up before you go go, don't leave me hangin' on like a yo yo"[/SIZE][/COLOR]

Fuck, now that's gonna be in my head all day! Shit.[/QUOTE]

Goddamn you, Cindy.

*whistles WHAM!*

[QUOTE=Cindy Weston]It would be [COLOR=Magenta][B]WHAM[/B]! [/COLOR] for me.
[COLOR=SandyBrown][SIZE=5]
"Wake me up before you go go, don't leave me hangin' on like a yo yo"[/SIZE][/COLOR][/QUOTE]

Oddly, that was my first thought. But then I remembered the good doc gets carded buying Playboy.

(laughing to himself (sorry, kid)),
j(ay)

[QUOTE=jay]Oddly, that was my first thought. But then I remembered the good doc gets carded buying Playboy.

(laughing to himself (sorry, kid)),
j(ay)[/QUOTE]
Yeah, the good Doc is just over a decade younger than I. I was around for the resurgence of the Rolling Stones in the 80's with that shitty song "waitin' on a friend". I still know all the words to Cultura Club's Karma Kameleon (I don't think I spelled that right. Been too long ago), and Twisted Sister's "I Wanna Rock" blasted off my junior year bonfire the night before the first game. Thank God those days are past.

[QUOTE=Cindy Weston]Yeah, the good Doc is just over a decade younger than I. I was around for the resurgence of the Rolling Stones in the 80's with that shitty song "waitin' on a friend". I still know all the words to Cultura Club's Karma Kameleon (I don't think I spelled that right. Been too long ago), and Twisted Sister's "I Wanna Rock" blasted off my junior year bonfire the night before the first game. Thank God those days are past.[/QUOTE]
wait. are you talking about New kids on the block? i was around when they were "ti", i mean "it." i am am mid twenties. also mc hammer and vanilla ice were the thing. personally i was into guns and roses, and i admit they'll always be apart of me. can you figure what attacked me to them? if you look at their name you don't have to look far.

all right we're off.
getting back to the book.

[QUOTE=Dr.Jekyll&Mr.Hyde]getting back to the book.[/QUOTE]

Reading one, or writing one? It's a fair question. I don't remember NKotB's songs, but I do remeber VI, and MC H. My own kids were little then, and even they hated them!

Guns......Roses
Jekyll.......Hyde

nope, don't catch the connection. Haha.
Speaking of Guns and Roses........Shouldn't someone be writing a book on the life (the slime that he is) of Bill Bailey? He did make a pretty good dent in the name of Rock n Roll.

Or have they already done that, and I was too slow to notice?

[QUOTE=Dr.Jekyll&Mr.Hyde]can you figure what attacked me to them? if you look at their name you don't have to look far.[/QUOTE]

Isssssssssss it a conjunction thing?
You have a bizarre fetish for words with an “and” (or “&”) within them.

If that’s the case you’re a bit sick & twisted…

I do get a kick (& a chuckle) out of the attacked vs attached thing though. Even though Axel is a sissy (& a git).

j & (ay)

Personally never liked G&N. Or Rolling Stones. Or ASmith.

It's not that I dont like those bands, I just dont like the music they’ve made.

Oh, yeah, never liked New Kids either--they were terrible. Shakes head.

Enjoyed Bright Lights BC, but do not intend on reading any more of his work as Ive heard nothing but horrible things from good people.

Sorry, e-j, that you feel obligated to read some of King's work. Me, I wouldnt be mean if I ran into him—I'd congratulate him on his success—but I would be honest with him about how I feel about his writing if the convo went there. And I would NOT want to talk with him about writing in general. (Dont want his advice. Though I would want to give him advice, about edit, edit, edit, but that wouldnt be my place and I am not one to add outta place cause [of course] he's done just fine without me )

Morey, I do wanna hear about Potatoes not Prozac when you finish it.

Will not be reading another King, for the rest of my life.

Does not whistle WHAM!

Allegedly
J. Kabol

[QUOTE=jay]Isssssssssss it a conjunction thing?
You have a bizarre fetish for words with an “and” (or “&”) within them.

If that’s the case you’re a bit sick & twisted…

I do get a kick (& a chuckle) out of the attacked vs attached thing though. Even though Axel is a sissy (& a git).

j & (ay)[/QUOTE]
ha h ahhaaah! shit and yeah axl is a git.

for a time a had a Slash hair dooooooooo working
[QUOTE=JKabol]

Sorry, e-j, that you feel obligated to read some of King's work. Me, I wouldnt be mean if I ran into him—I'd congratulate him on his success—but I would be honest with him about how I feel about his writing if the convo went there. And I would NOT want to talk with him about writing in general. (Dont want his advice. Though I would want to give him advice, about edit, edit, edit, but that wouldnt be my place and I am not one to add outta place cause [of course] he's done just fine without me )

Allegedly
J. Kabol[/QUOTE]

yeah i know. i just feel that since he is so BIG it would be cool to have a writer that i respect in the local area. but no worries, a hell of lot of good writers came out of new England, in my opinion, I'll personally plug keriouc, although i think jay will argue me on this. But after reading [I]on the road [/I] the first time I was immediately inspired to travel. Before I hit cross country this summer, I plan on reading it again.

Anyhow, with a little luck, and a little time, I hope I can at least produce something I'm personally happy with, although I don't see that happening any time soon. Although this place has given me a kick in the right direction.

And K, I agree with your definition of Baer, he is bad ass.
lol

[QUOTE=JKabol]Does not whistle WHAM!

Allegedly
J. Kabol[/QUOTE]
I bet you do. You just don't want to tell us, and that would be completely understandable.

[SIZE=1]**singing** Wake me up before you go go. Don't leave me hangin on like a yo yo.[/SIZE]

**Slap** Stop that!

[QUOTE=Dr.Jekyll&Mr.Hyde]And K, I agree with your definition of Baer, he is bad ass.
lol[/QUOTE]It's mostly the writing that leaves me stunned. The story is cool and all that, trying to figure out what's gonna happen next and you arent real sure what is happening and what Phineas is making up in his mind along the way... But what gets me zoned is baer's tight narration and the feeling he brings into the rhetoric. When I read the first page of the first chapter of Hell's Half Acre, after it was upped on his site for the first time prior to that book's release, I must have re-read that page ten times:

[url=http://www.willchristopherbaer.com/files/hellshalfch01.pdf]Lovely plug[/url]

Everytime I got to "I walked into that dark mouth", I kept stopping and kept going back to the first word on that page.

Just...bad-ass writing. In my opinion.
kabol

[QUOTE=JKabol]It's mostly the writing that leaves me stunned. The story is cool and all that, trying to figure out what's gonna happen next and you arent real sure what is happening and what Phineas is making up in his mind along the way... But what gets me zoned is baer's tight narration and the feeling he brings into the rhetoric. When I read the first page of the first chapter of Hell's Half Acre, after it was upped on his site for the first time prior to that book's release, I must have re-read that page ten times:

[url=http://www.willchristopherbaer.com/files/hellshalfch01.pdf]Lovely plug[/url]

Everytime I got to "I walked into that dark mouth", I kept stopping and kept going back to the first word on that page.

Just...bad-ass writing. In my opinion.
kabol[/QUOTE]
Dude, where did that come from? Sorry, my head is slippery when it comes to titles, so my guess is this is an excerpt from an upcoming novel.

I love the whole comparing the swarm of birds to a seizure bit. looks like it will be an intense read.

The third book to the tril is Hell's Half:

1) Kiss Me, Judas
2) Penny Dreadful
3) Hell's Half Acre

Hell's Half was originally rejected for publication. Mind you, it was in its first draft when he sent it over, after Penny's publication in 2000. Then his books went outta print. Then he was picked up by McAdam/Cage, which is the house that published Clevenger's Handbook. Clev did an interview [here at the Cult] on Baer and MA/C read the interview, noticed the interest, and offered to publish that third novel, and re-release the first two in hard cover. The Judas I sent you was an old paperback released by Viking Penguin back in 2000.

So, his first two are now in print again, and his third was finished and released in Sept of Oh-Four, and Dennis' Cult website had a part in that happening. And Mirka runs his website and Den is the webmaster there as well and Baer's career is only starting. His next book is one of short stories, due out March [I think], and his next novel will be titled Godspeed and both that novel and Clev's next novel are both written in third person. So, we can expect some growth from both of those authors in the future awning of their work.

And this is so very random, but the idea that some have as to how this site couldnt EVER possibly get a publication done (referring to the Anthology) is unmerited because this site does get much attention. & Not just from readers; publishers visit here, as well as agents.

kabol

thanks for the back story k. i really knew nothing about how Clev, Bear, and the cult connected.