Monday, November 30, 2009

just sayin'

This print hangs on the wall of Pete Campbell's apartment.... AND ON MINE (I totally had it first).

Sunday, November 29, 2009

tea time

Saturday, November 28, 2009

2666



Finished the third/fifth/only (depending on your edition) book this morning. I love the way Bolano writes about writing and writers:

"Ivanov's fear was of a literary nature. That is, it was the fear that afflicts most citizens who, one fine (or dark) day, choose to make the practice of writing, and especially the practice of fiction writing, an integral part of their lives. Fear of being no good. Also fear of being overlooked. But above all, fear of being no good. Fear that one's efforts and striving will come to nothing. Fear of the step that leaves no trace. Fear of the forces of chance and nature that wipe away shallow prints. Fear of dining alone and unnoticed. Fear of going unrecognized. Fear of failure and making a spectacle of oneself. But above all, fear of being no good."

and

"By the same token, few are the writers who give up. We play at believing ourselves immortal. We delude ourselves in the appraisal of our own works and in our perpetual misappraisal of the works of others. See you at the Nobel, writers say, as one might say: see you in hell."

Sunday, November 22, 2009

faith in paper

that book by nabokov

I'm struggling not to start this until I've finished my current book (2666 - am I on some weird posthumously published novel kick?) so I'll try to stave off the overwhelming urge to read by allowing myself at least a quick peek...

at the cover


at the inside of the jacket (emo!)


at what's under the jacket


and on the other side


Is this love? They've reprinted each one of the note cards Nabokov wrote the original on, and then typed the text below. Every page. Swoon.

A postscript: day one of a third year Rus. Lit. course involved our prof. having us recite back to him the correct pronunciation of "Nabokov". What chaos hast Sting wrought???

Saturday, November 21, 2009

same pictures but now with added movement

click on the title if you can't see the vid...

neglect and recompense

An old shoot, but some good photos that shouldn't be relegated to my hard drive