Author Spotlight
The Brandon Book Crisis: A review
The Brandon Book Crisis (Muumuu House, 2009) by Brandon Scott Gorrell and Tao Lin
A paperback “thriller” about book design published May 25, 2009 in a limited edition of 150 numbered copies. 152 pages, 5.5″ x 7″, © Creative Commons, No Rights Reserved. Features 140+ pages of unedited Gmail chats, text messages, voicemails, and emails between Brandon Scott Gorrell, Tao Lin, and others.
The Brandon Book Crisis is, put simply, a book about the making of a book, which is not an entirely new postmodern conceit, if one thinks about the self-referential Pale Fire (Nabokov), Coming Soon! (John Barthes), or Lunar Park (Bret Easton Ellis), to name a few. ‘Edited,’ or rather, compiled by Brandon Scott Gorrell and Tao Lin, it consists of gmail chats (already aestheticized by Muumuu House), emails, and the occasional frantic text concerning the printing of Brandon Scott Gorrell’s During my nervous breakdown I want to have a biographer present — specifically, its fonts, colors, and unworkable files.
We come to realize, hilariously, that Brandon is often ‘offline’ at critical times, and Tao is habitually using the library computer w/o access to the imperative, albeit inadequate, files in mention, whose lack of are their demise. For two guys who embody ‘internet culture,’ it’s striking how archaic their wi-fis are. Brandon is constantly pensive about his ‘bad connection.’
Each section (segmented by the ominous days before deadline) begins with an email from Thomson Shore (printers) to Tao citing a myriad of problems regarding fonts, layers, colors, etc. Thomson Shore’s staff are at times ‘out-of-the-office’ or changing contacts, and we see Tao employ a kind of tact and professionalism in dealing with them that is in vast contrast to his public persona (he actually capitalizes his sentences). Follow Tao on a ‘crash course’ in printing specs as he gmail chats Brandon for unlikely information and improbable counsel.
After a problem is tentatively resolved on gmail chat, Brandon laments his life, unemployment, living condition, and troubled relationship with his girlfriend. Tao (again, uncommonly) is ever the optimist as he shepherds his dour friend through:
BSG: i keep thinking ‘fucking weak’ and ‘this is lame’
TL: damn, maybe eat something
The stoic yet perceptibly irritated Thomson Shore, whose rigid parameters make Tao “feel like i’m freaking out, keep touching my face” bring to mind the faceless and impenetrable labyrinth of both Kafka’s Castle and Trial. Brandon and Tao are guilty of something, they just don’t know what.
What at heart I think this book is about, is not the irony we’ve cynically come to expect — from not just Muumuu House, but a generation who operate under similar auspices — but the inner-workings and insecurities of two guys who simply want their book out; well, maybe not so simply. They candidly talk about the diplomacies and politics involved in getting manuscripts read. (Evidently, Tao forwarded a novella by Brandon to Melville House, the seemingly only effective way.) Brandon is self-aware and unabashed in his tactics for self-promotion, though he seems to struggle with the idea of ‘fame.’ They mention peers Blake Butler, Shane Jones, and Zachary German with an clinical unsentimental eye, as if they were all pawns on a chess board. When Brandon laments an indirect proportion of comments to hits to his blog, Tao advises “go comment on some random ass bro blogs,” to which Brandon replies, “bitches.”
In the end though, after the .pngs, .psds, .pdfs, and .rgbs; after the ironic misogyny (“bitches”) and ‘dude’ nomenclatures (“bro,” “sweet”); after the achingly non-detached competitiveness, these two young men are, well, exactly that: young men. Brandon asks if there’s a pic of Tao’s girlfriend he can see, and Tao suddenly grows subdued (“hm”). This marks a moment of shy reverence almost, as if the online barrier has been broken. Tao seems suddenly protective, maybe unsure of his own feelings; and Brandon asks with caution, knowing he’d feel the same way. This kind of brotherhood is straight out of Vincent and Theo.
Call it naivety or punk, who knows, but the book is completely unedited, containing login numbers to their Thomson Shore account, as well as Tao and Brandon’s respective cell phone numbers. Tao’s complete transparency may be provocative, or a big mistake. With enough dissenters, an ‘in-person’ altercation is never impossible. As for his scatological sics (“going to ppoop”), I can only laugh. For a small guy who barely eats, he shits a lot.
Brandon and Tao, and everyone associated with Muumuu House will be, and are, accused of being hipsters, which I think is an easy way to dismiss someone (calling someone a “hipster” is to ostensible artistic integrity what “Communist” is to McCarthyism — you should just ‘man up’ and say you don’t like someone instead of hiding behind politics). The last thing I think is hipster. When I think of Brandon I think unemployed. When I think of Tao, I think wtf. Maybe I’m just an old geezer, but these two bros are full of heart.
Like right there, on a single vast page, a tiny island of great expectation:
7:39AM Tao: are u there
chat with me
Dickens might have been proud.
Tags: muumuu house, Tao Lin
2nd muumuu post in one day, feel nervous
2nd muumuu post in one day, feel nervous
“so pumped”
Might have been but I doubt it. Dickens never published unedited inane chat and pretended it was worth reading. I have reams of chat and thousands of my own emails to read. These attempts at fame divorced from any actual ability to write are starting to get embarassing. The cult of personality has had its day, can we get back to writing and literature soon?
Oh and to save some other idiot doing it I’ll put this here myself…
damn.
“so pumped”
Might have been but I doubt it. Dickens never published unedited inane chat and pretended it was worth reading. I have reams of chat and thousands of my own emails to read. These attempts at fame divorced from any actual ability to write are starting to get embarassing. The cult of personality has had its day, can we get back to writing and literature soon?
Oh and to save some other idiot doing it I’ll put this here myself…
damn.
i have written 5 excruciatingly edited books, bro
i have written 5 excruciatingly edited books, bro
the review is sweet jimmy
the review is sweet jimmy
i feel like crying
i’m just a little snail, in the rain, trying to cross the sidewalk
to get to my friends
and rain keeps getting in my shell or something
i’m a tiny snail crying in the rain
damn.
i feel like crying
i’m just a little snail, in the rain, trying to cross the sidewalk
to get to my friends
and rain keeps getting in my shell or something
i’m a tiny snail crying in the rain
damn.
Congrats, Tao- Jimmy fell for it.
Congrats, Tao- Jimmy fell for it.
can you elaborate justin
i don’t feel that jimmy ‘fell’ for anything
i liked reading the review
thought ‘sweet’ in an almost continuous manner while reading it
can you elaborate justin
i don’t feel that jimmy ‘fell’ for anything
i liked reading the review
thought ‘sweet’ in an almost continuous manner while reading it
I know your history well, Tao Lin. I don’t speak without having done my research. And as I said over at the Poetry Foundation, I respect both your inteliigence and your ability to write. But these stunts, like this book of chat, will do your career no good in the long run. You need to stop playing an audience like a circus act and start thinking about what you want to tell people.
I know your history well, Tao Lin. I don’t speak without having done my research. And as I said over at the Poetry Foundation, I respect both your inteliigence and your ability to write. But these stunts, like this book of chat, will do your career no good in the long run. You need to stop playing an audience like a circus act and start thinking about what you want to tell people.
i have written 5 books, bro
between each book i have had periods of thinking, i have thought about to do next, i have sat in my room eating chinese food thinking about what to do next, thinking about life, reading philosophical works, walking places, then i have done what i wanted to do
feels like i’m talking to god right now
what can i say to god
honestly confused
i have written 5 books, bro
between each book i have had periods of thinking, i have thought about to do next, i have sat in my room eating chinese food thinking about what to do next, thinking about life, reading philosophical works, walking places, then i have done what i wanted to do
feels like i’m talking to god right now
what can i say to god
honestly confused
should i drink a heineken
there is a can of it next to me
will it hurt my career in the long run
should i drink a heineken
there is a can of it next to me
will it hurt my career in the long run
jesus paul
jesus paul
is paul fran
where is fran
i didn’t fall justin.
is paul fran
where is fran
i didn’t fall justin.
i think oat is fran
i think oat is fran
I think Tao is oat
or maybe I’m Tao
or possibly I’m Henry Chinaski
I can’t tell anymore
I think Tao is oat
or maybe I’m Tao
or possibly I’m Henry Chinaski
I can’t tell anymore
I like Oat Bran, by the way. That’s the lesson to be taken here.
On a serious note, the gmail book should be included as like a bonus with the first 100 people who buy Brandon’s book. It would be like a running commentary on a movie or something
I like Oat Bran, by the way. That’s the lesson to be taken here.
On a serious note, the gmail book should be included as like a bonus with the first 100 people who buy Brandon’s book. It would be like a running commentary on a movie or something
crap-
I just realized that I am going to buy both books
crap-
I just realized that I am going to buy both books
This is a good review. It seems genuine/honest. When I first heard about this book, I dismissed it after reading what it was going to be about. This review makes me want to buy it, though.
haha, heineken will only hurt your liver, tao
god and paul on the other hand, i’m terrified of them
This is a good review. It seems genuine/honest. When I first heard about this book, I dismissed it after reading what it was going to be about. This review makes me want to buy it, though.
haha, heineken will only hurt your liver, tao
god and paul on the other hand, i’m terrified of them
jimmy,
this is a really good review. even though i haven’t read the book, i feel like you really “got it”, based on the parts you quoted and the way you explained them. i especially liked the last part you quoted. tao sounds so sad.
totally full of heart — good job bro.
ditto
jimmy,
this is a really good review. even though i haven’t read the book, i feel like you really “got it”, based on the parts you quoted and the way you explained them. i especially liked the last part you quoted. tao sounds so sad.
totally full of heart — good job bro.
ditto
the ‘bro’ thing is making me want to turn off the computer
i still haven’t yet
the ‘bro’ thing is making me want to turn off the computer
i still haven’t yet
thanks man
thanks man
what the shit is going on? (this has no reference to the initial post, more to the stream of comments following it. My head has exploded. No Emily).
what the shit is going on? (this has no reference to the initial post, more to the stream of comments following it. My head has exploded. No Emily).
seems like i would buy this book if i weren’t me, but were a person who wrote things, and wanted to do more things with writing in the future
seems like i would buy this book if i weren’t me, but were a person who wrote things, and wanted to do more things with writing in the future
Well, maybe you jumped, but it looks like a distinction without a difference to me.
Well, maybe you jumped, but it looks like a distinction without a difference to me.
imagine living with someone that constantly uses the term ‘bro’, ‘guy’ and sometimes ‘chief’ when referring to people.
eventually i stopped responding.
imagine living with someone that constantly uses the term ‘bro’, ‘guy’ and sometimes ‘chief’ when referring to people.
eventually i stopped responding.
ok chief
ok chief
are you there?
chat with me
are you there?
chat with me
I’m reading a .pdf of this book right now
I’m reading a .pdf of this book right now
And I have finished it.
And I have finished it.
can’t wait for the brandon contest results
jimmy chen is numero uno, are there htmlgiant trading cards?
can’t wait for the brandon contest results
jimmy chen is numero uno, are there htmlgiant trading cards?
Still reading this. Reading this lead me to this website.
This is a good review! Probably better than a review I wrote would be.
Maybe not – I only ‘found out’ about Tao Lin like, last week or something.
Just wrote a tweet but will use it for a review instead.
Feel like I’ll sleep now, though.
Hi, by the way?
Still reading this. Reading this lead me to this website.
This is a good review! Probably better than a review I wrote would be.
Maybe not – I only ‘found out’ about Tao Lin like, last week or something.
Just wrote a tweet but will use it for a review instead.
Feel like I’ll sleep now, though.
Hi, by the way?
lovely. thank you now i want a copy.
I enjoyed the book. I don’t think that Jimmy fell for anything.
I enjoyed the book. I don’t think that Jimmy fell for anything.
i’m very interested in htmlgiant top trumps
i’m very interested in htmlgiant top trumps
i like these two posts
they are good and funny
jimmy is in a rich vein of form
http://magichelicopterpress.com/typewriter.htm
i like these two posts
they are good and funny
jimmy is in a rich vein of form
http://magichelicopterpress.com/typewriter.htm
i like the idea of this book. i like tao and brandon and want them to be successful. not with money. just like to actually feel happy with their writing.
i like the idea of this book. i like tao and brandon and want them to be successful. not with money. just like to actually feel happy with their writing.
i’ve had people tell me that tao has no soul in his writing. i think that is not true. i think tao’s writing can be some of the most soulful and saddest writing out there.
represent.
i’ve had people tell me that tao has no soul in his writing. i think that is not true. i think tao’s writing can be some of the most soulful and saddest writing out there.
represent.
More Tao Lin stunts. This is not a big deal.
Suckers buy shit like this. Who cares.
Tao is very good at promotion. People should realize it. Any publicity is publicity.
I really wish I would have finished my write up discussing Tao Lin vs Michael Kimball self promotion essay thing shit for HTMLG back when I was a contributor.
Writers should pay attention to both Lin and Kimball on how to promote. Tao’s way is just very selfish and immature.
Anyways this isn’t going to hurt Tao’s career. Look at Bukowski. Do you know how much bullshit he wrote that has suddenly disappeared after he became famous?
Tao Lin’s bullshit will disappear too if he ever gets to that level.
Jimmy should start promoting himself instead of worrying about retarded ass MuuMuu house.
whatevers
More Tao Lin stunts. This is not a big deal.
Suckers buy shit like this. Who cares.
Tao is very good at promotion. People should realize it. Any publicity is publicity.
I really wish I would have finished my write up discussing Tao Lin vs Michael Kimball self promotion essay thing shit for HTMLG back when I was a contributor.
Writers should pay attention to both Lin and Kimball on how to promote. Tao’s way is just very selfish and immature.
Anyways this isn’t going to hurt Tao’s career. Look at Bukowski. Do you know how much bullshit he wrote that has suddenly disappeared after he became famous?
Tao Lin’s bullshit will disappear too if he ever gets to that level.
Jimmy should start promoting himself instead of worrying about retarded ass MuuMuu house.
whatevers
i like you more and more as the day grows old Justin.
i like you more and more as the day grows old Justin.
oh no.
oh no.
i would buy this book, it’s a good review.
i mean, i will buy this book.
plus my inability to see, on my computer, the leftmost few letters of every line of this review creates a “review crisis,” a tension that increases the mystery and desirability of “the brandon book crisis”
i would buy this book, it’s a good review.
i mean, i will buy this book.
plus my inability to see, on my computer, the leftmost few letters of every line of this review creates a “review crisis,” a tension that increases the mystery and desirability of “the brandon book crisis”
tao lin is a fantastic person. maybe one of you would like to own his old baby grand piano (for free): http://www.flickr.com/photos/11002902@N00/3483299121/
tao lin is a fantastic person. maybe one of you would like to own his old baby grand piano (for free): http://www.flickr.com/photos/11002902@N00/3483299121/
going to get lunch now. maybe a cheeseburger. or a salad. depending on my choice my day could really change.
going to get lunch now. maybe a cheeseburger. or a salad. depending on my choice my day could really change.
nice to see you here james
nice to see you here james
seems like this book will read more like a ‘play’
should I take this to my school’s student theater company
it’d be minimalist
and so funny
I am enjoying picturing myself as a snickering audience member at this play.
seems like this book will read more like a ‘play’
should I take this to my school’s student theater company
it’d be minimalist
and so funny
I am enjoying picturing myself as a snickering audience member at this play.
Matthew, ‘initial’, incomplete results have been posted on my blog.
Matthew, ‘initial’, incomplete results have been posted on my blog.
Stats on the back of my Justin Taylor rookie card:
MH (Masturbatory Habits): 3/day
LP (Lay Percentage): Nil.
SF (Smug Factor): 8.65/10
HGTHB (Head Given to Harold Bloom): 13.5
NTBUIHS (No. of Times Beaten Up In High School): 19
CMIB (Chance of Making It Big): 3.8%
CMAAPSSS (Chance of Mouldering Away As an Adjunct Professor at a Shitty State School): 82.4%
The front photo is his standard publicity shot: queasy smile; squinting; his fleshy, half-bearded face cocked 15 degrees off-center; holding an ice cream cone; in China(town).
Will trade it for $11 and a signed poster of Blake Butler taking a dump while re-reading Suttree.
Stats on the back of my Justin Taylor rookie card:
MH (Masturbatory Habits): 3/day
LP (Lay Percentage): Nil.
SF (Smug Factor): 8.65/10
HGTHB (Head Given to Harold Bloom): 13.5
NTBUIHS (No. of Times Beaten Up In High School): 19
CMIB (Chance of Making It Big): 3.8%
CMAAPSSS (Chance of Mouldering Away As an Adjunct Professor at a Shitty State School): 82.4%
The front photo is his standard publicity shot: queasy smile; squinting; his fleshy, half-bearded face cocked 15 degrees off-center; holding an ice cream cone; in China(town).
Will trade it for $11 and a signed poster of Blake Butler taking a dump while re-reading Suttree.
can you judge literature by it’s format? I don’t think so. I think the book is similar to a diary, maybe. don’t think it seems like an “attempt at fame divorced from ability to write” when it is thought of in this way.
can you judge literature by it’s format? I don’t think so. I think the book is similar to a diary, maybe. don’t think it seems like an “attempt at fame divorced from ability to write” when it is thought of in this way.
pretty classic there chief
pretty classic there chief
ended up with some kind of pita wrap. pretty good and kind of healthy.
ended up with some kind of pita wrap. pretty good and kind of healthy.
i like when people talk shit but are too pussy to do it honestly and openly.
fake ass motherfuckers.
i like when people talk shit but are too pussy to do it honestly and openly.
fake ass motherfuckers.
haha i laughed a lot
haha i laughed a lot
haha, best comment ever
haha, best comment ever
matthew i always think of “salacious crumb” when i see your comments.
thank you for making me smile every time.
matthew i always think of “salacious crumb” when i see your comments.
thank you for making me smile every time.
really? that’s different from mine, ‘cos in mine he’s holding a baseball bat that says “fuck face” on the knob, and the bat’s propped up on his shoulder so “fuck face” is sort of pointing right at you. you ever see that one? ever see the “fuck face” card?
really? that’s different from mine, ‘cos in mine he’s holding a baseball bat that says “fuck face” on the knob, and the bat’s propped up on his shoulder so “fuck face” is sort of pointing right at you. you ever see that one? ever see the “fuck face” card?
jereme seems pissed
jereme seems pissed
how so brandon? which comments contain a “pissed” attribute?
i will reread and explain my thoughts behind the comments and what i was feeling at the moment.
how so brandon? which comments contain a “pissed” attribute?
i will reread and explain my thoughts behind the comments and what i was feeling at the moment.
“matthew i always think of “salacious crumb” when i see your comments.
thank you for making me smile every time.”
seems to bear disdain
preliminary google searches of ‘salacious crumb’ bring me to starwars.com, where they had this to say:
“One of the most annoying critters in the galaxy, Salacious B. Crumb was the favored jester in the court of Jabba the Hutt. The beak-nosed pot-bellied miscreant had a habit of breaking into a nerve-wracking cackle whenever the mood struck his flighty little brain. The creature had a knack for mimicry, and would pester many by constantly repeating what was said to him.”
seems pissed maybe
“matthew i always think of “salacious crumb” when i see your comments.
thank you for making me smile every time.”
seems to bear disdain
preliminary google searches of ‘salacious crumb’ bring me to starwars.com, where they had this to say:
“One of the most annoying critters in the galaxy, Salacious B. Crumb was the favored jester in the court of Jabba the Hutt. The beak-nosed pot-bellied miscreant had a habit of breaking into a nerve-wracking cackle whenever the mood struck his flighty little brain. The creature had a knack for mimicry, and would pester many by constantly repeating what was said to him.”
seems pissed maybe
http://images.entertainmentearth.com/%5CAUTOIMAGES%5CAC132lg.jpg
http://images.entertainmentearth.com/%5CAUTOIMAGES%5CAC132lg.jpg
no not “pissed”. just an honest comment.
any tao lin discussion and he jumps in with some nonsense comment or two and i always think of “salacious crumb” character but I couldn’t remember his name.
so today matthew reminded me of the character again, i googled to find the name of the character and commented about it.
i did it all with a “neutral facial expression”.
i think i only felt slight hostility during this thread. i think it happened when justin was the only person to say something contrary about the post and was personally attacked for it.
but hey i am sure it is all part of the tao lin super mega train of promotion and none of this is real because everything is a “joke” or to be taken as a “joke” even when people call other people racist or worthless or evoke emotions for no reason other than to bring attention to “tao lin” or “muumuu house” so there is no need to get pissed or upset.
everything is a “joke”
tao lin gets it
you get it
james yeh gets it
matthew savoca gets it
tao lin internet #34 gets it
it’s the rest of us that fail to “get it” and that’s why all of the “sarcasm” is so funny to you guys right?
why everything is a “joke” and nothing is genuine? all because you guys are elite and “get it” while the rest of us don’t.
am i pissed? no, not at all. you will know when i am pissed and when it is present it is genuine.
i hope your book sells like condoms at adultcon.
i really hope it doesn’t end up just being more promotion for tao lin.
sort of like this entire thread/post has become.
let’s count how many times “brandon gorrell” is mentioned and compare it to how many times “tao lin” is in this thread.
wait, i’m confused.
i thought this was supposed to be about you.
no not “pissed”. just an honest comment.
any tao lin discussion and he jumps in with some nonsense comment or two and i always think of “salacious crumb” character but I couldn’t remember his name.
so today matthew reminded me of the character again, i googled to find the name of the character and commented about it.
i did it all with a “neutral facial expression”.
i think i only felt slight hostility during this thread. i think it happened when justin was the only person to say something contrary about the post and was personally attacked for it.
but hey i am sure it is all part of the tao lin super mega train of promotion and none of this is real because everything is a “joke” or to be taken as a “joke” even when people call other people racist or worthless or evoke emotions for no reason other than to bring attention to “tao lin” or “muumuu house” so there is no need to get pissed or upset.
everything is a “joke”
tao lin gets it
you get it
james yeh gets it
matthew savoca gets it
tao lin internet #34 gets it
it’s the rest of us that fail to “get it” and that’s why all of the “sarcasm” is so funny to you guys right?
why everything is a “joke” and nothing is genuine? all because you guys are elite and “get it” while the rest of us don’t.
am i pissed? no, not at all. you will know when i am pissed and when it is present it is genuine.
i hope your book sells like condoms at adultcon.
i really hope it doesn’t end up just being more promotion for tao lin.
sort of like this entire thread/post has become.
let’s count how many times “brandon gorrell” is mentioned and compare it to how many times “tao lin” is in this thread.
wait, i’m confused.
i thought this was supposed to be about you.
you must be bored. this is the most activity i’ve seen out of you in months.
i am lazy. some one superimpose a pic of tao’s face on jabba and do the same with matthew savoca/salacious crumb and post that.
please. seriously. can some one from tao’s camp do this? everything is a “joke” so it is okay. no one’s feeligns will be hurt if tao does it.
tao ask one of your interns to do it.
seriously. thanks.
you must be bored. this is the most activity i’ve seen out of you in months.
i am lazy. some one superimpose a pic of tao’s face on jabba and do the same with matthew savoca/salacious crumb and post that.
please. seriously. can some one from tao’s camp do this? everything is a “joke” so it is okay. no one’s feeligns will be hurt if tao does it.
tao ask one of your interns to do it.
seriously. thanks.
do you want to be an intern, jereme
you can be the intern that shit talks to generate interest
in return you’ll get intern things, like brandon’s book for free
do you want to be an intern, jereme
you can be the intern that shit talks to generate interest
in return you’ll get intern things, like brandon’s book for free
hm jereme, im not sure if its supposed to be about me, its supposed to be about the book that tao and i edited, and to a lesser extent probably, jimmy’s experience reading it
the fact that tao gets mentioned more than me is probably because he is more popular and he is the editor of the press that published the book
not sure where, in this post, ppl called other people racist or worthless
i think justin implied that jimmy was stupid, by saying that he ‘fell’ for it, it seems like that implies that jimmy had no idea what he was doing this whole time, that we tricked him into reading the book then posting a review on this website by somehow making him think he was going to do something else
‘evoking emotions for no other reasons to bring attention to tao lin or muumuu house’, don’t know about that, isn’t that what blog is for; isn’t that what like 80% of the posts on this website are about (on the front page of html, it seems like all but 2 posts are ‘calling attention’ to books, magazines, or people)
don’t know about the ‘joke’ thing, unsure if i feel the same way you feel about the joke thing
hope my books sell like condoms at adultcon too
hm jereme, im not sure if its supposed to be about me, its supposed to be about the book that tao and i edited, and to a lesser extent probably, jimmy’s experience reading it
the fact that tao gets mentioned more than me is probably because he is more popular and he is the editor of the press that published the book
not sure where, in this post, ppl called other people racist or worthless
i think justin implied that jimmy was stupid, by saying that he ‘fell’ for it, it seems like that implies that jimmy had no idea what he was doing this whole time, that we tricked him into reading the book then posting a review on this website by somehow making him think he was going to do something else
‘evoking emotions for no other reasons to bring attention to tao lin or muumuu house’, don’t know about that, isn’t that what blog is for; isn’t that what like 80% of the posts on this website are about (on the front page of html, it seems like all but 2 posts are ‘calling attention’ to books, magazines, or people)
don’t know about the ‘joke’ thing, unsure if i feel the same way you feel about the joke thing
hope my books sell like condoms at adultcon too
i ordered this book the first day tao posted about it on his blog. i am interested in small presses, independent presses, writers and writing in general. i thought it would be interesting, at least, perhaps offer some insight into the book-making process.
brandon’s book excites me mainly because i liked his e-book for lamination colony.
i do not know tao or brandon or anyone here.
i feel like my intentions were pure. nobody asked me either way.
i do not feel like i fell for anything. i have my own interests. as do most of the people reading this blog. i would hope.
i ordered this book the first day tao posted about it on his blog. i am interested in small presses, independent presses, writers and writing in general. i thought it would be interesting, at least, perhaps offer some insight into the book-making process.
brandon’s book excites me mainly because i liked his e-book for lamination colony.
i do not know tao or brandon or anyone here.
i feel like my intentions were pure. nobody asked me either way.
i do not feel like i fell for anything. i have my own interests. as do most of the people reading this blog. i would hope.
i think justin was implying i was stupid for falling/jumping, which made me feel bad.
kathryn regina sent me her book and i reviewed it.
muumuu sent me their book and i reviewed.
but with the latter case, somehow i’m stupid because there’s a backlash against successful things maybe.
when justin posts ellen kennedy/muumuu, i don’t think justin falls for anything, i just think “it’s nice justin really likes her poems”
jereme thinks being abrasive and calling ‘people out’ is having integrity. if he ever gets a book deal, let’s see if he ever ‘calls out’ his publisher.
i will probably not post about tao lin or muumuu in the future because it always gets stupid and personal. i often feel like i can’t say anything good about mcsweeney’s around here too. only obscure things with integrity, because every one is so punk.
when i read BBC i earnestly laughed out loud and really enjoyed it and thought it was creative. too bad i’m not given credit as a reviewer/contributor on my feelings. too bad people like to say coldplay or radiohead sucks instead of just shutting the fuck up.
man, i should just read war and peace finally and fuck this all. peace out chiefs.
i think justin was implying i was stupid for falling/jumping, which made me feel bad.
kathryn regina sent me her book and i reviewed it.
muumuu sent me their book and i reviewed.
but with the latter case, somehow i’m stupid because there’s a backlash against successful things maybe.
when justin posts ellen kennedy/muumuu, i don’t think justin falls for anything, i just think “it’s nice justin really likes her poems”
jereme thinks being abrasive and calling ‘people out’ is having integrity. if he ever gets a book deal, let’s see if he ever ‘calls out’ his publisher.
i will probably not post about tao lin or muumuu in the future because it always gets stupid and personal. i often feel like i can’t say anything good about mcsweeney’s around here too. only obscure things with integrity, because every one is so punk.
when i read BBC i earnestly laughed out loud and really enjoyed it and thought it was creative. too bad i’m not given credit as a reviewer/contributor on my feelings. too bad people like to say coldplay or radiohead sucks instead of just shutting the fuck up.
man, i should just read war and peace finally and fuck this all. peace out chiefs.
bro. r u okay? hang in there bro.
bro. r u okay? hang in there bro.
tao,
i thought i already was?
tao,
i thought i already was?
i really liked this review.
i really liked this review.
can someone send me a pdf, or more passages from the book, so i can see if i want to buy it
can someone send me a pdf, or more passages from the book, so i can see if i want to buy it
brandon,
the things you are confused about are in regards to previous “antics” by the tao lin posse and master chief lin.
i am sorry you are confused but if you roll with a gang you take on the responsibilities of the gang as a whole.
re:evoking emotion
sure of course. there is a distinct difference between being genuine and being fake. i am not going to expound upon this concept. you either get it or don’t.
“justin implied” sounds like some weird abstraction to me.
i don’t get that. did any one ask justin what he meant?
really if any “bad” emotions are felt it should be on justin’s behalf.
the guy gets ass rammed for saying two lines in contrary. no one else has a problem with that huh?
man i must be a unique ass motherfucker. i really am the only one who thinks this way? really?
i feel good now.
jimmy,
i am not “being abrasive” to be abrasive. this is who i am. i am sorry if it hurts your feelings. wait, i am not sorry it hurt your feelings. i am sorry i am not a better person and word things differently. there that sounds nicer. i don’t remember saying anything “mean” or “personal” to you.
i would feel a little sad if you stopped posting what you wanted to post about. i remember you being different than that in previous limited interactions.
i understand though. hearing contrary opinion is not well received by most.
you forgot your karate kid reference.
breath in, breath out
brandon,
the things you are confused about are in regards to previous “antics” by the tao lin posse and master chief lin.
i am sorry you are confused but if you roll with a gang you take on the responsibilities of the gang as a whole.
re:evoking emotion
sure of course. there is a distinct difference between being genuine and being fake. i am not going to expound upon this concept. you either get it or don’t.
“justin implied” sounds like some weird abstraction to me.
i don’t get that. did any one ask justin what he meant?
really if any “bad” emotions are felt it should be on justin’s behalf.
the guy gets ass rammed for saying two lines in contrary. no one else has a problem with that huh?
man i must be a unique ass motherfucker. i really am the only one who thinks this way? really?
i feel good now.
jimmy,
i am not “being abrasive” to be abrasive. this is who i am. i am sorry if it hurts your feelings. wait, i am not sorry it hurt your feelings. i am sorry i am not a better person and word things differently. there that sounds nicer. i don’t remember saying anything “mean” or “personal” to you.
i would feel a little sad if you stopped posting what you wanted to post about. i remember you being different than that in previous limited interactions.
i understand though. hearing contrary opinion is not well received by most.
you forgot your karate kid reference.
breath in, breath out
jereme, tao someone asked what he meant. it is the first reply to his comment:
“can you elaborate justin
i don’t feel that jimmy ‘fell’ for anything
i liked reading the review
thought ’sweet’ in an almost continuous manner while reading it”
okay about other stuff
jereme, tao someone asked what he meant. it is the first reply to his comment:
“can you elaborate justin
i don’t feel that jimmy ‘fell’ for anything
i liked reading the review
thought ’sweet’ in an almost continuous manner while reading it”
okay about other stuff
carrie, there is another review here:
http://magazineofthedead.blogspot.com/2009/05/brandon-book-crises.html
visit my blog for more reviews
carrie, there is another review here:
http://magazineofthedead.blogspot.com/2009/05/brandon-book-crises.html
visit my blog for more reviews
damn edit ‘someone’ out of that
damn edit ‘someone’ out of that
yes “jump”
whatever that means.
it is still way open to interpretation.
jimmy obviously felt hurt by whatever “jump” meant.
in return justin gets told he is a worthless piece of shit.
okay still i have no problem.
yet tao, brandon, jimmy fail to step up and say “hey that isn’t right”.
so much ego around here.
i really wouldn’t feel the need to speak out so “abrasively” if some one else would grow some fucking balls and say “hey this doesn’t seem right” once in awhile.
instead of just sitting back and stroking their own egos.
whatever.
i am sure BB will come in and tell me to shut the fuck up any moment now.
that’s what usually happens anyways.
tao, i hope this helped meet your comment # expectations.
yes “jump”
whatever that means.
it is still way open to interpretation.
jimmy obviously felt hurt by whatever “jump” meant.
in return justin gets told he is a worthless piece of shit.
okay still i have no problem.
yet tao, brandon, jimmy fail to step up and say “hey that isn’t right”.
so much ego around here.
i really wouldn’t feel the need to speak out so “abrasively” if some one else would grow some fucking balls and say “hey this doesn’t seem right” once in awhile.
instead of just sitting back and stroking their own egos.
whatever.
i am sure BB will come in and tell me to shut the fuck up any moment now.
that’s what usually happens anyways.
tao, i hope this helped meet your comment # expectations.
jimmys response to the htmlgiantcard collector troll i took to be sarcastic.
– pretty classic chief –
it is the response above your response.
jimmys response to the htmlgiantcard collector troll i took to be sarcastic.
– pretty classic chief –
it is the response above your response.
yeah it is hard to understand because he uses the exact same phrase where he felt “hurt” in response to justin.
who cares.
seriously.
antics.
yeah it is hard to understand because he uses the exact same phrase where he felt “hurt” in response to justin.
who cares.
seriously.
antics.
I enjoyed reading it.
I enjoyed reading it.
yeah. the ‘ok chief’ also seemed sarcastic to me.
yeah. the ‘ok chief’ also seemed sarcastic to me.
justin said: Congrats, Tao- Jimmy fell for it.
how i interpret this line is “congrats tao on more publicity, you have manipulated jimmy into posting about this”
that, i think, was ‘not cool’ because it insults tao and me, and dismisses the entire review (even weirder, is that justin is a huge supporter of muumuu house c/o ellen kennedy). it’s simply passive-aggressive and not nice. a similar sentiment is felt whenever i post anything about tao, dunno why.
the htmlcard collector’s comment has nothing do to with me. i don’t think it’s a commentary on justin’s comment in this post, but the aggregate perception of justin based on his tenure here. when i said ‘pretty classic chief’ i meant ‘that was pretty cool man,’ because i was upset at justin for making fun of me, which, essentially is what he did, unprovoked.
justin has an mfa and teaches english and lives in nyc. i’m an administrative assistant. it doesn’t serve him well to beat on little ol’ me.
whatever, i’m sick of myself and this comment thread.
justin said: Congrats, Tao- Jimmy fell for it.
how i interpret this line is “congrats tao on more publicity, you have manipulated jimmy into posting about this”
that, i think, was ‘not cool’ because it insults tao and me, and dismisses the entire review (even weirder, is that justin is a huge supporter of muumuu house c/o ellen kennedy). it’s simply passive-aggressive and not nice. a similar sentiment is felt whenever i post anything about tao, dunno why.
the htmlcard collector’s comment has nothing do to with me. i don’t think it’s a commentary on justin’s comment in this post, but the aggregate perception of justin based on his tenure here. when i said ‘pretty classic chief’ i meant ‘that was pretty cool man,’ because i was upset at justin for making fun of me, which, essentially is what he did, unprovoked.
justin has an mfa and teaches english and lives in nyc. i’m an administrative assistant. it doesn’t serve him well to beat on little ol’ me.
whatever, i’m sick of myself and this comment thread.
Nothing can hurt an eccentric writer’s career. Burroughs killed his wife and still sold books.
Nothing can hurt an eccentric writer’s career. Burroughs killed his wife and still sold books.
Also: Tao Lin’s career can never die by falling.
Also: Tao Lin’s career can never die by falling.
sweet
just kidding, by the way
in some regards
sweet
just kidding, by the way
in some regards
i had 2 cheeseburgers and corn on the cob for dinner.
nice job on the pita wrap.
i had 2 cheeseburgers and corn on the cob for dinner.
nice job on the pita wrap.
i just scrolled thru the last 30 or so comments without reading them
this is too boring even for me to comment on
this is not a comment
who cares?
i just scrolled thru the last 30 or so comments without reading them
this is too boring even for me to comment on
this is not a comment
who cares?
i am going to kill all of you with my tiny dick
i am going to kill all of you with my tiny dick
actually, i wish everyone BUT you would be quiet, jereme. you are the only one making clean sense. cherish this.
actually, i wish everyone BUT you would be quiet, jereme. you are the only one making clean sense. cherish this.
‘blake,’ you have a new url for your blog, bro. try to keep up.
‘blake,’ you have a new url for your blog, bro. try to keep up.
looks like i misread and am wrong.
looks like i misread and am wrong.
oh man, i really want that piano.
oh man, i really want that piano.
wait, jimmy, i just read this review. before all i read was the comments, i’m sorry. i got caught up in the piano.
this review is so smart and good. why don’t people comment more on how good you are? you brought in mccarthyism, the trial, nabakov. you said the word ‘nomenclature.’ i mean…for real.
wait, jimmy, i just read this review. before all i read was the comments, i’m sorry. i got caught up in the piano.
this review is so smart and good. why don’t people comment more on how good you are? you brought in mccarthyism, the trial, nabakov. you said the word ‘nomenclature.’ i mean…for real.
i know sis…for realz
i know sis…for realz
aw, small snail in the rain
can’t wait to read BBC
aw, small snail in the rain
can’t wait to read BBC
i think it’s funny
i think it’s funny
TAO FATIGUE IS SETTING IN.
HE’S GETTING CRANKY, TOO.
i have written 5 excruciatingly edited books, bro
THAT ALMOST DOESN’T SOUND IRONIC.
BUT IT MUST BE.
THIS BOOK CANNIBALIZES THE ‘REAL’ ONE.
THE TROUBLE FOR TAO (GOOD TITLE) IS THAT READING *ABOUT* TAO IS MORE INTERESTING THAN READING ANYTHING *BY* TAO.
i have written 5 excruciatingly edited books, bro
WOW, THE PRIMA DONNA SOUNDS DEFENSIVE
SOMEONE FINALLY GOT TAO LIN TO EXPRESS A REAL EMOTION IT LOOKS LIKE
TOO BAD IT’S TOO LATE, BRO – STICK A FORK IN TAO, HE’S DONE.
TAO FATIGUE IS SETTING IN.
HE’S GETTING CRANKY, TOO.
i have written 5 excruciatingly edited books, bro
THAT ALMOST DOESN’T SOUND IRONIC.
BUT IT MUST BE.
THIS BOOK CANNIBALIZES THE ‘REAL’ ONE.
THE TROUBLE FOR TAO (GOOD TITLE) IS THAT READING *ABOUT* TAO IS MORE INTERESTING THAN READING ANYTHING *BY* TAO.
i have written 5 excruciatingly edited books, bro
WOW, THE PRIMA DONNA SOUNDS DEFENSIVE
SOMEONE FINALLY GOT TAO LIN TO EXPRESS A REAL EMOTION IT LOOKS LIKE
TOO BAD IT’S TOO LATE, BRO – STICK A FORK IN TAO, HE’S DONE.
TAO LIN WON BRANDON’S STORY CONTEST WRITING UNDER THE NAME OF HIS GIRLFRIEND SARAH SCHNEIDER.
THEIR NEXT COLLABORATION:
“HOW TO WIN CONTROVERSY AND ALIENATE PEOPLE”
TAO LIN WON BRANDON’S STORY CONTEST WRITING UNDER THE NAME OF HIS GIRLFRIEND SARAH SCHNEIDER.
THEIR NEXT COLLABORATION:
“HOW TO WIN CONTROVERSY AND ALIENATE PEOPLE”
I’m late to all of this, but if this really is an collection of unedited gchat, then isn’t it like Duchamp’s urinal and Warhol’s tomato cans? Those pieces poked fun at the art world, and its pretensions, and raised the question of what counts as art. It seems like this book is, in a similar fashion, poking fun at the literary world, and raising the question of what counts as a work of literary art. Yes, this seems like a more indulgent way to make the point (I mean, reprinting your own gchat — what could be more indulgent, right? But then maybe that is also part of the joke). I’m not saying this makes it great, or as funny as Duchamp and Warhold are, but it seems that’s what it is.
So I think the analogy should have been to Warhol or Duchamp, rather than Dickens.
Also, I think the worst thing you can do with this kind of art is take it seriously. Regardless of what anyone may have intended, a work like this is, by its very nature, begging NOT to be taken seriously.
Anyway, those were the thoughts that came to mind as I read through all this.
I’m late to all of this, but if this really is an collection of unedited gchat, then isn’t it like Duchamp’s urinal and Warhol’s tomato cans? Those pieces poked fun at the art world, and its pretensions, and raised the question of what counts as art. It seems like this book is, in a similar fashion, poking fun at the literary world, and raising the question of what counts as a work of literary art. Yes, this seems like a more indulgent way to make the point (I mean, reprinting your own gchat — what could be more indulgent, right? But then maybe that is also part of the joke). I’m not saying this makes it great, or as funny as Duchamp and Warhold are, but it seems that’s what it is.
So I think the analogy should have been to Warhol or Duchamp, rather than Dickens.
Also, I think the worst thing you can do with this kind of art is take it seriously. Regardless of what anyone may have intended, a work like this is, by its very nature, begging NOT to be taken seriously.
Anyway, those were the thoughts that came to mind as I read through all this.
I’m replying to my own reply! Woah. I’m so meta.
This is actually sort of interesting, though. Anytime a book, no matter how lame (and, again, to belabor the point I will add: A book of unedited gchat. Let’s be honest. This book is either playful and clever and makes a necessary point about literature as art, or it is horribly, terribly, awfully lame.) . . . anytime a book provokes this much discussion, it’s worth asking why.
And I like Warhol and Duchamp. I saw Warhol’s stacked tomato soup cans in an exhibit a few years back. As with Duchamp, it doesn’t matter what tomato soup cans you use. You just stack a bunch of tomato soup cans and you’ve got it. And I never understood these kinds of Warhol pieces when I saw them in books, but I was struck that, in person, they are absolutely hilarious. I mean, really funny. I loved the tomato soup can thing. It made me an instant Andy Warhol fan, when before I had only been an admirer.
What I’m saying is, I think this book, like Duchamp’s toilet plunger and Warhol’s soup cans, is essentially playful, a kind of satire, and this is its essential character as a work of art, no matter what anyone intended in making it, and no matter what anyone thinks when they read it. And the appropriate critical response to it is not to be earnest, and treat it seriously as high art, but instead to just recognize it for the light joke that it’s trying to be.
That’s sort of what I think. I could be wrong, but this is what I think.
Whether it succeeds as low art, and whether it really is playful, and makes a clever point about literature and art, that’s another question, and one you can’t really answer without reading the book. Maybe it’s funny and ironic and it’s irony is cleverly directed at its target. Maybe it’s just an inane collection of insufferable gchat messages. Maybe by being an inane collection of gchat message it BECOMES a playful and ironic commentary on literature as art. We can’t really know. But if I were a critic reviewing this book, that would be the question I would try to answer, because I think that’s the standard on which this book should be judged.
OK, I’ve rambled on long enough. Time to finish the banana I was eating when I started in on this, before my friend came over and we had English Breakfast tea with sugar and she told me about her minor surgery and we sat on my couch and talked and then it rained and I felt like a snail and I gave her the key to my car and she drove it home because she’s going to borrow it from me for the next few weeks.
Sean
I’m replying to my own reply! Woah. I’m so meta.
This is actually sort of interesting, though. Anytime a book, no matter how lame (and, again, to belabor the point I will add: A book of unedited gchat. Let’s be honest. This book is either playful and clever and makes a necessary point about literature as art, or it is horribly, terribly, awfully lame.) . . . anytime a book provokes this much discussion, it’s worth asking why.
And I like Warhol and Duchamp. I saw Warhol’s stacked tomato soup cans in an exhibit a few years back. As with Duchamp, it doesn’t matter what tomato soup cans you use. You just stack a bunch of tomato soup cans and you’ve got it. And I never understood these kinds of Warhol pieces when I saw them in books, but I was struck that, in person, they are absolutely hilarious. I mean, really funny. I loved the tomato soup can thing. It made me an instant Andy Warhol fan, when before I had only been an admirer.
What I’m saying is, I think this book, like Duchamp’s toilet plunger and Warhol’s soup cans, is essentially playful, a kind of satire, and this is its essential character as a work of art, no matter what anyone intended in making it, and no matter what anyone thinks when they read it. And the appropriate critical response to it is not to be earnest, and treat it seriously as high art, but instead to just recognize it for the light joke that it’s trying to be.
That’s sort of what I think. I could be wrong, but this is what I think.
Whether it succeeds as low art, and whether it really is playful, and makes a clever point about literature and art, that’s another question, and one you can’t really answer without reading the book. Maybe it’s funny and ironic and it’s irony is cleverly directed at its target. Maybe it’s just an inane collection of insufferable gchat messages. Maybe by being an inane collection of gchat message it BECOMES a playful and ironic commentary on literature as art. We can’t really know. But if I were a critic reviewing this book, that would be the question I would try to answer, because I think that’s the standard on which this book should be judged.
OK, I’ve rambled on long enough. Time to finish the banana I was eating when I started in on this, before my friend came over and we had English Breakfast tea with sugar and she told me about her minor surgery and we sat on my couch and talked and then it rained and I felt like a snail and I gave her the key to my car and she drove it home because she’s going to borrow it from me for the next few weeks.
Sean
OK, couldn’t resist. One more point.
See, in my last paragraph, I point out that anyone can write the kind of stuff Tao writes. I mean anyone. If you can string together words into a meaningful sentence, and you just write about what happened to you, you can write as well and as deeply and as meaningfully as Tao writes.
The question is, is it literature? Does the fact that anyone can do it automatically make it not literature? But not just anyone is doing it, only Tao is doing it.
Does it have to be literature? Do we care? So what if it’s not?
What if I publish it in book form, and sell it on the internet? Is it literature now?
I’m sort of thinking these questions are the point of of the whole enterprise. The writing is not the point. The writing, in fact, is only incidental to the larger thing happening.
Sean
OK, couldn’t resist. One more point.
See, in my last paragraph, I point out that anyone can write the kind of stuff Tao writes. I mean anyone. If you can string together words into a meaningful sentence, and you just write about what happened to you, you can write as well and as deeply and as meaningfully as Tao writes.
The question is, is it literature? Does the fact that anyone can do it automatically make it not literature? But not just anyone is doing it, only Tao is doing it.
Does it have to be literature? Do we care? So what if it’s not?
What if I publish it in book form, and sell it on the internet? Is it literature now?
I’m sort of thinking these questions are the point of of the whole enterprise. The writing is not the point. The writing, in fact, is only incidental to the larger thing happening.
Sean
OK, one more. Obviously, I cannot stop myself. But I’d be interested to know what anyone else thinks. Has someone else made this point before, in another post on this site or on some other site referencing Tao’s work? Does anyone think there’s anything to this? Does the analogy to Warhol hold up? Does anyone think it’s crazy? Have I stated or missed something that is just incredibly, embarrassingly, obvious? I’d be interested to know. Thanks — Sean
OK, one more. Obviously, I cannot stop myself. But I’d be interested to know what anyone else thinks. Has someone else made this point before, in another post on this site or on some other site referencing Tao’s work? Does anyone think there’s anything to this? Does the analogy to Warhol hold up? Does anyone think it’s crazy? Have I stated or missed something that is just incredibly, embarrassingly, obvious? I’d be interested to know. Thanks — Sean
I really like your comments, Sean. They made me think a lot about “literature-as-art” and how that relates to Tao Lin and the people who write in a similar way.
I would like to quibble with your characterizing Tao Lin’s writing as being easy to make (maybe I am misinterpreting you, and if I am I apologize.) When I read something by Tao Lin I usually get the impression that what I’m reading is very deliberate, and although it maybe somewhat autobiographical (I don’t know, I don’t know Tao Lin’s life that well) I think his writing is very polished. Also amusing. So I don’t think it’s correct to equate his writing to something like dada (which is what I got from the comment “Does the fact that anyone can do it automatically make it not literature? But not just anyone is doing it, only Tao is doing it.”)
In any case, I cannot continue typing because I want to catch “Up” in a theater not absolutely packed with little children and that showing starts in twenty-three minutes.
I really like your comments, Sean. They made me think a lot about “literature-as-art” and how that relates to Tao Lin and the people who write in a similar way.
I would like to quibble with your characterizing Tao Lin’s writing as being easy to make (maybe I am misinterpreting you, and if I am I apologize.) When I read something by Tao Lin I usually get the impression that what I’m reading is very deliberate, and although it maybe somewhat autobiographical (I don’t know, I don’t know Tao Lin’s life that well) I think his writing is very polished. Also amusing. So I don’t think it’s correct to equate his writing to something like dada (which is what I got from the comment “Does the fact that anyone can do it automatically make it not literature? But not just anyone is doing it, only Tao is doing it.”)
In any case, I cannot continue typing because I want to catch “Up” in a theater not absolutely packed with little children and that showing starts in twenty-three minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm448x9nKa8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm448x9nKa8
I would rather read Tao Lin’s gchats than “Everything Here is the Best Thing Ever.”
I would rather read Tao Lin’s gchats than “Everything Here is the Best Thing Ever.”