December 20th, 2009 / 12:10 pm
Snippets
Snippets
Sean Lovelace—
Technically devastating (as in perfect), “The Dead” by James Joyce is the Greatest Holiday Text Of All Time. Your choice?
Beyond the Zero section of Gravity’s Rainbow. Can’t fault ‘The Dead’ though.
Beyond the Zero section of Gravity’s Rainbow. Can’t fault ‘The Dead’ though.
way to go out on a limb there, lovelace
let me guess, your favorite nacho topping is… cheese?
way to go out on a limb there, lovelace
let me guess, your favorite nacho topping is… cheese?
“The Dead” is the Hook’s ten-year cheddar of Holiday Text.
“The Dead” is the Hook’s ten-year cheddar of Holiday Text.
Sometimes good is just good though.
Sometimes good is just good though.
i see there’s a novelization of batman returns, so i’ll pick that. (cheapest used copy on amazon is $64!)
i see there’s a novelization of batman returns, so i’ll pick that. (cheapest used copy on amazon is $64!)
I’m not saying “The Dead” isn’t good – it’s glorious – devastating and perfect, like you said. I’m just saying that cheese can also be damn good. (to counter Blake’s insinuation that cheese is cheese or that “The Dead” is a cheesy choice.)
Hook’s ten-year cheddar is probably too good to put on top of nachos, though. Or else thems better be some damn good perfect-ingredient nachos.
I’m not saying “The Dead” isn’t good – it’s glorious – devastating and perfect, like you said. I’m just saying that cheese can also be damn good. (to counter Blake’s insinuation that cheese is cheese or that “The Dead” is a cheesy choice.)
Hook’s ten-year cheddar is probably too good to put on top of nachos, though. Or else thems better be some damn good perfect-ingredient nachos.
I would have to choose The Dead as well. Whether it’s an ‘obvious’ choice or not doesn’t change my opinion.
I would have to choose The Dead as well. Whether it’s an ‘obvious’ choice or not doesn’t change my opinion.
In fact, to call it an ‘obvious’ and/or a predictable choice, is a rather ‘predictable’ thing to do.
In fact, to call it an ‘obvious’ and/or a predictable choice, is a rather ‘predictable’ thing to do.
i wasn’t insinutating it was cheesy. i love cheese on nachos. it’s really good.
i wasn’t insinutating it was cheesy. i love cheese on nachos. it’s really good.
Ha!
Ha!
Blah story.
Blah story.
The Dead is good and important for a lot of reasons. If we’re worried about Holiday season stuff, then a possible comparison would be Dylan Thomas’ “A Child’s Christmas in Wales”. Possibly saccharine at times, but it’s great to listen to the original recording by Thomas. Not sentimental at all.
The Dead is good and important for a lot of reasons. If we’re worried about Holiday season stuff, then a possible comparison would be Dylan Thomas’ “A Child’s Christmas in Wales”. Possibly saccharine at times, but it’s great to listen to the original recording by Thomas. Not sentimental at all.
There was a lady in front of me seeing The Road the other night who said as the credits roled, “Well, that was a cheery holiday movie,” and when I thought about it, I actually really liked the idea of The Road as a “holiday story”–the sheer bleakness (fuck gray Indiana winters, boohoo, I’m a horse) and hope of it.
But, as for true holiday themed lit, “The Dead” is only obvious because nothing else compares. I’m seriously sitting here trying to think of other holiday lit, even a book or story with a good scene, and all I’m coming up with is Dickens, and well..
There was a lady in front of me seeing The Road the other night who said as the credits roled, “Well, that was a cheery holiday movie,” and when I thought about it, I actually really liked the idea of The Road as a “holiday story”–the sheer bleakness (fuck gray Indiana winters, boohoo, I’m a horse) and hope of it.
But, as for true holiday themed lit, “The Dead” is only obvious because nothing else compares. I’m seriously sitting here trying to think of other holiday lit, even a book or story with a good scene, and all I’m coming up with is Dickens, and well..
Yeah this seems to just win by default. I haven’t been able to even think of any others…
Yeah this seems to just win by default. I haven’t been able to even think of any others…
the jefferson bible
the jefferson bible
Perhaps what needs to be considered is sub-“The Dead”-quality holiday fare. There’s always “The Gift of the Magi” which we all read in middle school. David Sedaris’ “Holiday on Ice”. There’s a great Christmas scene in “Goodfellas”. Ren and Stimpy’s “Have Yourself a Stinky Little Christmas”. Tons more.
Perhaps what needs to be considered is sub-“The Dead”-quality holiday fare. There’s always “The Gift of the Magi” which we all read in middle school. David Sedaris’ “Holiday on Ice”. There’s a great Christmas scene in “Goodfellas”. Ren and Stimpy’s “Have Yourself a Stinky Little Christmas”. Tons more.
Blake – I always enjoy reading what you write on HTML GIANT, in posts and comment threads. You are lively and reactive. I have “Scorch Atlas” in my nightstand-reading-queue and am looking forward… I’ll let you know what I think!
Blake – I always enjoy reading what you write on HTML GIANT, in posts and comment threads. You are lively and reactive. I have “Scorch Atlas” in my nightstand-reading-queue and am looking forward… I’ll let you know what I think!
thank you mimi, i hope you enjoy
thank you mimi, i hope you enjoy
Isn’t that Kyle Minor Dzanc book opening story around some holiday?
Just thinking out loud here…
Getting a Jhump Lahiri vibe here, too, maybe Halloween, but can’t name it…
Remember, the category if “holiday” not Xmas.
Isn’t that Kyle Minor Dzanc book opening story around some holiday?
Just thinking out loud here…
Getting a Jhump Lahiri vibe here, too, maybe Halloween, but can’t name it…
Remember, the category if “holiday” not Xmas.
Sean,
Yes it is, right before Christmas if I remember right – it’s Bowl Season, and I believe it’s one of the earlier ones that the family is watching while all else goes on.
Sean,
Yes it is, right before Christmas if I remember right – it’s Bowl Season, and I believe it’s one of the earlier ones that the family is watching while all else goes on.
If all holidays are fair game, Rick Moody’s “Demonology”‘s in contention.
If all holidays are fair game, Rick Moody’s “Demonology”‘s in contention.
“A Midnight Clear,” Thom Jones, Sonny Liston Was a Friend of Mine
“A Midnight Clear,” Thom Jones, Sonny Liston Was a Friend of Mine
Mark Richard, “The Birds For Christmas”…
http://www.randomhouse.com/boldtype/0898/richard/sstory.html
Mark Richard, “The Birds For Christmas”…
http://www.randomhouse.com/boldtype/0898/richard/sstory.html
faust is good christmas reading…
faust is good christmas reading…
Terry Gilliam’s film “Brazil” remains the perfect, ahem, “holiday text.” Your best friend always turns out to be your torturer, but that’s never more true than at Christmas.
And there’s always room for Big Baby Jesus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bnuVA0yXUM
Terry Gilliam’s film “Brazil” remains the perfect, ahem, “holiday text.” Your best friend always turns out to be your torturer, but that’s never more true than at Christmas.
And there’s always room for Big Baby Jesus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bnuVA0yXUM
Apparently The Dead is now The Ugly. Boulder Colorado? Who are they kidding? Gabriel has undergone a sex change and so has poor Gretta – they are now Gabriella and Garett, and Freddy Malins speaks Spansih. And Mr Browne is now a teetotaler and born-again Christian – somebody should sue this woman.
thedeadandtheugly.com
Apparently The Dead is now The Ugly. Boulder Colorado? Who are they kidding? Gabriel has undergone a sex change and so has poor Gretta – they are now Gabriella and Garett, and Freddy Malins speaks Spansih. And Mr Browne is now a teetotaler and born-again Christian – somebody should sue this woman.
thedeadandtheugly.com
Anyone know “Chicago Christmas, 1984” by George Saunders? I really enjoyed that story–really moving towards the end.
Of course, I really enjoyed “The Dead” as well…I can’t tell if that makes what I think good or bad!
Anyone know “Chicago Christmas, 1984” by George Saunders? I really enjoyed that story–really moving towards the end.
Of course, I really enjoyed “The Dead” as well…I can’t tell if that makes what I think good or bad!
Saunders essay here: http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2003/12/22/031222fa_fact
A great one, no doubt, and interesting to see his fictional themes told as essay.
Saunders essay here: http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2003/12/22/031222fa_fact
A great one, no doubt, and interesting to see his fictional themes told as essay.