Matthew Simmons

James Purdy died today.

12 Comments

1. March 14th, 2009 / 4:43 am Josh—

   literally 10 seconds ago, i read elsewhere about this and when i came across a description of his writing said, “why the hell haven’t i ever heard of this guy on like…html giant or something?”

   sad day probably. i don’t know. i’ll decide once i get a hold of one of his books.

2. March 14th, 2009 / 12:43 am Josh—

   literally 10 seconds ago, i read elsewhere about this and when i came across a description of his writing said, “why the hell haven’t i ever heard of this guy on like…html giant or something?”

   sad day probably. i don’t know. i’ll decide once i get a hold of one of his books.

3. March 14th, 2009 / 4:54 am Mike—

   Agh. Damn! And what’s most tragic is that he was living out the end of his life pretty much unknown and in poverty in Manhattan. It sucks so much. Everyone should go read 63: Dream Palace. Since nothing is going to bring him back, the good thing now is for him to blow up in that tragic but sturdy after-they-die way that happens to so many terrific artists.

   I first read James Purdy after reading an interview with Lish, wherein Lish said he was trying to edit everybody to sound like James Purdy. And then I read 63: Dream Palace and holy shit. This guy’s command of scene, of the mystical awkwardness of human interaction, is unmatched. Seriously. I mean, other folks write that kind of stuff, sure, but there are moments in my life when I start thinking “My life is being a James Purdy story” and that’s when an artist hits some Secret Boss Level of accomplishment, I think, when they go beyond noble imitation and start tricking life into resembling them. But only tricking their readers’ lives, of course, which means you should all go out and read James Purdy’s 63: Dream Palace tomorrow and this week at the latest.

4. March 14th, 2009 / 12:54 am Mike—

   Agh. Damn! And what’s most tragic is that he was living out the end of his life pretty much unknown and in poverty in Manhattan. It sucks so much. Everyone should go read 63: Dream Palace. Since nothing is going to bring him back, the good thing now is for him to blow up in that tragic but sturdy after-they-die way that happens to so many terrific artists.

   I first read James Purdy after reading an interview with Lish, wherein Lish said he was trying to edit everybody to sound like James Purdy. And then I read 63: Dream Palace and holy shit. This guy’s command of scene, of the mystical awkwardness of human interaction, is unmatched. Seriously. I mean, other folks write that kind of stuff, sure, but there are moments in my life when I start thinking “My life is being a James Purdy story” and that’s when an artist hits some Secret Boss Level of accomplishment, I think, when they go beyond noble imitation and start tricking life into resembling them. But only tricking their readers’ lives, of course, which means you should all go out and read James Purdy’s 63: Dream Palace tomorrow and this week at the latest.

5. March 14th, 2009 / 4:56 am Mike—

   *I could be wrong about the Manhattan thing–heard it secondhand.

6. March 14th, 2009 / 12:56 am Mike—

   *I could be wrong about the Manhattan thing–heard it secondhand.

7. March 14th, 2009 / 8:54 am Eva—

   Purdy lived in Brooklyn

8. March 14th, 2009 / 4:54 am Eva—

   Purdy lived in Brooklyn

9. March 15th, 2009 / 12:22 am Crash Holly—

   R.I.P. Andrew “Test” Martin

10. March 14th, 2009 / 8:22 pm Crash Holly—

    R.I.P. Andrew “Test” Martin

11. March 16th, 2009 / 5:16 am brandon—

    i feel somewhat affected by this news

12. March 16th, 2009 / 1:16 am brandon—

    i feel somewhat affected by this news