April 7th, 2009 / 6:19 pm
Author Spotlight
Blake Butler
Author Spotlight
I’ve been trying to figure this out all day…
Is there an Asian equivalent of Toni Morrison?
I really can’t think of any.
All I know is they made us read ‘Beloved’ in 10th grade. I did a real good job pretending I got past page 8. Our teacher was very pale and was trying very hard to grow a Stalin beard. He looked like winter.
There is the rumor that Toni Morrison is actually an elderly Indian man.
Could Toni Morrison also be A.M. Homes?
There’s a lot of noise today, and every record I’ve downloaded sucks.
Bye.
Tags: beloved, i've had too much coffee, toni morrison
Well, since I have reread some Nabokov stories thanks to the prodding of D-Anthony Smith, I will say bb, give Beloved another read. She really should be up your alley, Ms. Morrison that is- very steeped in the modernism tradition, a huge Beckett reader no doubt. That said, since Beloved, I have only read Paradise, and was disappointed. But before Beloved (I read it twice, loved it both times) when I was into that stuff- languagey stuff was my life for awhile- and I read Tar Baby, Song of Solomon, Sula and The Bluest Eye. Hm. For you, perhaps Tar Baby would be the best thing. I think it was my favorite. Really wacked out stuff. And you are wacky, bb!!! I think you would dig.
i honestly have to say i will never read a toni morrison book.
but who is the asian toni morrison?
i honestly have to say i will never read a toni morrison book.
but who is the asian toni morrison?
i’m being weird, i’m sorry. i need to have a walk in the pee yard.
i’m being weird, i’m sorry. i need to have a walk in the pee yard.
i have never read a toni morrison book. here is something i have noticed though. if someone brings her up, and then they find out you haven’t read anything by her, they get pissed and demand you read some.
i have never read a toni morrison book. here is something i have noticed though. if someone brings her up, and then they find out you haven’t read anything by her, they get pissed and demand you read some.
ps: the asian kid rock
ps: the asian kid rock
What 15 years ago? I have some issues with her non-fiction, but Tar Baby rules. It’s insane. OK, I read it – um, a long long time ago- but man, some stuff is worth giving another shot.
Walking in the pee yard is always good though.
Lady Asian writers I read and digged off the top of my head-
Melanie Rae Thon? (sp?) Yuyin Yi? (sp? again…I suck at it).
Just cause AM Homes is adopted, does not make her Asian.
i’m sure its fine stuff. i just insist. no toni. i only read people named ‘toni’ if they are dudes. maybe if she writes a book about getting a sex change op i’ll read it.
i feel ashamed for having looked at the first few pages of ‘beloved’ even when i was getting graded on it.
Dude-I’m not pissed. But the last chapter of Tar Baby-someone quote it here- it’s fantastically fucked up. I won’t force anyone to read her. I swear I won’t.
i’m sure its fine stuff. i just insist. no toni. i only read people named ‘toni’ if they are dudes. maybe if she writes a book about getting a sex change op i’ll read it.
i feel ashamed for having looked at the first few pages of ‘beloved’ even when i was getting graded on it.
come to think of it, the teacher’s name was ‘mr. winter’
no shit, kitty kat
i honestly can’t think of an Asian equivalent of Toni Morrison
come to think of it, the teacher’s name was ‘mr. winter’
no shit, kitty kat
i honestly can’t think of an Asian equivalent of Toni Morrison
I’d post it if I could ever find a book anywhere in my cat piss hellhole of a house. But that won’t happen tonight.
i keep thinking ‘toni morrison is a dumb bitch’ without fully really meaning it
or even really thinking that it’s funny to think that, or to say that i am thinking it
i keep thinking ‘toni morrison is a dumb bitch’ without fully really meaning it
or even really thinking that it’s funny to think that, or to say that i am thinking it
i’d like the name ‘tar baby’ better if it were written by someone else
like if jonathan lethem wrote ‘tar baby’ i’d be more likely to read it
or at least open it and look at the pages in a bookstore
i’d like the name ‘tar baby’ better if it were written by someone else
like if jonathan lethem wrote ‘tar baby’ i’d be more likely to read it
or at least open it and look at the pages in a bookstore
i feel vaguely retarded
is that a good name for a book?
is it a better title than ‘tar baby’?
what the fuck am i doing
i feel vaguely retarded
is that a good name for a book?
is it a better title than ‘tar baby’?
what the fuck am i doing
lickety split, licketly split, lickety lickety split.
I think I cried. I read it when i was 13.
toni morrison looks like a monchichi
toni morrison looks like a monchichi
what is a monchichi?
Tao Lin?
Tao Lin?
tao lin is the asian haruki murakami, haruki murakami is the asian toni morrison.
tao lin is the asian haruki murakami, haruki murakami is the asian toni morrison.
Okay here ya go, pr:
“If she answered, he could not hear it, and he certainly couldn’t see her, so he went. First he crawled the rocks one by one, one by one, till his hands touched shore and the nursing sound of the sea was behind him. He felt around, crawled off and then stood up. Breathing heavily with his mouth open he took a few tentative steps. The pebbles made him stumble and so did the roots of trees. He threw out his hands to guide and steady his going. By and by he walked steadier, now steadier. The mist lifted and the trees stepped back a bit as if to make the way easier for a certain kind of man. Then he ran. Lickety-split. Lickety-split. Looking neither to the left nor to the right. Lickety-split. Lickety-split. Lickety-lickety-lickety-split.”
You sure this was what you wanted?
Okay here ya go, pr:
“If she answered, he could not hear it, and he certainly couldn’t see her, so he went. First he crawled the rocks one by one, one by one, till his hands touched shore and the nursing sound of the sea was behind him. He felt around, crawled off and then stood up. Breathing heavily with his mouth open he took a few tentative steps. The pebbles made him stumble and so did the roots of trees. He threw out his hands to guide and steady his going. By and by he walked steadier, now steadier. The mist lifted and the trees stepped back a bit as if to make the way easier for a certain kind of man. Then he ran. Lickety-split. Lickety-split. Looking neither to the left nor to the right. Lickety-split. Lickety-split. Lickety-lickety-lickety-split.”
You sure this was what you wanted?
Answer: Margaret Cho is the Asian Toni Morrison.
Answer: Margaret Cho is the Asian Toni Morrison.
What White People Like
Talking about ethnic people they will never read.
Unless it’s of course, Tao Lin.
What White People Like
Talking about ethnic people they will never read.
Unless it’s of course, Tao Lin.
for real n whatnot
for real n whatnot
Of all the dumb ass posts on this shit, this is probably the dumbest. Vaguely (some would probably say not-so-vaguely) racist. Willfully ignorant. I think I’m done with this shit. Some of y’all have interesting posts, but that’s outweighed by the dumb shit. It’s not even inspired stupidity. Would anyone ask the same meaningless question about say, Mary Gaitskill or Margaret Atwood? What constitutes equivalency? What is Blake really attempting to say with his post? Why am I wasting time with this shit? I don’t know.
Of all the dumb ass posts on this shit, this is probably the dumbest. Vaguely (some would probably say not-so-vaguely) racist. Willfully ignorant. I think I’m done with this shit. Some of y’all have interesting posts, but that’s outweighed by the dumb shit. It’s not even inspired stupidity. Would anyone ask the same meaningless question about say, Mary Gaitskill or Margaret Atwood? What constitutes equivalency? What is Blake really attempting to say with his post? Why am I wasting time with this shit? I don’t know.
Who is the Asian equivalent of Mary Gaitskill then? Sheesh.
Who is the Asian equivalent of Mary Gaitskill then? Sheesh.
Tho I already know the answer to that one. It’s that guy in those movies with the fast cars.
I only ask questions when I don’t know the answer or something
Tho I already know the answer to that one. It’s that guy in those movies with the fast cars.
I only ask questions when I don’t know the answer or something
Does Amy Tan count as the Asian Toni Morrison? What about Peter Ho Davies – is he the Asian Toni Morrison?
Does Amy Tan count as the Asian Toni Morrison? What about Peter Ho Davies – is he the Asian Toni Morrison?
Fucking brilliant! Did you see my lickety split comment a bit later in this thread! ? I loved that book. Loved it. I read it so long ago but really, it stuck with me. Thank you KKP. Right now I am going to check out the link to your name. I know people are giving shit to Blake for this but what I feel is- we can talk about her work. Maybe that makes me stupid but I wrote a very stupid post about my initial reaction to Nabokov’s stories ( i know see it had to do with picking them up right after reading Lolita, and it was jarring, the change in motion of the work). I think Tar Baby was formative for me. I also was blown away by Song of Solomon- it made me reread that book of the bible in a new way. Thanks thanks thanks kkp.
I think I’m the Asian Amy Tan as well as being the Martian Sam Pink.
everyone go read kkp’s post above in this thread of the last graph of Tar Baby. And she EARNED that last graph. She was Cormac McCarthy before he was. No lie. Eat me.
I think I’m the Asian Amy Tan as well as being the Martian Sam Pink.
If she answered, he could not hear it, and he certainly couldn’t see her, so he went. First he crawled the rocks one by one, one by one, till his hands touched shore and the nursing sound of the sea was behind him. He felt around, crawled off and then stood up. Breathing heavily with his mouth open he took a few tentative steps. The pebbles made him stumble and so did the roots of trees. He threw out his hands to guide and steady his going. By and by he walked steadier, now steadier. The mist lifted and the trees stepped back a bit as if to make the way easier for a certain kind of man. Then he ran. Lickety-split. Lickety-split. Looking neither to the left nor to the right. Lickety-split. Lickety-split. Lickety-lickety-lickety-split.”
Thanks to kkp. Top that assholes.
You are welcome pr and you are right about this post and the Nabokov one too. Jazz was always my favorite Morrison but I haven’t given her much thought in about 10 years. At least this “vaguely racist” post got me off my couch and into my stacks of books.
You are welcome pr and you are right about this post and the Nabokov one too. Jazz was always my favorite Morrison but I haven’t given her much thought in about 10 years. At least this “vaguely racist” post got me off my couch and into my stacks of books.
thanks for bringing up Jazz. I did read that! I forgot. I read that before Paradise, and after Beloved, obviously. But yes, I wrote a shit ass stupid person post about -of all people – Nabokov!- and that is because I hope we can be stupid and silly here and know that we are not bad people.
Honestly, I didn’t get Jazz – i read it in manuscript form to sell it to foreign publishers, when I was a foreign scout–and I read Paradise – and you know? I was not into those two books. That said, Tar Baby, Song of Solomon, Sula, (The Bluest Eye was her earliest book, but published later, and I loved it , but you feel that it was early work, not a bad thing but she got better, like we all do I hope) and I stand by Beloved as a masterpiece.
I love my editor bb, and I think he just likes to be an ass- as I was in the Nabokov piece- and we could go on and on how Jimmy Chen makes all sorts of off color jokes regarding asians and whatever.
Anyway, I thank you so much kkp, for finding that graph. That book killed me in the best way. Thank you.
‘the god of small things’ always reminds me just a little of ‘beloved’ – to do with how it uses language, and the format of the book itself.
arundhati roy probably isn’t the asian toni morrison, though.
‘the god of small things’ always reminds me just a little of ‘beloved’ – to do with how it uses language, and the format of the book itself.
arundhati roy probably isn’t the asian toni morrison, though.
but i don’t think of her as using magic realism or being a child of modernism, but i like her. she’s realism, no? she’s good.
Yeah, I meant you were right in that talking about writers, books, etc. no matter how it starts leads to thinking about writers books etc. and that is a good thing.
I don’t remember why I liked Jazz but I remember I used to say I liked it.
Yeah, I meant you were right in that talking about writers, books, etc. no matter how it starts leads to thinking about writers books etc. and that is a good thing.
I don’t remember why I liked Jazz but I remember I used to say I liked it.
the asian sam pink is the velcro ricky schroeder
the asian sam pink is the velcro ricky schroeder
In this case, I think Blake made fun of himself. I do that all the time. Also, as a fellow contib, my voice has not been negated in this thread, so I feel the need to defend the general “racy” and honest voice of the site. I love Toni Morrison. That is great you liked Jazz. Anything I read a long time ago-HELLOOO BB- needs to be looked at again. Then again, I feel fairly secure in my knowlege of Morrison;s work and know she has truly genuis moments, to my mind ,largely before she won that Nobel- and so, fuck em. Hence the eat me thing I said when reposting your, kkp, last graph of Tar Baby.
Specially with you wadbrains who think you “discovered” McCarthy- haha. She was as way as Catholic as him and just as wierd BUT BEFORE HIM.
Hi. I love you guys.
Velcro Ricky Schroeder. damn, but dude- it’s RICK now. RICK!
Velcro Ricky Schroeder. damn, but dude- it’s RICK now. RICK!
arundhati roy? a lot of what she does in god of small things – the very lyrical poetic sentences, details that reoccur, the non-linear patchwork type structure – all remind me of ‘beloved.’ things that become steadily more potent by the time you finally get the impact of being able to put them all together. (which is really nicely done. if either of them was less talented, those repeated details could just be annoying.)
but yeah … i guess tgost is more of a realist novel. i think morrison’s magic realism (it’s weird, i’d never thought of her in those terms) falls in line with her feeling of telling myth/fable.
i can’t believe i gave such a serious answer to this question.
arundhati roy? a lot of what she does in god of small things – the very lyrical poetic sentences, details that reoccur, the non-linear patchwork type structure – all remind me of ‘beloved.’ things that become steadily more potent by the time you finally get the impact of being able to put them all together. (which is really nicely done. if either of them was less talented, those repeated details could just be annoying.)
but yeah … i guess tgost is more of a realist novel. i think morrison’s magic realism (it’s weird, i’d never thought of her in those terms) falls in line with her feeling of telling myth/fable.
i can’t believe i gave such a serious answer to this question.
so far you are in the lead
so far you are in the lead
Lyric is one thing, stretches of reality is another. I like Roy’s work very much. I just never put her in the same – oh, well- same “kind” of writing as Morrison. She strikes me as a realist-and I love realism-and Morrison is in no way a realist.
I’m a huge defender of Paradise but I feel like I’m a very tiny minority.
I’m a huge defender of Paradise but I feel like I’m a very tiny minority.
also maxine hong kinston
also maxine hong kinston
I’m black. I am also a somewhat large Uncle Tom. I’m sorry you had to read Beloved in high school. I apologize for the whole black race.
I think she copies Faulkner too much. Sometimes I can’t tell the difference between Beloved or As I Lay Dying, because in both books someone is dead but not really. Song of Solomon made me stop feeling like an uncle tom for a little while, though. Tar Baby is sitting on a shelf somewhere in here.
I’m black. I am also a somewhat large Uncle Tom. I’m sorry you had to read Beloved in high school. I apologize for the whole black race.
I think she copies Faulkner too much. Sometimes I can’t tell the difference between Beloved or As I Lay Dying, because in both books someone is dead but not really. Song of Solomon made me stop feeling like an uncle tom for a little while, though. Tar Baby is sitting on a shelf somewhere in here.
I liked Jazz.
I liked Jazz.
your email addy rules.
your email addy rules.
I love Arundhati Roy as well. A lot. I feel compelled to say that in this thread.
I love Arundhati Roy as well. A lot. I feel compelled to say that in this thread.
My favorite noise records:
Wolf eyes – dread
Yellow swans – psychic secession
Andy ortman – nightmania
Aufgehoben – khora
Merzbow – sphere
My favorite noise records:
Wolf eyes – dread
Yellow swans – psychic secession
Andy ortman – nightmania
Aufgehoben – khora
Merzbow – sphere
thank you david, i have 2 of 5, will download the others, sounding nice on the trump tip from you
thank you david, i have 2 of 5, will download the others, sounding nice on the trump tip from you
Yes. Good. I hope you like them. I have more. Noise is it.
Yes. Good. I hope you like them. I have more. Noise is it.
how was she cormac mccarthy before he was when her first shit came out in 1970 and cormac mccarthy’s first book came out in 1965? and his second book came out before her first? is she fucking marty mcfly? is she betting on baseball games in the future? dumbest thing i ever read. also nothing she writes tops child of god in weirdness. trust.
how was she cormac mccarthy before he was when her first shit came out in 1970 and cormac mccarthy’s first book came out in 1965? and his second book came out before her first? is she fucking marty mcfly? is she betting on baseball games in the future? dumbest thing i ever read. also nothing she writes tops child of god in weirdness. trust.
I agree with Rion: “Of all the dumb ass posts on this shit, this is probably the dumbest. Vaguely (some would probably say not-so-vaguely) racist. Willfully ignorant. I think I’m done with this shit. ”
I would have phrased it differently, but you people have showed you’re totally immature and not to be taken seriously.
Stick to Tao Lin and his banality and simple-minded prose.
Justin, get out of here while you still might be taken seriously. The rest of you, get jobs as accountants or something.
I agree with Rion: “Of all the dumb ass posts on this shit, this is probably the dumbest. Vaguely (some would probably say not-so-vaguely) racist. Willfully ignorant. I think I’m done with this shit. ”
I would have phrased it differently, but you people have showed you’re totally immature and not to be taken seriously.
Stick to Tao Lin and his banality and simple-minded prose.
Justin, get out of here while you still might be taken seriously. The rest of you, get jobs as accountants or something.
Oh, and clean up your frat house, boys. I know you expect black women to do it for you but it ain’t 1955 Ohio anymore.
Jeez, with the Cave Canem shit and this, you’re basically a white supremacist site.
Nobody takes you seriously unless you can slip them a roofie, boys.
Oh, and clean up your frat house, boys. I know you expect black women to do it for you but it ain’t 1955 Ohio anymore.
Jeez, with the Cave Canem shit and this, you’re basically a white supremacist site.
Nobody takes you seriously unless you can slip them a roofie, boys.
And of course the biggest white supremacist is your Dear Leader T.L. He ain’t the Asian nothing.
And of course the biggest white supremacist is your Dear Leader T.L. He ain’t the Asian nothing.
I can’t hear “The Bluest Eye” without thinking of Neal Pollack’s “The Pinkest Eye”. Dunno why but that made me laugh a lot.
I think the rest of you should get jobs as accountants. Maybe work at Arthur A … oh well one of the other big ones.
I can’t hear “The Bluest Eye” without thinking of Neal Pollack’s “The Pinkest Eye”. Dunno why but that made me laugh a lot.
I think the rest of you should get jobs as accountants. Maybe work at Arthur A … oh well one of the other big ones.
how the fuck is this shit racist? i’m half asian and half black and neither half of me is feeling slighted. you stupid fucks. of course this shit is silly, have you read this site before? that’s one of the great things about it, the ability to mix the “high-brow” and “low-brow” you stupid literary fucks. fuck, fuck, fuck. omigod someone got upset at the cave canem shit which was hilarious and done on april fool’s. come the fuck on. it’s like when some motherfucker walks into a retail store and is like, blah, blah i’m never bringing my business in here ever again and then, quietly, a week later, slinks back in. and the whole time the workers are like, wtf, how many times have you come here before, like twice?
how the fuck is this shit racist? i’m half asian and half black and neither half of me is feeling slighted. you stupid fucks. of course this shit is silly, have you read this site before? that’s one of the great things about it, the ability to mix the “high-brow” and “low-brow” you stupid literary fucks. fuck, fuck, fuck. omigod someone got upset at the cave canem shit which was hilarious and done on april fool’s. come the fuck on. it’s like when some motherfucker walks into a retail store and is like, blah, blah i’m never bringing my business in here ever again and then, quietly, a week later, slinks back in. and the whole time the workers are like, wtf, how many times have you come here before, like twice?
I’m an accountant!
I’m an accountant!
br, clearly you should be an accountant. perhaps a lawyer.
ha, i love those that slink back into stores after throwing fits.
I work for a global asset mgmt corporation!
br, clearly you should be an accountant. perhaps a lawyer.
ha, i love those that slink back into stores after throwing fits.
I work for a global asset mgmt corporation!
Blake, will you please clarify? Do you mean who is the Asian Toni Morrison in terms of writing or cooking?
Blake, will you please clarify? Do you mean who is the Asian Toni Morrison in terms of writing or cooking?
very very, immature; the lot.
very very, immature; the lot.
i still have not received a satisfactory answer for the asian toni morrison
for the record, tho, i hate white people
i still have not received a satisfactory answer for the asian toni morrison
for the record, tho, i hate white people
HyoJung,
your insistence on pressing race on my even very ridiculous commentary on toni morrison belies that YOU, my dear, are the racist. not anyone on this retarded ass site.
if you haven’t noticed by now (surely, in your longtime perusal of this site, i mean clearly, since you have such a good sense of humor), we pick on everyone, for anything, because many of us are moody weirdos. it has nothing to do with the race of the author.
in fact, in review of those i’ve picked on personally, whites probably take the pack. if i’m being forced to see everybody as a damn color, which i do not until people like you, who act progressive but are really forcing everyone to stay in the mindset that everyone is a stat, make me look again at what i’ve said outside the context of what we’re really all here to talk about: BOOOOKS.
all that said, this post has nothing to do with anyone on the site but myself. me. i wrote it. no one else did, so if you want to insist on calling someone racist, i’m fine with taking your boring ass bait.
in the meantime, i’d encourage you to listen to more rap, to learn to enjoy the fun of being childish every now and then, the power of too much caffeine, and the pleasure of seeing people as people and not sets of social statistics.
adios.
HyoJung,
your insistence on pressing race on my even very ridiculous commentary on toni morrison belies that YOU, my dear, are the racist. not anyone on this retarded ass site.
if you haven’t noticed by now (surely, in your longtime perusal of this site, i mean clearly, since you have such a good sense of humor), we pick on everyone, for anything, because many of us are moody weirdos. it has nothing to do with the race of the author.
in fact, in review of those i’ve picked on personally, whites probably take the pack. if i’m being forced to see everybody as a damn color, which i do not until people like you, who act progressive but are really forcing everyone to stay in the mindset that everyone is a stat, make me look again at what i’ve said outside the context of what we’re really all here to talk about: BOOOOKS.
all that said, this post has nothing to do with anyone on the site but myself. me. i wrote it. no one else did, so if you want to insist on calling someone racist, i’m fine with taking your boring ass bait.
in the meantime, i’d encourage you to listen to more rap, to learn to enjoy the fun of being childish every now and then, the power of too much caffeine, and the pleasure of seeing people as people and not sets of social statistics.
adios.
repost of my comment above:
HyoJung,
your insistence on pressing race on my even very ridiculous commentary on toni morrison belies that YOU, my dear, are the racist.
if you haven’t noticed by now (surely, in your longtime perusal of this site, i mean clearly, since you have such a good sense of humor), we pick on everyone, for anything, because many of us are moody weirdos. it has nothing to do with the race of the author.
in fact, in review of those i’ve picked on personally, whites probably take the pack. if i’m being forced to see everybody as a damn color, which i do not until people like you, who act progressive but are really forcing everyone to stay in the mindset that everyone is a stat, make me look again at what i’ve said outside the context of what we’re really all here to talk about: BOOOOKS.
all that said, this post has nothing to do with anyone on the site but myself. me. i wrote it. no one else did, so if you want to insist on calling someone racist, i’m fine with taking your boring ass bait.
in the meantime, i’d encourage you to listen to more rap, to learn to enjoy the fun of being childish every now and then, the power of too much caffeine, and the pleasure of seeing people as people and not sets of social statistics.
adios.
repost of my comment above:
HyoJung,
your insistence on pressing race on my even very ridiculous commentary on toni morrison belies that YOU, my dear, are the racist.
if you haven’t noticed by now (surely, in your longtime perusal of this site, i mean clearly, since you have such a good sense of humor), we pick on everyone, for anything, because many of us are moody weirdos. it has nothing to do with the race of the author.
in fact, in review of those i’ve picked on personally, whites probably take the pack. if i’m being forced to see everybody as a damn color, which i do not until people like you, who act progressive but are really forcing everyone to stay in the mindset that everyone is a stat, make me look again at what i’ve said outside the context of what we’re really all here to talk about: BOOOOKS.
all that said, this post has nothing to do with anyone on the site but myself. me. i wrote it. no one else did, so if you want to insist on calling someone racist, i’m fine with taking your boring ass bait.
in the meantime, i’d encourage you to listen to more rap, to learn to enjoy the fun of being childish every now and then, the power of too much caffeine, and the pleasure of seeing people as people and not sets of social statistics.
adios.
hey, serious question, those upset by this. was it racist when dave chapell did something like this, ‘trading’ sports figures, and others, to different races, like white people got tiger woods, while, hmm, i can’t remember who black people got, but the chinese got wu tang clan?
hey, serious question, those upset by this. was it racist when dave chapell did something like this, ‘trading’ sports figures, and others, to different races, like white people got tiger woods, while, hmm, i can’t remember who black people got, but the chinese got wu tang clan?
Last night after my husband forced me away from the computer- I thought _ Michael Ondattje!!!!(sp.? I know, I suck)!!!!!
He’s all magical like Morrison.
Blake- I think that means I win!!!!!
I like her much better than him. I read The Cinniman SOmething over others ages ago.
Also, Blake, you asked you was the Indian Mary Gaitskill. As she is in my top five fave of writers, I would say this guy whose name escapes me (not the guy who won the booker, although i do like him) now but had a GREAT story in the n yorker a few months back that was from the POV of an elderly guy who works at this huge estate- he finally can afford a wife, she’s a bit slow or special, but he is happy and then she disappears and he gets beaten and shortly thereafter dies. I actually just got so sad thinking of it now. It was astoudning, absolutely killer. Gut wrenching, like Gaitskill’ story “Dont’ Cry”. Wow, anyone remembers that story and tells me the author name, i will send books too (I love using this site to clean my office, for real).
and odb changed his name to the old dirty chinese restaurant in the sky
Last night after my husband forced me away from the computer- I thought _ Michael Ondattje!!!!(sp.? I know, I suck)!!!!!
He’s all magical like Morrison.
Blake- I think that means I win!!!!!
I like her much better than him. I read The Cinniman SOmething over others ages ago.
Also, Blake, you asked you was the Indian Mary Gaitskill. As she is in my top five fave of writers, I would say this guy whose name escapes me (not the guy who won the booker, although i do like him) now but had a GREAT story in the n yorker a few months back that was from the POV of an elderly guy who works at this huge estate- he finally can afford a wife, she’s a bit slow or special, but he is happy and then she disappears and he gets beaten and shortly thereafter dies. I actually just got so sad thinking of it now. It was astoudning, absolutely killer. Gut wrenching, like Gaitskill’ story “Dont’ Cry”. Wow, anyone remembers that story and tells me the author name, i will send books too (I love using this site to clean my office, for real).
and odb changed his name to the old dirty chinese restaurant in the sky
i pick my toenails daily
i pick my toenails daily
It’s true she sometimes shows her influence a bit much, but come on -she’s great! Read Tar Baby and tell me she’s not great. Oh- other big influence of hers- Garcia Marquez.
It’s true she sometimes shows her influence a bit much, but come on -she’s great! Read Tar Baby and tell me she’s not great. Oh- other big influence of hers- Garcia Marquez.
i live in houston texas in 2009!
i live in houston texas in 2009!
“dumbest thing I ever read”. I was trying to be funny. Sorry if it didn’t work. I read child of god. I didn’t find it wierd at all. Morbid, yes, but “wierd” no. It was quite straightforward as I recall.
“dumbest thing I ever read”. I was trying to be funny. Sorry if it didn’t work. I read child of god. I didn’t find it wierd at all. Morbid, yes, but “wierd” no. It was quite straightforward as I recall.
did someone say immature? thats what i was waiting for all day until i chimed in on this.
i read SULA and it was pretty fucking stupid.
THE BLUEST EYE was a pretty great read.
i havent read any others so fuck off all you racist bastards. get out while you still can justin.
i just finished oscar wao. it was pretty good but not worth a fucking pulitzer.
Wow. I just have to repeat that to myself “dumbest thing I ever read”. That’s quite something.
did someone say immature? thats what i was waiting for all day until i chimed in on this.
i read SULA and it was pretty fucking stupid.
THE BLUEST EYE was a pretty great read.
i havent read any others so fuck off all you racist bastards. get out while you still can justin.
i just finished oscar wao. it was pretty good but not worth a fucking pulitzer.
Wow. I just have to repeat that to myself “dumbest thing I ever read”. That’s quite something.
pr, i don’t know the author/story you refer to but it reminded me how much years ago I liked Akhil’s Sharma’s BASS and O’Henry stories (at least one of which was in the New Yorker). His novel back in 02 or so was okay but GD i loved his stories.
pr, i don’t know the author/story you refer to but it reminded me how much years ago I liked Akhil’s Sharma’s BASS and O’Henry stories (at least one of which was in the New Yorker). His novel back in 02 or so was okay but GD i loved his stories.
maybe that’s him? 2008 O’Henry? I have that somewhere. Thanks David! I’ll go google him to see.
Also, I am aware that I changed this from Asian to Indian. But, um I’m just having fun talking books.
maybe that’s him? 2008 O’Henry? I have that somewhere. Thanks David! I’ll go google him to see.
Also, I am aware that I changed this from Asian to Indian. But, um I’m just having fun talking books.
how about chin
how about chin
that was meant in response to blake’s question
” i’m being forced to see everybody as a damn color, which i do not until people like you”
white frat boys never see anybody as a color. that’s why right-wingers like repuglicans always talk about “color blindness”
You’re not so much racist as immature. Like I said, this seems like silly little white boys. You’re just irrelevant, like John McCain.
that was meant in response to blake’s question
” i’m being forced to see everybody as a damn color, which i do not until people like you”
white frat boys never see anybody as a color. that’s why right-wingers like repuglicans always talk about “color blindness”
You’re not so much racist as immature. Like I said, this seems like silly little white boys. You’re just irrelevant, like John McCain.
i think i just won.
i think i just won.
I remember that story, too! I have no idea who wrote it. I’m working on it. They need to make a New Yorker search field where you can put in plot points.
I remember that story, too! I have no idea who wrote it. I’m working on it. They need to make a New Yorker search field where you can put in plot points.
You just proved you’re a callow boy. To see it as “winning” is so you. Bye bye, little one.
You just proved you’re a callow boy. To see it as “winning” is so you. Bye bye, little one.
Maybe it was A Spoiled Man by Daniyal Mueenuddin?
Maybe it was A Spoiled Man by Daniyal Mueenuddin?
no, think harder.
no, think harder.
dude david peak, DREAD is the bomb, but DEAD HILLS is better son. although any record with BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN is immediately great. also, PSYCHIC SECESSION looks like a pale bitch next to BRING THE NEON WAR HOME.
dude david peak, DREAD is the bomb, but DEAD HILLS is better son. although any record with BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN is immediately great. also, PSYCHIC SECESSION looks like a pale bitch next to BRING THE NEON WAR HOME.
YES!!! send me your address to peterrutt@live.com for books.
KKP won!
YES!!! send me your address to peterrutt@live.com for books.
KKP won!
Monchichi
Monchichi
I just want to apologize to anyone who I offended with my inaccurate information regarding McCarthy and Morrison-I was trying to be stupid and hyperbolic in a funny way, not in a serious way, and I am a huge fan of both authors, um, so it wasn’t intended to be serious. Also, when I said “eat me” I didn’t really mean it. Also, when I said “you assholes” or something like that, I also was kidding. Last night, I smoked a bowl and drank a bottle of wine so I wasn’t at my best, but I did not mean to offend anyone with my stupidity and foul language, I was just trying to enjoy a lighthearted discussion of books.
And again, thanks KKP for your sleuthwork!
I just want to apologize to anyone who I offended with my inaccurate information regarding McCarthy and Morrison-I was trying to be stupid and hyperbolic in a funny way, not in a serious way, and I am a huge fan of both authors, um, so it wasn’t intended to be serious. Also, when I said “eat me” I didn’t really mean it. Also, when I said “you assholes” or something like that, I also was kidding. Last night, I smoked a bowl and drank a bottle of wine so I wasn’t at my best, but I did not mean to offend anyone with my stupidity and foul language, I was just trying to enjoy a lighthearted discussion of books.
And again, thanks KKP for your sleuthwork!
pr! never apologize for your mind. you are a golden child.
pr! never apologize for your mind. you are a golden child.
dead hills. I don’t have that. I’ll get it. I picked Dread because of “Let the Smoke Rise” which is like watching and listening to those camcorder videos that arsonist in california made where he kept talking to some guy named Omar.
The most recent Hair Police record was insanely awesome. And Prurient’s “And Still Wanting.”
I have tickets for Throbbing Gristle.
dead hills. I don’t have that. I’ll get it. I picked Dread because of “Let the Smoke Rise” which is like watching and listening to those camcorder videos that arsonist in california made where he kept talking to some guy named Omar.
The most recent Hair Police record was insanely awesome. And Prurient’s “And Still Wanting.”
I have tickets for Throbbing Gristle.
beloved was a great book i think.
htmlg is not a frat boy house — more like a bunch of moody roomates who don’t live in the same house.
everyone is racist, relax.
beloved was a great book i think.
htmlg is not a frat boy house — more like a bunch of moody roomates who don’t live in the same house.
everyone is racist, relax.
“jimmy, help me carry this pony keg bra, chad just passed out and some bitches are coming over bra.”
“jimmy, help me carry this pony keg bra, chad just passed out and some bitches are coming over bra.”
bra is the real bro.
thank you sam pink.
you are real.
bra is the real bro.
thank you sam pink.
you are real.
I heart you Blake.
ditto 4 life
ditto 4 life
all the white bitchez go wild when you start shit talkin toni morrison, man, it’s better than crystal meth to get that V milkin
i was told once i got my mfa i wouldn’t be eligible to be referred to as ‘immature’ anymore, i want my $$ back
all the white bitchez go wild when you start shit talkin toni morrison, man, it’s better than crystal meth to get that V milkin
i was told once i got my mfa i wouldn’t be eligible to be referred to as ‘immature’ anymore, i want my $$ back
prrrrrrrrrrrr don’t apologize.
be with fault and without excuse.
on a side note i feel like i totally missed out on this.
sigh.
i had a post i wrote a while back but deleted it because i didn’t want to piss off some of the other htmlgiant peeps.
it was a post where i talked about censorship and how we were serious and we would never use certain words but then i wrote out all the words.
it was a giant list of racial/gender put downs.
the seriousness of this thread reminds me of that post.
tar babies
prrrrrrrrrrrr don’t apologize.
be with fault and without excuse.
on a side note i feel like i totally missed out on this.
sigh.
i had a post i wrote a while back but deleted it because i didn’t want to piss off some of the other htmlgiant peeps.
it was a post where i talked about censorship and how we were serious and we would never use certain words but then i wrote out all the words.
it was a giant list of racial/gender put downs.
the seriousness of this thread reminds me of that post.
tar babies
hahahahahah
hahahahahah
‘chad’
‘chad’
aka
naw, girl, i so won. WIN!
if you want a rematch, it’s monopoly
can’t nobody fade HyoJung, she has all the chops, like the bank
aka
naw, girl, i so won. WIN!
if you want a rematch, it’s monopoly
can’t nobody fade HyoJung, she has all the chops, like the bank
Blake, I get that you think you’re being “post-racial” and humorous, and I get that you’re not genuinely suggesting that Morrison’s accomplishments are unworthy of respect, but I think you need to at least consider why some might read your dismissal of Toni Morrison as a dismissal of all writers of color. Your tone in some of these comments, particularly in statements like “I would read this if it were written by Jonathan Lethem,” reflects for some a perhaps-unconscious cultural arrogance and disinterest in stories about certain kinds of lives and experiences, esp stories that directly address experiences of racism (a key difference between Morrison & Tao, I think). I should clarify that I do not understand racism as you seem to, as any and all awareness of racial difference, but as a still-hegemonic cultural and social system of White supremacy that privileges White folks and marginalizes people of color. I don’t think this means you can’t joke about not liking Toni Morrison’s writing, but I am not at all comfortable with your suggestion that any and all discussion of race is itself racist… understanding race and privilege is an important part of many folks’ antiracist practices. You can choose not to value this, but don’t dismiss it as racist. I wasn’t going to say anything because I didn’t feel like there was much point to doing so, but by not saying anything, I feel like I’m giving tacit approval to your dismissal of HyoJung’s concerns, which are real and valid.
Blake, I get that you think you’re being “post-racial” and humorous, and I get that you’re not genuinely suggesting that Morrison’s accomplishments are unworthy of respect, but I think you need to at least consider why some might read your dismissal of Toni Morrison as a dismissal of all writers of color. Your tone in some of these comments, particularly in statements like “I would read this if it were written by Jonathan Lethem,” reflects for some a perhaps-unconscious cultural arrogance and disinterest in stories about certain kinds of lives and experiences, esp stories that directly address experiences of racism (a key difference between Morrison & Tao, I think). I should clarify that I do not understand racism as you seem to, as any and all awareness of racial difference, but as a still-hegemonic cultural and social system of White supremacy that privileges White folks and marginalizes people of color. I don’t think this means you can’t joke about not liking Toni Morrison’s writing, but I am not at all comfortable with your suggestion that any and all discussion of race is itself racist… understanding race and privilege is an important part of many folks’ antiracist practices. You can choose not to value this, but don’t dismiss it as racist. I wasn’t going to say anything because I didn’t feel like there was much point to doing so, but by not saying anything, I feel like I’m giving tacit approval to your dismissal of HyoJung’s concerns, which are real and valid.
Haven’t seen it, but I believe ironic humor can be used in an antiracist way… for instance, I think Sarah Silverman’s stuff is mostly really satirical and ultimately critical of racism, and most of what I know of Chapelle’s work falls in this camp as well (and actually I would characterize a lot of Jimmy’s humorous writing about race similarly). But there’s a very fine line between the humor that critiques racism and the humor that reinforces it, and some of Blake’s comments in the discussion thread (ie suggesting that calling something racist is racist in and of itself) make me question whether he’s able to recognize that line.
Haven’t seen it, but I believe ironic humor can be used in an antiracist way… for instance, I think Sarah Silverman’s stuff is mostly really satirical and ultimately critical of racism, and most of what I know of Chapelle’s work falls in this camp as well (and actually I would characterize a lot of Jimmy’s humorous writing about race similarly). But there’s a very fine line between the humor that critiques racism and the humor that reinforces it, and some of Blake’s comments in the discussion thread (ie suggesting that calling something racist is racist in and of itself) make me question whether he’s able to recognize that line.
i had to read every book toni morrison ever wrote for a lit class in college. in 10 weeks. i couldn’t drop the class because it was like 2 months before graduation and i needed an upper division lit class.
fuck.
i had to read every book toni morrison ever wrote for a lit class in college. in 10 weeks. i couldn’t drop the class because it was like 2 months before graduation and i needed an upper division lit class.
fuck.
“white frat boys never see anybody as a color. that’s why right-wingers like repuglicans always talk about “color blindness””
what is that? telll me.
Did Blake ever generalize about race like that?
I like you Tim, but is that comment OK with you? I think what you do is great. But you are OK with that comment?
hi Tim. thanks for the comment. i do understand your thinking. tone is one of those elusive things that seem to be the eruptor of more bickering than any kind of content or form, which is what makes the place itself interesting, perhaps.
i interpret HyoJung’s ‘concerns’ as racist because of the immediate assumption on her part that the above post is determining one race over another. as if the only reason i could possibly criticize or make light of toni morrison is that she is black. as if there is no possible other criteria for my play.
the tone of this site is very often one of unseriousness and jest and if you aren’t equipped for that, you shouldn’t be reading, and i am not prepared to coddle the readers who come to the site wanting a point of view that can be found widespread across the lit blog ‘community’.
for instance, if i make fun of john updike, saying ‘who is the asian john updike?’ why am i not then being racist against white people?
because i’m white? can a white person be racist against a white person? does racism have rules?
am i able to say Usher’s music sucks? or am I stuck to only the Doors?
more important: how could my dismissal of Morrison be a dismissal of all writers of color unless the person interpreting that dismissal sees all writers of color as the same?
for me, and you can question my honesty and integrity on this one until the cows come home, but i am being real as real can be with you: Toni Morrison is Toni Morrison. Richard Yates is Richard Yates. Bill Gates is Bill Gates and I am tired. Fuck it. Shhh. Come on.
that i would dismiss any author (for this is a website about writing) on anything other than my experience with their work (however limited and close minded in its rendering, which is my bag to carry) is an arbitrary (and presupposed, and maybe desperate) accusation, i think, and one based off of an insistence to apply a set of very tired judgmental standards to something that is meant to be, at its very best, a joke, and at its worst, something to talk about.
notice how this post has received more than 100 comments while most any serious post, always has less than 10.
notice that most anyone who posts on this site posts serious and positive articles 10 times for every 1 ridiculous piece they put up, and yet the ones they are remembered for, and whined at, are the ones that mean to them, i think, the least.
what does that say about a literary audience? even if it is a minority of that audience, the ones who comment on blogs?
what is your true motivation for getting your panties in a wad?
will my saying ‘panties in a wad’ be insisted upon as sexism? do i now hate women?
anyhow, i insist that those people who insist on applying race and racism to any forum’s discussion of people of color outside of any light but ingenuity are themselves the ones hunting for the fight, and are themselves the ones enabling the concepts and ideas that allow true ‘hatred’ (the real form of racism) to continue on and on and on.
everything is not political, unless you make it.
everything is not a chance to feel pushed out or put upon or left behind.
everything is not someone hating someone.
sometimes things can just be.
more so, the reasoning behind this post was part of an idea that one can stir up a hotbed with little to no thought behind a post while posts of actual concern and thought and value are stepped over. i find it amusing that these sorts of posts ‘so immature’ and ‘(vaguely racist)’ are the ones that brings the scourge-mongers out of the woodwork.
i’d love to see people get amped up over something real and true, but really, a lot of people are online because they don’t have a boxing ring, or a gossip shop, in their backyard.
notice also how quickly HyoJung’s ‘concerns’ become true racist name calling, true presupposition and pigeonholing, which belies the fact that most likely she is so worried about who is racist and who isn’t because of something askew in her own boat. which is fine with me. which i can smile at. and take further. and enjoy.
and this will continue on. and this is what a lot of people talking in the same place is made of. and i am getting tired of being serious. there is so much time for being serious. there are so many blogs ready to be serious day and night and in and out, and you can read them. personally, i like my serious heavily dosed with some of the unserious. the red herrings. the throw up explosion. the goof. the hrm.
if i ever met you, any of you, i would shake your hand, as i would shake anybody’s hand now through my computer monitor if i could do it.
we are people who read books.
we are people.
this’ll be the last time i ain’t laughin.
hi Tim. thanks for the comment. i do understand your thinking. tone is one of those elusive things that seem to be the eruptor of more bickering than any kind of content or form, which is what makes the place itself interesting, perhaps.
i interpret HyoJung’s ‘concerns’ as racist because of the immediate assumption on her part that the above post is determining one race over another. as if the only reason i could possibly criticize or make light of toni morrison is that she is black. as if there is no possible other criteria for my play.
the tone of this site is very often one of unseriousness and jest and if you aren’t equipped for that, you shouldn’t be reading, and i am not prepared to coddle the readers who come to the site wanting a point of view that can be found widespread across the lit blog ‘community’.
for instance, if i make fun of john updike, saying ‘who is the asian john updike?’ why am i not then being racist against white people?
because i’m white? can a white person be racist against a white person? does racism have rules?
am i able to say Usher’s music sucks? or am I stuck to only the Doors?
more important: how could my dismissal of Morrison be a dismissal of all writers of color unless the person interpreting that dismissal sees all writers of color as the same?
for me, and you can question my honesty and integrity on this one until the cows come home, but i am being real as real can be with you: Toni Morrison is Toni Morrison. Richard Yates is Richard Yates. Bill Gates is Bill Gates and I am tired. Fuck it. Shhh. Come on.
that i would dismiss any author (for this is a website about writing) on anything other than my experience with their work (however limited and close minded in its rendering, which is my bag to carry) is an arbitrary (and presupposed, and maybe desperate) accusation, i think, and one based off of an insistence to apply a set of very tired judgmental standards to something that is meant to be, at its very best, a joke, and at its worst, something to talk about.
notice how this post has received more than 100 comments while most any serious post, always has less than 10.
notice that most anyone who posts on this site posts serious and positive articles 10 times for every 1 ridiculous piece they put up, and yet the ones they are remembered for, and whined at, are the ones that mean to them, i think, the least.
what does that say about a literary audience? even if it is a minority of that audience, the ones who comment on blogs?
what is your true motivation for getting your panties in a wad?
will my saying ‘panties in a wad’ be insisted upon as sexism? do i now hate women?
anyhow, i insist that those people who insist on applying race and racism to any forum’s discussion of people of color outside of any light but ingenuity are themselves the ones hunting for the fight, and are themselves the ones enabling the concepts and ideas that allow true ‘hatred’ (the real form of racism) to continue on and on and on.
everything is not political, unless you make it.
everything is not a chance to feel pushed out or put upon or left behind.
everything is not someone hating someone.
sometimes things can just be.
more so, the reasoning behind this post was part of an idea that one can stir up a hotbed with little to no thought behind a post while posts of actual concern and thought and value are stepped over. i find it amusing that these sorts of posts ‘so immature’ and ‘(vaguely racist)’ are the ones that brings the scourge-mongers out of the woodwork.
i’d love to see people get amped up over something real and true, but really, a lot of people are online because they don’t have a boxing ring, or a gossip shop, in their backyard.
notice also how quickly HyoJung’s ‘concerns’ become true racist name calling, true presupposition and pigeonholing, which belies the fact that most likely she is so worried about who is racist and who isn’t because of something askew in her own boat. which is fine with me. which i can smile at. and take further. and enjoy.
and this will continue on. and this is what a lot of people talking in the same place is made of. and i am getting tired of being serious. there is so much time for being serious. there are so many blogs ready to be serious day and night and in and out, and you can read them. personally, i like my serious heavily dosed with some of the unserious. the red herrings. the throw up explosion. the goof. the hrm.
if i ever met you, any of you, i would shake your hand, as i would shake anybody’s hand now through my computer monitor if i could do it.
we are people who read books.
we are people.
this’ll be the last time i ain’t laughin.
well said. i agree 100%
well said. i agree 100%
frank fucking chin
frank fucking chin
…. race
(runs)
Eventually I will get over myself and take a crack at it, pr. The Bluest Eye completely defeated me. I read that two or three times and I felt like I didn’t know English anymore, or something.
Song of Solomon definitely reminded me of 100 Years of Solitude. I’m a big Marquez fan. Joseph Conrad’s Nostromo was another big influence, too.
Eventually I will get over myself and take a crack at it, pr. The Bluest Eye completely defeated me. I read that two or three times and I felt like I didn’t know English anymore, or something.
Song of Solomon definitely reminded me of 100 Years of Solitude. I’m a big Marquez fan. Joseph Conrad’s Nostromo was another big influence, too.
People need to calm down. Really. I teach race, gender, AND mother-fucking writing for a living. Blake’s no racist. People are just too sensitive.
I have read Morrison. It’s lovely writing but only challenging in that people are “challenged” by the subject matter, not by the writing. The topic is engaging because it’s Other, and people, particularly white people, like Otherness. It’s exotic. So yeah, Tao Lin is no Morrison. Tao Lin kicks Morrison’s ass. One day, the rest of the world will acknowledge it too. (The rest of the world being those less “enlightened” than those reading this blog, not that anyone is reading this far down… what comment is this? #200?)
People need to calm down. Really. I teach race, gender, AND mother-fucking writing for a living. Blake’s no racist. People are just too sensitive.
I have read Morrison. It’s lovely writing but only challenging in that people are “challenged” by the subject matter, not by the writing. The topic is engaging because it’s Other, and people, particularly white people, like Otherness. It’s exotic. So yeah, Tao Lin is no Morrison. Tao Lin kicks Morrison’s ass. One day, the rest of the world will acknowledge it too. (The rest of the world being those less “enlightened” than those reading this blog, not that anyone is reading this far down… what comment is this? #200?)
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