Author Spotlight
The Bugs Are Real
Check out the new issue of Guernica, guest edited by Brenda Wineapple, who selected three lovely essays all by women. In a collagistic tour-de-force called “Bohemian Rhapsody,” nonfiction czarista Sara Faye Lieber* reminds us that the bugs–bedbugs–are very real, and they pose a threat to nothing so much as–get this–our books. Find out why, and much else besides, in the essay.
You’ll also find out why I did not choose a close-up photo of a bedbug, and why even the one I selected is probably still an irresponsible choice, if less so.
You’ll also find out what else bedbugs can destroy.
You’ll also find out that you can’t wait to read the book that Sara is working on.
*Full disclosure: Sara is my friend. A big part of the reason I made her my friend in the first place was because she told these hilarious stories about her experience with bedbugs.
Tags: Brenda Wineapple, Guernica, Sara Faye Lieber
Bring back DDT!
Thanks for posting, that essay is brilliant.
Bring back DDT!
Thanks for posting, that essay is brilliant.
That was some major-league essaying.
That was some major-league essaying.
Brenda Wineapple was one of the best teachers I ever had. Love her.
Brenda Wineapple was one of the best teachers I ever had. Love her.
Just read this and loved it. In fact, this whole issue was smashing. Also, Hoarders last night (a show I’m obsessed with) was about bedbugs. It was horrifying.
Just read this and loved it. In fact, this whole issue was smashing. Also, Hoarders last night (a show I’m obsessed with) was about bedbugs. It was horrifying.
I had bedbugs last fall for about 4 months. man, they are the worst
I had bedbugs last fall for about 4 months. man, they are the worst
bedbugs are seriously odd
bedbugs are seriously odd
I’m curious as to what the meaning of “bohemian” is these days.
Seriously.
I’m curious as to what the meaning of “bohemian” is these days.
Seriously.
I spend most of my time being confused about things most people say as far as their application of nomenclature.
I spend most of my time being confused about things most people say as far as their application of nomenclature.
i means “the spirit of new york city,” you srsly didn’t know that?
i means “the spirit of new york city,” you srsly didn’t know that?
I just didn’t recognize anything as “bohemian” in this essay, but my definition might be outdated. I’m not trying to be a wise guy.
I just didn’t recognize anything as “bohemian” in this essay, but my definition might be outdated. I’m not trying to be a wise guy.
The spirit of New York City is not “bohemian”.
The spirit of New York City is not “bohemian”.
re: books and bedbugs,
I once had a squished bedbug fall out of a used copy of Infinite Jest. I don’t think I’ve ever had bed bugs, but I was really paranoid I did for a long time after that.
re: books and bedbugs,
I once had a squished bedbug fall out of a used copy of Infinite Jest. I don’t think I’ve ever had bed bugs, but I was really paranoid I did for a long time after that.
Now I want to read everything ever written by Sara Faye Lieber.
Now I want to read everything ever written by Sara Faye Lieber.
Pull quote: “A lot of people in publishing get bedbugs, partly because they hoard books and paper, and partly because they make less money than people in other professions.”
Professions.
She’s writing about the professional class. Publishing professionals, okay, but professionals nonetheless. I don’t see Bohemian. Unless that word has a different meaning. Which is why I asked.
Pull quote: “A lot of people in publishing get bedbugs, partly because they hoard books and paper, and partly because they make less money than people in other professions.”
Professions.
She’s writing about the professional class. Publishing professionals, okay, but professionals nonetheless. I don’t see Bohemian. Unless that word has a different meaning. Which is why I asked.
pretty sure the word roughly translates to “gypsy.” but i think it’s taken on a more bourgeois undertone in the last few decades. i think the article describes the modern bohemian well: “…anyone who believes in the value of the old, of sacred objects culled from bargain bins, of rare books found on shady street corners.” it takes money to be bohemian these days–especially in nyc.
pretty sure the word roughly translates to “gypsy.” but i think it’s taken on a more bourgeois undertone in the last few decades. i think the article describes the modern bohemian well: “…anyone who believes in the value of the old, of sacred objects culled from bargain bins, of rare books found on shady street corners.” it takes money to be bohemian these days–especially in nyc.
I was totally misled by this article, which mentioned nothing about the Germanic kingdom pivotal to the Thirty Years’ War. Where was Frederick V? Where were the Habsburgs? Bohemian, indeed.
I was totally misled by this article, which mentioned nothing about the Germanic kingdom pivotal to the Thirty Years’ War. Where was Frederick V? Where were the Habsburgs? Bohemian, indeed.
If these are the Bohemians she’s writing about, the essay actually makes more sense.
They also liked old, sacred objects.
I think David Peak (above) gives a cogent explanation. Which leaves me with the impression that the word has lost all meaning.
I also think my question was fair.
Overall hers was a decent attempt (essai).
If these are the Bohemians she’s writing about, the essay actually makes more sense.
They also liked old, sacred objects.
I think David Peak (above) gives a cogent explanation. Which leaves me with the impression that the word has lost all meaning.
I also think my question was fair.
Overall hers was a decent attempt (essai).
Sorry, Kevin. Your question was fair. I was just being an ass. :)
I bet the original Bohemians had a whole lot of bedbugs. Probably not a lot of books, though.
Sorry, Kevin. Your question was fair. I was just being an ass. :)
I bet the original Bohemians had a whole lot of bedbugs. Probably not a lot of books, though.
Oh no worries, Amber. I can take it. I think.
Oh no worries, Amber. I can take it. I think.
I recently read an article (shit what was it in?) about how non-fic as a genre differentiates itself from fiction mostly in the way it is/can relay information alongside story, that people are drawn to the genre in that way, less so than they are drawn to good story. (Of course, if that were truly the case, why is memoir so hot? The article may have been talking out of its ass, who knows?)
In all that rambling, I mean to say this essay exemplifies that notion of good non-fic. Great essay. It also made me completely frightened of Half-Price Books. Damn it…
I recently read an article (shit what was it in?) about how non-fic as a genre differentiates itself from fiction mostly in the way it is/can relay information alongside story, that people are drawn to the genre in that way, less so than they are drawn to good story. (Of course, if that were truly the case, why is memoir so hot? The article may have been talking out of its ass, who knows?)
In all that rambling, I mean to say this essay exemplifies that notion of good non-fic. Great essay. It also made me completely frightened of Half-Price Books. Damn it…
That was excellent; thanks for sharing.
“the word has lost all meaning”
That seems a silly thing to say.
That was excellent; thanks for sharing.
“the word has lost all meaning”
That seems a silly thing to say.
In the way the word is used in this essay, it has no meaning. A bohemian is not a publishing professional who likes to read and collect things found on the street, etc. Up is not down.
In the way the word is used in this essay, it has no meaning. A bohemian is not a publishing professional who likes to read and collect things found on the street, etc. Up is not down.
Though I understand the idea that it isn’t its original meaning, I completely understood what was meant by the use of it here.
I’m really not trying to be an ass either; I guess mostly, I just get a bit annoyed by the hyperbole that words having deviated from their original meaning have lost “all meaning.”
Though I understand the idea that it isn’t its original meaning, I completely understood what was meant by the use of it here.
I’m really not trying to be an ass either; I guess mostly, I just get a bit annoyed by the hyperbole that words having deviated from their original meaning have lost “all meaning.”
I see your point re saying that a word has lost all meaning, and I agree.
I wouldn’t normally go in that direction; don’t intend to be pedantic. But the word is important in this piece, because the entire essay rests on its definition: we’re promised in the dek that these bugs pose a threat to the “bohemian spirit of New York City”.
I, for one, took this statement seriously, but when I went to read about the bohemian spirit and the bohemians I found neither. Sorry if that’s harsh. But words do have meaning and a writer can’t simple say I’m a bohemian (or this is a bohemian life) because I say so.
My interpretation now (I guess) is that she’s saying this in a halfhearted or ironic way, like when people refer to themselves as nerds, geeks etc.
There are good things in the essay; I don’t want it to seem like I’m slamming the entire piece. That’s not my intention.
I see your point re saying that a word has lost all meaning, and I agree.
I wouldn’t normally go in that direction; don’t intend to be pedantic. But the word is important in this piece, because the entire essay rests on its definition: we’re promised in the dek that these bugs pose a threat to the “bohemian spirit of New York City”.
I, for one, took this statement seriously, but when I went to read about the bohemian spirit and the bohemians I found neither. Sorry if that’s harsh. But words do have meaning and a writer can’t simple say I’m a bohemian (or this is a bohemian life) because I say so.
My interpretation now (I guess) is that she’s saying this in a halfhearted or ironic way, like when people refer to themselves as nerds, geeks etc.
There are good things in the essay; I don’t want it to seem like I’m slamming the entire piece. That’s not my intention.
I didn’t think you were, I was confused as well and I was trying to be an ass, not a wiseguy. I don’t think we have outdated understandings of bohemian.
Also while being an ass I was also honest in what I said.
I didn’t think you were, I was confused as well and I was trying to be an ass, not a wiseguy. I don’t think we have outdated understandings of bohemian.
Also while being an ass I was also honest in what I said.
This is the third article I’ve read about bedbugs in the past week. I’m now sufficiently traumatized as to sleep in a hyperbaric chamber. This was a great essay though. I really enjoyed it despite the emotional scars I now bear.
Also, my Kindle doesn’t get bedbugs.
This is the third article I’ve read about bedbugs in the past week. I’m now sufficiently traumatized as to sleep in a hyperbaric chamber. This was a great essay though. I really enjoyed it despite the emotional scars I now bear.
Also, my Kindle doesn’t get bedbugs.
let’s see what the dandy warhols have to say about it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK5MC8pa_cY
let’s see what the dandy warhols have to say about it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK5MC8pa_cY
wow, that was awesome
wow, that was awesome