March 16th, 2009 / 1:48 pm
Haut or not

Haut or Not: A Couplet

Tim Jones-Yelvington

I can’t argue with this guy — these books are just too haut. Good to see ‘writer’s writers’ like Diane Williams and Steven Millhauser, powerful ‘famous’ ladies like Moore, Gaitskill (I wish her last name was Hall) and Oates; and of course, our friends Tao Lin, Blake Butler, and Kim Chinquee. (Incidentally, Rachel B. Glaser’s ‘fiction’ piece about Christ, and Christ-like pop figures, in the pictured American Short Fiction is fucking great.) Impressed to see Vol. II (In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower) of Proust’s epic — as most people only read Swann’s Way and consider it done (like me). I will get slammed for this I’m sure, but I never really understood the cult behind Jesus’ Son. I have this theory that, like cats, we are either indoor or outdoor readers. Jane Austen would be the epitome of writer of indoor books, and maybe Graham Green or Conrad as writer of outdoor books. I’m an indoor kinda guy, and Denis Johnson feels outdoorsy. And just for the records, my ‘best american fantasy 2’ doesn’t involve the genre, but a shortage at the sperm bank during a sorority convention. I should grow up soon.

Rating: Haut

ryan-bradley

Ryan Bradley

Ryan sent in a tiny jpeg, so bear with me. Notice Eggers’ YSKOV next to Sacrament, the latter which contains an addendum in which a second (more/less?) reliable narrator dispels other angles concerning the former’s journey. This is a great Eggers move, but does it need to cost $18? Ryan said yes, so let’s hope it’s a signed first edition. (Incidental note on What is the What: The brilliant title is an answer to its own question when read two ways.) House of Leaves‘ flashy formatting seemed to dismiss, rather than cultivate, the reader’s experience. DFW’s digressions felt urgent and imperative; Mark Z. Danielewski’s seemed fluffy and too assured. Despite Dixon’s quiet yet pounding I., I’m just not feeling (nor really seeing) this shelf.

Rating: Not.

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117 Comments

  1. ryan

      i didn’t realize the picture was so small. that’s just how it was when i transferred from my wife’s camera. c’est la vie.

  2. ryan

      thoroughly ashamed.

  3. ryan

      i didn’t realize the picture was so small. that’s just how it was when i transferred from my wife’s camera. c’est la vie.

  4. ryan

      thoroughly ashamed.

  5. Blake Butler

      Tim is best yet, I think: my hunk o hunk not withstanding.

      Gotta totally agree on the Jesus’ Son: its a fine collection, but in the end I think the praise outweighs itself. Never really understood the cult either.

  6. Blake Butler

      Tim is best yet, I think: my hunk o hunk not withstanding.

      Gotta totally agree on the Jesus’ Son: its a fine collection, but in the end I think the praise outweighs itself. Never really understood the cult either.

  7. Matthew Simmons

      Yiddish Policeman’s Union. Talk Talk. Couch from Small Beer Press. Little Doors by DiFillipo. All the Calvino. Men and Cartoons. This Shape We’re In. Sorta hot in my book. Drop the House of Leaves, and I’ll ask the bookshelf out. Might just end up as friends, though.

  8. Matthew Simmons

      Yiddish Policeman’s Union. Talk Talk. Couch from Small Beer Press. Little Doors by DiFillipo. All the Calvino. Men and Cartoons. This Shape We’re In. Sorta hot in my book. Drop the House of Leaves, and I’ll ask the bookshelf out. Might just end up as friends, though.

  9. john sakkis

      no one reads small press books…

  10. john sakkis

      no one reads small press books…

  11. Jimmy Chen

      you got some motheruckin eyesight man
      i have failed you

  12. Jimmy Chen

      you got some motheruckin eyesight man
      i have failed you

  13. Mike Young

      Interesting about this indoor/outdoor thing.. Interior/exterior readers too, I think.. For what it’s worth, I’ll take the bewilderment about the popularity of Jesus’ Son (which I love and believe totally deserves its rep) and trade you bewilderment about Stephen Dixon, whom I think for the most part is totally self-indulgent and annoying.

  14. Mike Young

      Interesting about this indoor/outdoor thing.. Interior/exterior readers too, I think.. For what it’s worth, I’ll take the bewilderment about the popularity of Jesus’ Son (which I love and believe totally deserves its rep) and trade you bewilderment about Stephen Dixon, whom I think for the most part is totally self-indulgent and annoying.

  15. Blake Butler

      thems fightin words.

  16. Blake Butler

      thems fightin words.

  17. Jimmy Chen

      bewilderment is healthy and exciting
      dixon is indoor i think — i get annoyed by him too, but i like it.

  18. Jimmy Chen

      bewilderment is healthy and exciting
      dixon is indoor i think — i get annoyed by him too, but i like it.

  19. Mike Young

      I wanted to think of something that would annoy people who don’t like Jesus’ Son as much as they annoy[ed] me. =D

  20. Mike Young

      I wanted to think of something that would annoy people who don’t like Jesus’ Son as much as they annoy[ed] me. =D

  21. Matthew Simmons

      Bookstore work has given me amazing spine recognition abilities. It’s like I was bit by a radioactive librarian.

  22. Matthew Simmons

      Bookstore work has given me amazing spine recognition abilities. It’s like I was bit by a radioactive librarian.

  23. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      I must admit that as grateful as I am for my “haut” rating, I’m somewhat disappointed that you did not comment on the red cardboard coaster in the upper-left-hand corner, which says “Plummy with Strong Thrusting Overtones,” or on the fact that Blake’s book is sitting on top of a collection of essays abt the final two seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and that you also did not use the preponderance of female (and at least two gay male) authors as an opportunity to remind me I’m a ginormous faggot.

      Also –> I would like to put in a defense of the Danielewski book. I’m hugely in love with it, found it completely riveting, and I actually think it’s all about the reader’s experience.

  24. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      I must admit that as grateful as I am for my “haut” rating, I’m somewhat disappointed that you did not comment on the red cardboard coaster in the upper-left-hand corner, which says “Plummy with Strong Thrusting Overtones,” or on the fact that Blake’s book is sitting on top of a collection of essays abt the final two seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and that you also did not use the preponderance of female (and at least two gay male) authors as an opportunity to remind me I’m a ginormous faggot.

      Also –> I would like to put in a defense of the Danielewski book. I’m hugely in love with it, found it completely riveting, and I actually think it’s all about the reader’s experience.

  25. ryan

      thanks matthew, my bookshelf would probably say “yes”

  26. ryan

      thanks matthew, my bookshelf would probably say “yes”

  27. ryan

      you probably can’t make them out on my shelf, ’cause their smaller, but that shelf has: EVER, Treatise, National Virginity Pledge, Light Boxes, Couch, and None of That Will Do. Now What?

      so, i’m reading ’em, they just disappear next to the bigger books.

  28. ryan

      I’m a huge fan of House of Leaves as well. I was kind of surprised by the negative reaction to it.

  29. ryan

      you probably can’t make them out on my shelf, ’cause their smaller, but that shelf has: EVER, Treatise, National Virginity Pledge, Light Boxes, Couch, and None of That Will Do. Now What?

      so, i’m reading ’em, they just disappear next to the bigger books.

  30. ryan

      I’m a huge fan of House of Leaves as well. I was kind of surprised by the negative reaction to it.

  31. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      It sounds like it’s motivated by DFW worship.

  32. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      It sounds like it’s motivated by DFW worship.

  33. ryan

      to be fair i haven’t read dfw, though one of his books is on my “to-read” shelf.

      also, good to see someone else reads Etgar Keret. he’s become a favorite of mine over the last couple years.

  34. ryan

      to be fair i haven’t read dfw, though one of his books is on my “to-read” shelf.

      also, good to see someone else reads Etgar Keret. he’s become a favorite of mine over the last couple years.

  35. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      “And just for the records, my ‘best american fantasy 2′ doesn’t involve the genre, but a shortage at the sperm bank during a sorority convention. I should grow up soon.”

      This begs the question — what is your “best american fantasy 1”?

  36. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      “And just for the records, my ‘best american fantasy 2′ doesn’t involve the genre, but a shortage at the sperm bank during a sorority convention. I should grow up soon.”

      This begs the question — what is your “best american fantasy 1”?

  37. pr

      Tim seems really into short stories. Me, too. I think he is 27.

      Matthew’s spine recognition was awesome on Ryan’s shelf. I say Ryan is 31.

      I like Jesus Son very much. I don’t like cults, though. Although I am a sometimes devotee to the Sivananda sect. I wish that were a joke- it’s not. But it’s not a cult! It’s a Hindu sect. It’s a great place to go if you are having a rough time in life. They have ashrams all over the world.

  38. pr

      Tim seems really into short stories. Me, too. I think he is 27.

      Matthew’s spine recognition was awesome on Ryan’s shelf. I say Ryan is 31.

      I like Jesus Son very much. I don’t like cults, though. Although I am a sometimes devotee to the Sivananda sect. I wish that were a joke- it’s not. But it’s not a cult! It’s a Hindu sect. It’s a great place to go if you are having a rough time in life. They have ashrams all over the world.

  39. ryan

      wow, people really do always think i’m older.

  40. ryan

      wow, people really do always think i’m older.

  41. pr

      take it as a compliment! Although I am bummed I got your age wrong.

  42. pr

      take it as a compliment! Although I am bummed I got your age wrong.

  43. ryan

      i don’t mind people thinking i’m older. it’s kind of funny. i have a brother who’s nine years older than me and people always think i’m the older one.

  44. ryan

      i don’t mind people thinking i’m older. it’s kind of funny. i have a brother who’s nine years older than me and people always think i’m the older one.

  45. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      not bad. 26.

  46. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      not bad. 26.

  47. pr

      Woohoo! I call that a win.

  48. pr

      Woohoo! I call that a win.

  49. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      most of my novels are at home. What you’re seeing is my at work shelf, which is to read, currently reading, and recently read.

      I tend to read one novel and one short story collection simultaneously, and the novel has been Proust (first swann’s way, now young girls) for quite a long while now while I speed through the short story collections.

      I need to go on vacation so I can read Proust in larger chunks than my half-hour commute allows. That’s how I finally finished Swann’s Way.

      Short story collections are much better for reading on trains and buses. I feel they’re well-suited for urban commuter-readers.

  50. pr

      I have a sister who is 3 years older than me and everyone thinks I’m older than her.

      I was basing my guess on your book shelf (OK, and maybe your online personalitiy, which in that case, you should be really flattered)….keep that in mind

  51. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      most of my novels are at home. What you’re seeing is my at work shelf, which is to read, currently reading, and recently read.

      I tend to read one novel and one short story collection simultaneously, and the novel has been Proust (first swann’s way, now young girls) for quite a long while now while I speed through the short story collections.

      I need to go on vacation so I can read Proust in larger chunks than my half-hour commute allows. That’s how I finally finished Swann’s Way.

      Short story collections are much better for reading on trains and buses. I feel they’re well-suited for urban commuter-readers.

  52. pr

      I have a sister who is 3 years older than me and everyone thinks I’m older than her.

      I was basing my guess on your book shelf (OK, and maybe your online personalitiy, which in that case, you should be really flattered)….keep that in mind

  53. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      and the 27 thing happens in July, so that’s practically now anyway.

  54. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      and the 27 thing happens in July, so that’s practically now anyway.

  55. ryan

      oh, i know. no worries. i’m 25, by the way ;)

  56. ryan

      oh, i know. no worries. i’m 25, by the way ;)

  57. darby

      haut or not is weird now, no? if we can just select books from our actual shelf and stack them on our desk. It’s no longer about how haut our shelf is, but how well we can assemble hautness from what we happen to have available. It’s not a measure of how haut we are but a measure of what our perception of haut is, and the definition of haut we are trying to fit into may be even more narrow, with an htmlgiant asterisk. If htmlgiant is defining what’s ‘haut,’ is there a presumption that htmlgiant is haut? and if that’s the case, let’s see some of the contributors shelves (stacks), because, really, what’s haut?

  58. darby

      haut or not is weird now, no? if we can just select books from our actual shelf and stack them on our desk. It’s no longer about how haut our shelf is, but how well we can assemble hautness from what we happen to have available. It’s not a measure of how haut we are but a measure of what our perception of haut is, and the definition of haut we are trying to fit into may be even more narrow, with an htmlgiant asterisk. If htmlgiant is defining what’s ‘haut,’ is there a presumption that htmlgiant is haut? and if that’s the case, let’s see some of the contributors shelves (stacks), because, really, what’s haut?

  59. ryan

      darby, i’ve had some of those thoughts, too… which is why i just snapped a picture of my first shelves… Fiction: A through Q, or part of R. (yes, i am really ocd about alphabetical order)

  60. ryan

      darby, i’ve had some of those thoughts, too… which is why i just snapped a picture of my first shelves… Fiction: A through Q, or part of R. (yes, i am really ocd about alphabetical order)

  61. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      yes, valid. for sure, agreed.

      would like to clarify that I did not take items off shelf and assemble on my desk… they were all of them already on my desk at work and I also in addition have a whole nother separate shelf and several stacks scattered abt my apartment which I’d be happy to email for further judgment.

      and I agree, let’s see some contributor shelves.

      I believe contributors should comment on one another’s shelves.

  62. darby

      I just snapped a pic of mine too. My shelves are a weird cosm of my tastes spanning back to high school that I never organize, it just grows and vomits and evolves.

  63. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      yes, valid. for sure, agreed.

      would like to clarify that I did not take items off shelf and assemble on my desk… they were all of them already on my desk at work and I also in addition have a whole nother separate shelf and several stacks scattered abt my apartment which I’d be happy to email for further judgment.

      and I agree, let’s see some contributor shelves.

      I believe contributors should comment on one another’s shelves.

  64. darby

      I just snapped a pic of mine too. My shelves are a weird cosm of my tastes spanning back to high school that I never organize, it just grows and vomits and evolves.

  65. Drew

      I want to see Jesus’s shelf.

  66. ryan

      i’ve lived in my house almost two years now, and i just started organizing my books a couple weeks ago (the lack of alphabetized-ness was making me crazy), but i’ve still got boxes of books stacked in the garage. i thought about sending in a picture of those instead.

  67. ryan

      do you think he has a copy of Jesus’ Son? do you think it confused him?

  68. Drew

      I want to see Jesus’s shelf.

  69. ryan

      i’ve lived in my house almost two years now, and i just started organizing my books a couple weeks ago (the lack of alphabetized-ness was making me crazy), but i’ve still got boxes of books stacked in the garage. i thought about sending in a picture of those instead.

  70. ryan

      do you think he has a copy of Jesus’ Son? do you think it confused him?

  71. Matthew Simmons

      Sorry about bagging on House of Leaves.

  72. Matthew Simmons

      Sorry about bagging on House of Leaves.

  73. ryan

      no sweat, man. everybody’s got their own tastes. my shelf would probably still give out on the first date, even if you dissed it.

      i totally understand the spine recognition thing, too. (i run a kids’ boosktore). of course, i’m so ocd about my bookshelves i could probably list all the books in order without looking.

  74. ryan

      no sweat, man. everybody’s got their own tastes. my shelf would probably still give out on the first date, even if you dissed it.

      i totally understand the spine recognition thing, too. (i run a kids’ boosktore). of course, i’m so ocd about my bookshelves i could probably list all the books in order without looking.

  75. pr

      I can no longer read on subways or airplanes. Isn’t that sad? My ability to block out my surroundings has disintregrated.

      I did not finish Swann’s Way. I did hear that Alfred Jarry stabbed him with a penknife.

      I’m just psyched I got your age right.

  76. pr

      I can no longer read on subways or airplanes. Isn’t that sad? My ability to block out my surroundings has disintregrated.

      I did not finish Swann’s Way. I did hear that Alfred Jarry stabbed him with a penknife.

      I’m just psyched I got your age right.

  77. pr

      Wow! And with a kid! God bless you Ryan.

  78. pr

      Wow! And with a kid! God bless you Ryan.

  79. ryan

      that’s just how i “roll”

  80. ryan

      that’s just how i “roll”

  81. pr

      You are special, Ryan.

  82. pr

      You are special, Ryan.

  83. Lincoln

      These threads make me want to put my shelf on flicker in case it gets picked.

      That Jim Shepard book on top is what I’m reading right now. Very very good.

      And I’m down with the cult of Jesus’ Son. Outdoor reader is something that makes sense though, I’d probably definitely go in that group.

  84. Lincoln

      These threads make me want to put my shelf on flicker in case it gets picked.

      That Jim Shepard book on top is what I’m reading right now. Very very good.

      And I’m down with the cult of Jesus’ Son. Outdoor reader is something that makes sense though, I’d probably definitely go in that group.

  85. ryan

      pr, thanks for thinking i’m “special.” i feel that way often.

  86. ryan

      pr, thanks for thinking i’m “special.” i feel that way often.

  87. pr

      I read indoor and outdoor. Was it Jane Austen who was called indoor? I’ve read it all. I love that shit. Mansfield Park is a very very good book. I’ve also read everything Graham Greene has written. I think I am “bi” regarding those categories. Shit, I even read “Into the Wild” by Mr. Krakhauer (Sp?).

      But one thing that confounds me is that Woody Allen said that people who like Dostoevsky are “city” people and people who life Tolstoy are country. And he then made clear that he likes The D man. If I had to make a choice, I would choose Tolstoy. And I know that means Woody Allen is looking down his nose at me. But why choose? I do think very few people can read Dostoevsky after 40, but you can still love him for what he meant to you when you were younger. I just think that Tolstoy holds up better.

  88. pr

      I read indoor and outdoor. Was it Jane Austen who was called indoor? I’ve read it all. I love that shit. Mansfield Park is a very very good book. I’ve also read everything Graham Greene has written. I think I am “bi” regarding those categories. Shit, I even read “Into the Wild” by Mr. Krakhauer (Sp?).

      But one thing that confounds me is that Woody Allen said that people who like Dostoevsky are “city” people and people who life Tolstoy are country. And he then made clear that he likes The D man. If I had to make a choice, I would choose Tolstoy. And I know that means Woody Allen is looking down his nose at me. But why choose? I do think very few people can read Dostoevsky after 40, but you can still love him for what he meant to you when you were younger. I just think that Tolstoy holds up better.

  89. pr

      Ryan–hahaha–not special in a bad way…I am laughing…you are funny.

  90. pr

      Ryan–hahaha–not special in a bad way…I am laughing…you are funny.

  91. ryan

      i am humorously special.

  92. ryan

      i am humorously special.

  93. ryan

      i would pick dostoevsky over tolstoy. and i’d pick woody allen over jesus. but i’d pick pr above that.

  94. ryan

      i would pick dostoevsky over tolstoy. and i’d pick woody allen over jesus. but i’d pick pr above that.

  95. pr

      NOW you’re showing your age (smily face if I knew how to do that)…

  96. pr

      NOW you’re showing your age (smily face if I knew how to do that)…

  97. ryan

      which of those choices is showing my age? school me, i’m ready to learn.

  98. ryan

      which of those choices is showing my age? school me, i’m ready to learn.

  99. davidpeak

      the russians say that chekov is the candle in the room, dostoyevsky the lamp, and tolstoy the sun.

  100. davidpeak

      the russians say that chekov is the candle in the room, dostoyevsky the lamp, and tolstoy the sun.

  101. pr

      nice. Tolstoy is my sun.

      And what are Pushkin and Gogol and Gorsky? And that hot Anna poet lady?

      night light, flashlight, bonfire, lightning…ok, i’m drinking scotch. it’s spring break.

  102. keith n b

      and i’m the muthafucking black hole that’s going to swallow you all… muhahahahahahah!!!

  103. keith n b

      and i’m the muthafucking black hole that’s going to swallow you all… muhahahahahahah!!!

  104. keith n b

      dammit pr. you cock-blocked my joke!

  105. keith n b

      dammit pr. you cock-blocked my joke!

  106. davidpeak

      i may have fucked that up. maybe pushkin was the candle? either way the house is small. anna ahkmatova (sp?) would be the creak in the floorboards. gogol was ukrainian by birth, so he’d be a wet sheep outside. gorsky? I don’t know. maybe a blanket with cigarette burns in it?

  107. davidpeak

      i may have fucked that up. maybe pushkin was the candle? either way the house is small. anna ahkmatova (sp?) would be the creak in the floorboards. gogol was ukrainian by birth, so he’d be a wet sheep outside. gorsky? I don’t know. maybe a blanket with cigarette burns in it?

  108. pr

      what did I cock block? I would never cock block you keith.
      Gorky? I think I wrote Gorsky.

      Now I am going to spell all the characters’ names in War and Peace jus rite!
      blablabla
      no really, I loved that book more than anything I’ve read I think. I think it is my “favorite novel”. (HI! I’m Twelve!)

  109. keith n b

      as i was responding to david’s comment, your comment suddenly appeared in front of mine. which is fine. it was a lame joke. i want scotch. i’m going to bed. i think i’ll sleep until i’m hungover. goodnight giant.

  110. keith n b

      as i was responding to david’s comment, your comment suddenly appeared in front of mine. which is fine. it was a lame joke. i want scotch. i’m going to bed. i think i’ll sleep until i’m hungover. goodnight giant.

  111. Jonny Ross

      Johnson and Dixon are definitely the extremes of that inside-outside scale, but I’ll take them both. Depends on the mood. Sometimes I like to ramble, other times sit back and gaze.

      There’s a cool vid out there of Johnson reading one of the stories from JS. Also a cool little essay thing by Dixon on Bernhard. Just thought I’d mention.

  112. Jonny Ross

      Johnson and Dixon are definitely the extremes of that inside-outside scale, but I’ll take them both. Depends on the mood. Sometimes I like to ramble, other times sit back and gaze.

      There’s a cool vid out there of Johnson reading one of the stories from JS. Also a cool little essay thing by Dixon on Bernhard. Just thought I’d mention.

  113. br

      darby, you way, way, way overthink shit. you need to just relax and realize this is the fucking internet man. every time i read a post by you i imagine you pushing up your glasses on the bridge of your nose or getting all red in the cheeks. the buttcheeks. calm down man. it’s people taking photos of their bookshelves. it’s fun and silly and stupid.

  114. br

      darby, you way, way, way overthink shit. you need to just relax and realize this is the fucking internet man. every time i read a post by you i imagine you pushing up your glasses on the bridge of your nose or getting all red in the cheeks. the buttcheeks. calm down man. it’s people taking photos of their bookshelves. it’s fun and silly and stupid.

  115. reproduction paintings

      Personally using outlook with a boat full of rules seems to keep most of my email problems in order.

  116. reproduction paintings

      Personally using outlook with a boat full of rules seems to keep most of my email problems in order.

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