November 10th, 2009 / 12:30 pm
Snippets
Snippets
Blake Butler—
In the interest of a year of interesting book but blank systems, please comment with one title of a book released in 2009 that you really enjoyed for whatever reason. This will in some way form not a ‘best of’ list, but a reference tablet for enjoyable new text.
Nobody Trusts a Black Magician by xTx
Nobody Trusts a Black Magician by xTx
Bluets by Maggie Nelson (Wave)
‘full catastrophe living’ by zach savich
midnight picnic
Bluets by Maggie Nelson (Wave)
‘full catastrophe living’ by zach savich
midnight picnic
The Year of the Flood, by Margaret Atwood
The Year of the Flood, by Margaret Atwood
advanced elvis course ca conrad
Fly-over State, by Emma Straub (flatmancrooked)
advanced elvis course ca conrad
Fly-over State, by Emma Straub (flatmancrooked)
Plants Don’t Drink Coffee by Unai Elorriaga (Archipelago)
Plants Don’t Drink Coffee by Unai Elorriaga (Archipelago)
Generosity: An Enhancement by Richard Powers
Generosity: An Enhancement by Richard Powers
Lovesick by Howie Good
Lovesick by Howie Good
Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon
Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon
Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon
Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon
The Way Through Doors by Jesse Ball
The Cradle, by Patrick Somerville
The Way Through Doors by Jesse Ball
The Cradle, by Patrick Somerville
In the Devil’s Territory, Kyle Minor
In the Devil’s Territory, Kyle Minor
Jan Elizabeth Watson’s “Asta in the Wings” (Tin House).
Jan Elizabeth Watson’s “Asta in the Wings” (Tin House).
Vilnius Poker
Of the 12 books I’ve read this year, only one was published in 2009. My favorite book this year was Jakob von Gunten, which was published in 1909. Close enough.
Vilnius Poker
Of the 12 books I’ve read this year, only one was published in 2009. My favorite book this year was Jakob von Gunten, which was published in 1909. Close enough.
Elephants in Our Bedroom by Michael Czyzniejewski
The Drunk Sonnets by Daniel Bailey
Elephants in Our Bedroom by Michael Czyzniejewski
The Drunk Sonnets by Daniel Bailey
Fences, Ben Brooks
Fences, Ben Brooks
Rose Alley, Jeremy Davies (counterpath)
Rose Alley, Jeremy Davies (counterpath)
One D.O.A., One on the Way by Mary Robison
One D.O.A., One on the Way by Mary Robison
Ablutions by Patrick DeWitt
Ablutions by Patrick DeWitt
The Anthologist by Nicholson Baker
The Anthologist by Nicholson Baker
When to Go Into the Water by Lawrence Sutin
When to Go Into the Water by Lawrence Sutin
Straw Dogs (John Gray)
Straw Dogs (John Gray)
Tunneling to the center of the earth by Kevin Wilson
Tunneling to the center of the earth by Kevin Wilson
Big World, Mary Miller (will I get in trouble, doing more than one?)
Big World, Mary Miller (will I get in trouble, doing more than one?)
Ugly Man, Dennis Cooper
Ugly Man, Dennis Cooper
Light Boxes, Shane Jones
Scary, No Scary by Zachary Schomburg
Light Boxes, Shane Jones
Scary, No Scary by Zachary Schomburg
Fever Chart by Bill Cotter.
Fever Chart by Bill Cotter.
Fugue State, Brian Evenson
Fugue State, Brian Evenson
i’d like to stop you, but you’re doing good
i’d like to stop you, but you’re doing good
Michelle Taransky’s Barn Burned, Then
Michelle Taransky’s Barn Burned, Then
The Difficult Farm by Heather Christle
The Difficult Farm by Heather Christle
Amelia Gray, AM/PM
Amelia Gray, AM/PM
poemland by chelsey minnis
poemland by chelsey minnis
seconded
seconded
Last Days – Brian Evenson
Last Days – Brian Evenson
Yes! DeWitt!
There’s also Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower.
And Everything Was Fine Until Whatever by Chelsea Martin.
Yes! DeWitt!
There’s also Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower.
And Everything Was Fine Until Whatever by Chelsea Martin.
Blatant cronyism — the Iowa Writers’ Workshop is totally corrupt!
Blatant cronyism — the Iowa Writers’ Workshop is totally corrupt!
How to Sell – Clancy Martin
How to Sell – Clancy Martin
Conquest of the Useless — Werner Herzog
Conquest of the Useless — Werner Herzog
yes
yes
floodmarkers by nic brown
floodmarkers by nic brown
would it be lame if i said Scorch Atlas?
yeah it probably would, so scratch that…
would it be lame if i said Scorch Atlas?
yeah it probably would, so scratch that…
The City & The City by China Mieville
The City & The City by China Mieville
i think i can let that slide Rawbbie. ty :)
i think i can let that slide Rawbbie. ty :)
Declan Kiberd, Ulysses & Us
Declan Kiberd, Ulysses & Us
did Maximum Gaga come out this year?
+ the dennis book of course, even though it consists of formerly published “things”
did Maximum Gaga come out this year?
+ the dennis book of course, even though it consists of formerly published “things”
I second this
I second this
The Essential Numbers by Gordon Massman as well
Definitely. I should have said that one
The Essential Numbers by Gordon Massman as well
Definitely. I should have said that one
Boris by the Sea by Matvei Yakelevich
Boris by the Sea by Matvei Yakelevich
Totally xTx yes!
Love CA Conrad!
I read this one too. Chelsea Martin is bomb.
Totally xTx yes!
Love CA Conrad!
I read this one too. Chelsea Martin is bomb.
Heather Christie and her book are so cool!
Heather Christie and her book are so cool!
I liked it, too! Yay for Amelia Gray!
I liked it, too! Yay for Amelia Gray!
a jello horse by matthew simmons
a jello horse by matthew simmons
I wish Werner Herzog was my boyfriend.
I wish Werner Herzog was my boyfriend.
i think emma and this kid named shya scanlon are two of the most exciting emerging writers in the country.
i think emma and this kid named shya scanlon are two of the most exciting emerging writers in the country.
thanks, daniel!
thanks, daniel!
but we’re at umass now?
meanwhile fcl’s still challenging, charming, and resonant
but we’re at umass now?
meanwhile fcl’s still challenging, charming, and resonant
Towards Another Summer by Janet Frame
Towards Another Summer by Janet Frame
I wish I could drink coffee with Werner Herzog after work on Wednesdays and I could listen to him complain about work. I would say, “Yes. It is always like that.” And then he would continue to talk, and I would blow on the surface of my coffee to cool it off while I listened to him talk. If he was your boyfriend, you would interrupt us and make him take you home so he could fix you dinner. And then when you arrived the next Wednesday, I would say, “Hey,” but I would not look at you.
I wish I could drink coffee with Werner Herzog after work on Wednesdays and I could listen to him complain about work. I would say, “Yes. It is always like that.” And then he would continue to talk, and I would blow on the surface of my coffee to cool it off while I listened to him talk. If he was your boyfriend, you would interrupt us and make him take you home so he could fix you dinner. And then when you arrived the next Wednesday, I would say, “Hey,” but I would not look at you.
Mr. Butler should put stars next to the ones he likes and blot out the ones he doesn’t like or something. A more rigorous exercise in value is suggested by this 2:15 p.m. comment. My favorite story by Rick Moody is the list of influences or things at the end of his first collection of stories. I read Lester Bangs and reread Angela Carter because of that list, and so I kind of feel like Rick Moody vouched for Lester Bangs, and in turn he is vouching for Rick Moody who maybe needs someone to cover for him sometimes.
Mr. Butler should put stars next to the ones he likes and blot out the ones he doesn’t like or something. A more rigorous exercise in value is suggested by this 2:15 p.m. comment. My favorite story by Rick Moody is the list of influences or things at the end of his first collection of stories. I read Lester Bangs and reread Angela Carter because of that list, and so I kind of feel like Rick Moody vouched for Lester Bangs, and in turn he is vouching for Rick Moody who maybe needs someone to cover for him sometimes.
I almost put The Cradle, too. It was really good.
I almost put The Cradle, too. It was really good.
Yes. Generosity. Richard Powers.
Yes. Generosity. Richard Powers.
Wetlands by Charlotte Roche
Wetlands by Charlotte Roche
Another vote for Dan Chaon’s Await Your Reply.
Another vote for Dan Chaon’s Await Your Reply.
Claudia Smith’s Put Your Head in My Lap!
Claudia Smith’s Put Your Head in My Lap!
DC’s ‘Ugly Man’ and, even though I don’t think it comes out until next year, ‘Babyfucker’ (Urs Allemann) were both genius.
DC’s ‘Ugly Man’ and, even though I don’t think it comes out until next year, ‘Babyfucker’ (Urs Allemann) were both genius.
and, even though someone already mentioned it, Blake’s Scorch Atlas was a magnificent book.
and, even though someone already mentioned it, Blake’s Scorch Atlas was a magnificent book.
yay +1
yay +1
loved that
misfits and other heroes – suzanne burns
everything dzanc put out this year.
loved that
misfits and other heroes – suzanne burns
everything dzanc put out this year.
the skating rink, roberto bolano.
the skating rink, roberto bolano.
Slanted and Enchanted: The Evolution of Indie Culture, by Kaya Oakes (warning: nonfiction!)
read a lot of good this year, but this is a truly important read
Slanted and Enchanted: The Evolution of Indie Culture, by Kaya Oakes (warning: nonfiction!)
read a lot of good this year, but this is a truly important read
without a doubt:
Natalie Lyalin: Pink and Hot Pink Habitat
word!
without a doubt:
Natalie Lyalin: Pink and Hot Pink Habitat
word!
Yes. And of course, Light Boxes.
Yes. And of course, Light Boxes.
Everything Was Fine Until Whatever – Chelsea Martin
Everything Was Fine Until Whatever – Chelsea Martin
Oh, and the muh fuckin’ Drunk Sonnets by Daniel Bailey.
Oh, and the muh fuckin’ Drunk Sonnets by Daniel Bailey.