not in it for the money

More Robert Bolano Discovered

It seems to me that Robert Bolano might be the most prolific dead author I've ever heard of. English translations of three novels and four collections of short stories are already slated to be released in 2001. Then there was the unveiling of a novel that was never published at a book fair (of sorts) in October. Now The Guardian is reporting that, while sorting through his piles and piles of notes et cetera at his estate in Spain they have discovered two more novels that were never published, and what they believe is the sixth part of the previously five part 2666. Add to that list that both 2666 and The Savage Detectives weren't translated into english until 2008 and 2007, respectively, and that makes for eight novels published posthumously in English (four were never released at all), four collections of short stories which were never published, and a possible epilogue to 2666 which was never published. Can't think of anyone who published more work after their death. Dickinson is a close analogy, but her body of work doesn't compare to this. Henry Darger didn't have any recognition until his death either, but, again, that's a little different. His work was epic, but there was really only one gigantic piece of work with art to accompany it. I really can't think of anyone else that compares. No real word on if these newly discovered novels and the sixth part of 2666 are going to be published, but Bolano's widow hired a new literary agent after his death and he's been pushing to get things published. Odds are they will be released at some point.

On Necessarily Skeptical Poetry Reviews

Jason Guriel has written a really great prelude to his reviews at the Poetry Foundation. The article, titled "Going Negative" highlights the importance of negative reviews of poetry and how those types of reviews are necessary for poetry. A small taste:

when a book of poetry receives a tough verdict we often label the review “negative” and speculate about the reviewer’s motives, the agenda behind the takedown. Indeed, behind words like “negative” and “agenda” and “takedown” lurks the sense that the reviewer is the one making the trouble, and the book of poetry—whether it deserved a kicking or not—is being bullied. We’re far less paranoid about motives when, say, a movie receives a tough review in the New Yorker or Slate or Rolling Stone, even when we disagree with the verdict—even when we’re so outraged we fire off an e-mail to some editor’s in-box. This is because negative reviews of movies (and LPs and TV shows, etc.) represent the norm, and aren’t usually labeled “negative.” Movie critics with whom we disagree are merely wrong; poetry critics (and politicians) go negative.

After all, how many volumes of new poetry published in the last calendar year will still be jarring us in five years? In one? Shouldn’t the negative review, if we’re honest and adult about it, be the norm? And if so, shouldn’t we retire the adjective “negative” in favor of something far more accurate, if a little awkward, like “necessarily skeptical,” as in, “Man, William Logan sure has gone necessarily skeptical on that poet?”

Bam

Bam bam-bam

What People I Like Are Doing Right Now

David reviewed Alejandro Zambra’s Bonsai at the Guernica blog.

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25 Things You Might Not Know About Me by Martin Devaney from Twin Cities Daily Planet.

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The Antler's were interviewed at Prefix.

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What authors read at the latest InDigest 1207 with Jibade-Khalil Huffman and Paul Dickinson.

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Oh yeah, I'm Reading Tonight

Oh yeah, I forgot to put anything about this up.

I'm reading tonight! With great writers! Yay!

It's for Minnesota Monthly Happy Hour at (Le) Poisson Rouge. The event starts at 6pm, and I think the reading starts at 6:30pm.

Sam Osterhout, Paul Dickinson, and David Doody will also be reading. StarDweller (ex Winter Blanket) will also be playing. It's like a little Minnesota in the Village. I think there are drink specials and tatter tot hot dish too. So, at the very least, if you've never had tatter tot hot dish you should come eat Minnesota.

A Thoroughly Self-Interested Post About What People I Know, or People I Like, Are Doing

David wrote a piece that made me go straight to Alibris and purchase two books by Bill Holms. Holm's passed away earlier this week. David wrote about him for Guernica.

> > > > >

Crack in Damn just joined MySpace and posted some new songs. You should be their friend, I like them. These new tracks are really great. Stand by for east coast touring.

> > > > >

Bob Boilen, on All Songs Considered, is claiming that 2009 is already a better year in music that 2008. His number one album of 2009? The Antlers' Hospice Nice. I would have to agree. It's great.
The Antlers have a CD release show at Union Hall (Brooklyn) on Thursday. I am going to go to this. It's going to be great.
There is a listening party on Tuesday, at (Le) Poisson Rouge, for their new album. Open bar from 9-10. It's true. I'm not a liar. At least right now I'm not.

> > > > >

Brad has a great new poem on The Daily Poem Factory Machine called "I Don't Even Know How Whitney Houston Got My Number." It's a marvelous thing. Really.

> > > > >

Marlon James had a review of his new novel, The Book of Night Women, published in the New York Times Sunday Book Review. They liked it. You might as well. I'm not sure, maybe you should read the review.
Marlon is reading at Common Good Books in St. Paul at the end of the month. You could do this instead of reading the NYT review.

> > > > >

Kendra Grant Malone has a new flash fiction piece posted at NanoFiction. Which I site I am just discovering and I think it has some really great stuff.

> > > > >

The Music Slut is giving away free tickets to the Cut Copy DJ Set at LPR.

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Haley Bonar just did a Daytrotter session. It's pretty good.

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The New Yorker just published an excerpt from the IRS novel David Foster Wallace was finishing when he died. It will be released...at some point

> > > > >

Cursive is giving away their new album Mama, I'm Swollen for $1 today. It goes up $1 every day until it comes out on 03.10. It's ok. Worth the $1 I paid.

> > > > >

Oh, and, I've said this, but there is new InDigest up. It has Mackenzie Epping, Kate Casanova, Charles Greene, Ashleigh Lambert, and Mandy Herrick.

> > > > >

I wrote stuff recently at Rift, Tiny Mix Tapes, and f10.

Read This. Do it now.

Everyone interested in literature, war, politics, or life should read Haruki Murakami's speech "The Novelist in Wartime".

Bill Holm

Some nice words from David about Bill Holm over at the InDigest Blog.

where were you last night around 3am when I was watching steel magnolias bawling my eyes out?

I've Been Writing

NewDispatchFromFakeIndustries>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>again>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>RIFT:AVENPITCH>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>RIFT:CWNANNWN>>>>>>>>>>>TMT:MYMANGODFREY>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>TMT:SilentLight>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>AndThereIsNewInDigest>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Probably>>>>>>>>already>>>>>>>>>>>>posted>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>most>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>of>>this.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Also>>>>you>>>>>>>should>>>>>>>>>>>>>>go>>>>>>>>>>>>>checkout>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Mike's>>>>blog>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>CollectionsDepartment>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>it's good.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>DailyPoemFactoryMachine>>>>>>too>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>as>>>>>long>>>>>>>>>>as>>I'm>at>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>it>>>>>>>>>>>>>InDigest1207>>>reading>>>>>>>on>>>>March4>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>willbe>>>>>>>>>>Really>>>>>>gooD>>>>>>>>>>>>>youshouldcome.>>>>>>>>>>>>>Jibade>Khalil>Huffman>>>>>>>&>>>>>>>Paul>Dickinson>>Will>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Be>>>>>>>>>READING>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Detailsarehere>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>there>>>is>>>also>>>>Free>>>>absinthe>>>>for>>>>>>>>>>>>>the>>>>>>>>>>>>first>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>hour>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>okethat'sall

New InDigest Up Now!

Dear Readers,

Hopefully you've had time to get through all of the great work that was in our anniversary issue, because now we have even more outstanding poetry, art, reviews, and short fiction for you in our first issue of 2009.

For those of you in New York we're excited to also tell you about our new reading series in the art gallery space of (le) Poisson Rouge in New York's historic Greenwich Village. On March 4th, InDigest 1207 will take place for the third time (it happens the first Wednesday of every month). The first two were great, and we expect this one to be as well. We will be welcoming the poets Jibade-Khalil Huffman and Paul Dickinson (bios below). And if that's not enough, there will be free absinthe tasting from 6pm-7pm, just to get you in the right mood.

Now, the latest issue!

Narratives:
Mackenzie Epping takes us on disorienting trips through Germany and Nashville in "Auslaender" and "Nashville."

Poetics:
Mandy Herrick's "Bob Dylan's Cell Phone" and "They Say."
mumbling incessantly,
while thrown down the throat of the barrell,
ready for the trigger to lurch and smile
and say, can you hear me?


Gallery:
Kate Casanova's sculptures, inspired by social materials, those that are readily found in everyday life. These manufactured materials blend with natural forms to create otherly worlds, thought objects and new meaning.

Erratica:
Non-fiction is the focus this month as Bedside Stacks looks at the oddities of the English Language and turn of the century sideshows.


Part III of The Ulysses Sage (Tips 'n Tricks) takes the potential reader through the hooks and hang ups of Joyce's madness.


InDigest 1207
03/04/09
Jibade-Khalil Huffman was born in Detroit and raised in Florida. His poetry, fiction and photography have appeared in Boston Review, Court Green, NOON, Aufgabe, and Encyclopedia, among others. Educated at Bard College and Brown University, his awards include the Grolier Poetry Prize and fellowships from the Millay Colony for the Arts and the Ucross Foundation. "19 Names For Our Band" is his first book.

Paul D. Dickinson is a poet based in Minneapolis/ St. Paul. His work has appeared in City Pages, The St. Paul Pioneer Press, Request.com, and Conduit. Dickinson has read on Minnesota Public Radio, 93.7 "The Edge", KFAI, and 89.3 "The Current". He currently hosts the "Riot Act Reading Series" , a cutting edge literary event that features national and international writers. His latest spoken word CD is "Lord Byron Gets Busted" on Speedboat Records . He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from UMASS Amherst.


As always, thanks for reading.

David and Dustin,
Editors


InDigest is currently looking for design and editorial interns. If interested, for more information email Dustin at dlukenelson [at] gmail [dot] com and/or David at doody01 [at] gmail [dot] com.

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Lurker

Valentine's Day

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>mymangodfrey>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>easyliving>>>>>>>>>>>>>redstripe>>>>crepes>>>>>>>>>>>>>coffee>>>>>>>junotdiaz>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>jeffreyeugenides>>>>>>dylanthomas>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gizzlybear>>>>>>>>>>>>>>corona>>>>>>>30rock>>>>>>>>>>>goodtimes

Valentine's Day Movie Feature

Tiny Mix Tapes: Valentine's Day Movie feature. Awesome.>>>>>>>My Man Godfrey>>>>>>Happiness>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>The Man Who Fell to Earth>>>>>>>>Before Sunset>>>>>In the Mood for Love>>>>>>Triplets of Belleville>>>>>>>Velvet Goldmine>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Oasis>>>>>>>>>>Wild at Heart>>>>>>>>>more>>>>>>>>>>more>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>read>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Be My Cheap-o-Valentine>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

More B-Day Surprises

B.day treats for me

part one of new poem

it's newish, but i just cut it in half and might do a few that relate to this, kind of.

With Women Fainting in Spain (I)

bald on top, ponytails dreadlocking
into single entities, this guy carries a land-line
telephone receiver on a train platform,
his hand barely emerging from his army
issue jacket, as though his hands were portable
telephones, as though he received a phone call
so saturated he couldn’t let go, as though the recruiter
held him for years, years that submerged from view
like the fish in the Gulf that took my pole,
he’s staring sideways – watching his reflection
in the graying white tiles, with muddy
footprints caked to the walls, days old –
his reflection in that dirt little more than shadowless form –
while he practices startling kung-fu,
phone hands, or
what you imagine kung-fu
to be, if you, like me, aren’t sure what separates
kung-fu
from karate,
from jujitsu,
though I know samurais
and the Tokugawa-era unification of Japan,
I’ve practiced miming Miyamoto Musashi
with less physical clarity, dandruff
showering concrete dust below the dresser,
cat sleeping pressed against the mirror, less impressed
than my mother

I've gone bland

Self-Publishing as the Next Phase?

The New York Times had an interesting article, this past week, on the rise of the self publishing industry. It outlines how this industry has contributed to the boom in the number of books published every year, and how the profits of these companies have shot through the roof.

I, of course, believe that, in a significant way, the future of the literary magazine will be found online, it maybe hasn't reached it's full potential. But, in many ways, where the literary magazine goes, is where a segment of the industry will go. Maybe it's a narrow-minded view, based on me working with InDigest, but I frequently think about the future of publishing in terms of what the internet has to offer literature. I don't often think about self-publishing as a modicum of the future of the industry. Yet, this is certainly something that has gained prominence, and affordability, through the internet. But what does this offer the industry at large? A much larger number of books to compete with? A new avenue for authors to get their work seen? A larger pile of crap for the readers of the world to wade through?

My initial reaction to this article was largely the same as the author of the article. It's interesting that this attracts so many writers and artists, but it doesn't really offer a lot in terms of excitement for it's future as an art form. I would never go to a site that offers self-published books looking for something to read. But maybe I'm missing something here, maybe there is some validity in this development, but I'm still not seeing it.

It's an interesting development and it's worth thinking about.