The Glory of the Essay

I love a long, involved novel as much as the next liberal arts major does (bring on post-colonialism!), and there's a place in my heart for an iPod as snug as the places in my wee little ears for those terrible earbuds, but today I hail the essay collection - specifically Half Empty, the latest from public radio dreamboat David Rakoff.

Thank you, www.prattlibrary.org, from which I grabbed the cover art.

What I mean is that being a connoisseur of LA public transportation (ahem, ahem) means I've found ways to kill - nay, enliven! - long stretches of time spent getting across town. As of yesterday Rakoff has sped to the top of the Time-Enliveners list. Odd, right? Half Empty enlivening? And from what I hear, I'll run into some especially sad patches near the end. But so far I've read about Rakoff making bad calls in music and in life, Rakoff being an inhibitedly short kid, and Rakoff asking what really is the deal with all those artless "artists" singing their hearts out in (but not paying the titular) RENT. This collection is as sensitive and relevant as Consider the Lobster and as punchy and personal as I Was Told There'd Be Cake.

I'm comparing contemporary American essays I like from NPR-ish types to contemporary American essays I like from NPR-ish types. So sue me. But when you're through with suing me, read this book! And if you're like me, it's segmented just right for public transportation trips.

**

Bet against me, and I will make you rich. I am the un-canary in the mine shaft. (Gas? I don't smell no gas!)
-from "The Bleak Shall Inherit"
**

"Gil J Wolman. I am immortal and alive" Notes by Bartomeu Marí

Book Soup is currently carrying the catalog to the Gil J Wolman exhibit "I am Immortal and Alive." For the Guy Debord/Situationist fan as well as anyone interested in Contemporary European art - should pick up this book. The book won't last forever, and its a great catalog on what looks like a great and important show.

"The Gilt Kid" by James Curtis

If not only a remarkable noir (and it is) "The Gilt Kid" is an important document of a certain type of crime underground life in London 1930's.   London is almost a character in itself in this novel, along with our anti-hero The Gilt Kid, called that because he's blonde. 

A habit criminal who specializes in breaking into London flats and offices to steal, is sort of on an existential course between desire and living day-by-day.   He's lonely but can't articulate his world via language, but by action he sees each day as an adventure of sorts - but alas, a very limited adventure.  He basically can't see his future more than a few days at a time. 


There is a Marxist bent in the story, because The Gilt Kid struggles with reading "Capital" but with little understanding, but he sort of gets the drift of it.  The classic aspect of the book is the focus on the side characters that he meets up on the streets of Soho.  Hardcore slang, lots of smoking and drinking milkey tea - along with the occasional brandy and various beers.  Its a dead-end street, but a road that is still colorful and kind of beautiful in a depressing way

Lord Berners: Composer, Writer, Painter by Peter Dickinson

In the world out there, Lord Berners is known as a classic British eccentric, and second for his composed music.  I only know him through his memoirs and short fiction, which is remarkable.  He was also a painter of some talent, but the works strikes me a little too Sunday school painting.  But any man that has his horse in his living room is ok with me.  He also color dyed the feathers of the local pigeons around his home - which is about the size of New Jersey.  In other words he was rich, really rich, and did what we wanted to do.  For instance he liked to be driven though the local village while he wore a series of masks.

Often compared to Erik Satie (for the eccentricity as well for his music) Berners is one of those classic figures in Pre-world war 2 England.  Surrounded by servants and witty people (Cecil Beaton, Constance Lambert, etc) and a very close relationship with Diana Mitford, better known as Diana Mosley aka as Hitler's close friend.

Peter Dickinson has put together an equally eccentric book on Berners.  Mostly consist of interviews with people who knew Berners (for instance Diana Mosley - a fascinating interview) and it is interesting how one story is told through various individuals.  For instance did he have lunch with Hitler?  Some say yes, but Mosley says it didn't happen.  But people want to believe it happened! 


Also interesting in this volume you get Berners record collection at the time of his death, and a list of music sheets he owned as well.  The book is almost like a Peter Greenaway obsessive piece of work.   What I found interesting is that most of his friends didn't really care for his writing as much as for his music.  But even that, they think of his work as "light."  Only the great contemporary British composer Gavin Bryars sees Berners as a subversive artist - and I think that is a correct way of looking at his work.   So as the majority  in this book sort of poo poo his writing, I totally disagree with that critical thought. 


Lord Berners is an interesting composer, a so-so painter and a magnificent writer.  That's Tosh's opinion at the very least!

Bob Willoughby, Audrey Hepburn Photographs 1953-1966

Taschen Books once again has put out an amazing limited print edition that will make collectors go ga-ga.
"Bob Willoughby, Audrey Hepburn Photographs 1953-1966" is a beautiful collection of images of the iconic movie star, doing what she does best.  Being Audrey Hepburn!  Most of these photographs haven't been printed, so the book is an unique experience in obtaining the Hepburn flavour.  It's a limited edition of 1,000.  And right now the price is $500.  It will go up to $700 after September 30th!  And on top of that we have nearly sold all our copies, except for two.  So Dear Sir or Dear Lady, I wouldn't hesitate to pick this up now - because "now" will be yesterday and tomorrow we won't be able to get anymore copies.  Taschen has reported that they are sold out on their end.  So do come to the store and get the last remaining two copies of this piece of cinema history.

Tony Duvert's "Diary of an innocent"

I first heard the name Tony Duvert on Dennis Cooper's great (and on going) blog, and was intrigued that he was a French writer (my obsession) and wrote about sexuality that many will feel questionable. "Diary of an Innocent" reads like a sex diary, rant, social theory, and a feverish dream all at once. The back cover liner notes says 'novel' but I wonder if it is - but that's not the issue of the book. What the book is about is a man who enjoys gay sex with various young boys in what may be somewhere in North Africa. It is also a social critique on the nature of passion and how it plays itself out in the 'mainstream' world.

Towards the end of the book he writes about heterosexuality as an outlaw fringe group lurking in the shadows of homosexual world that is both funny and quite insightful in how structure rules the world. In another one of his books (which I haven't read) "Good Sex Illustrated" he attacks the fact that a child's sex is conditioned and controlled by the structure of family and state - and are taught not to for fulfil their sexuality or desires. So through the eyes of Duvert, Western sexuality is part of a system that these kids are pooped out to fill out a role that family, state, and whoever wants to control.

"Diary of an Innocent" is a complex and very frank book about sexuality and how that plays out in a very constructed culture and society

Gerard Malanga: Screen Tests, Portraits, Nudes 1964-1996 by Ben Maddow

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Any book that has a portrait of my Dad in it is ok with me. But lets say it didn't have that portrait, this is still a remarkable (and inexpensive) volume of Gerard Malanga's remarkable photo portraits. Gerard, a poet as well as Andy Warhol's right-hand man during the golden Factory years has a great eye and this book mixes with the pop star (including the famous Iggy nude portrait) and various poets/writers as well as artists. A must-own really!



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Max's Kansas City: Art, Glamour, Rock and Roll

For those who are either too young, or have a total lack of social/art/music history of New York City' finest moments - then the book is for you. For those of you who have been to Max's Kansas City, then this is a family album of sorts. For me, I never been there. But the bar/restaurant/club is sort of like a kids' fantasy of Disneyland if they haven't been there.

Before Facebook, Goodreads (ha ha) - the place to be was Max's. Andy Warhol and company ruled the back room, legendary rock artists performed on its stage, and the decadence (i.e. fun) was going strong from table to table. Looking at this book one realizes that that Max's Kansas City was a place of special moments, and those moments will never come back. The criss-crossing of everything that's great in pop culture met up at that hang-out. Drag artists meets famous visual artists meets punk rock stars meets the down and out meets, etc. A snapshot of underground society meeting uptown folks, where anything seems possible. But of course it could never last forever. At least there is this book to keep the fantasy and memories alive.

Ed Ruscha, Nels Cline & David Breskin's "Dirty Baby"

I am very very excited about this unique art book by artist Ed Ruscha, Wilco guitarist Nels Cline and poet David Breskin. It is a hardcover book in a slip case, with four CD's. One pair of CD's is music by Nels Cline made exclusively for the project, and the other two is a spoken word performance from Breskin. The actual book is a beautiful package/design and the inside is full of Ruscha's iconic great art with text by Breskin. Not sure what the print run is, but for sure won't last forever. So pick it up as soon as possible!

Down below are some Ed Ruscha footage of him talking about his art. Enjoy!

Stella McCartney + Edward Ruscha