Books The Sad Literary Leavings of Slog Happy
posted by on August 15 at 10:57 AM
I had a great time at Slog Happy last night, even though I somehow didn’t find the time to talk to nearly everyone I wanted to. I was glad to see the 30 or so advanced reader copies wind up in good hands, and I especially enjoyed seeing which books people chose to take home. Exelizabeth even proposed a drunken, angry bookclub, with video to be posted online. This is an interesting idea.
And, as per Pop Tart’s suggestion, if anyone wants to send me short reviews of the books they took, I’ll be happy to post them on Slog for all to read. (It’s pconstant@thestranger.com, and I promise to try to post your reviews in a timely manner, but I thank you in advance for your patience with the matter.) After all the free-book-taking carnage finished up, there were only two books left on the table:
I was kind of surprised that Near Death in the Mountains was left behind. It’s an anthology of terrible mountaineering accidents. Frankly, that’s not my kind of thing—as a reader, I find it really hard to muster any sympathy for people who climb mountains and then get in trouble because they’re on a mountain—but most people eat this shit up, right? Plus, according to the book’s website, the book even had these two classics of mountaineering accident narratives:
• Joe Simpson’s Touching the Void—An inspiring story of a climber who topples into a icy crevasse and, though crippled, starving and frostbitten, still manages to crawl to rescue.• Jon Krakauer’s Eiger Dreams—Reaching the limits of his own climbing skills, the author makes a crucial decision whether to brave the treacherous higher altitudes or return to base.
Inspiring! Treacherous! What’s wrong with you people?
I’m not surprised that Unpacking the Boxes: A Memoir of a Life in Poetry by former U.S. Poet Laureate Donald Hall was left behind, but it makes me kind of sad. Not that I’ve read the book, but I tend to enjoy narratives written by poets. They’re very considerate and they read really pleasantly, as though the poet is almost relieved to not be writing in poetry for once. One really good example of this is Thomas Lynch, whose essays are among my favorites.
These two books will be sent away to the Island of Misfit Books, where they will frolic with used-up scratch-and-sniff books and self-published memoirs by pool cleaners. You are to blame for their sad fate.
The Donald Hall book looks interesting. If you'd rather mail it off in exchange for a short review (for those of us who can't make Slog, like, say, me) than have it go to the Island of Misfit Books, drop me an e-mail. :D
when will the stranger print a long list of reviews that only have two words like: "Shit sandwich" or "literary rape"
I'll take the near death in the mtns if I can pick it up at the stranger world HQ munday...?
I must have missed Unpacking the Boxes, which appeals to me more than a book of Midwestern poetry that I ended up with. I took my fair share, though, grabbing two other books in need of good homes. Reviews forthcoming.
Those of us who have experienced near death in the mountains don't have any great interest in reading about it, from my personal viewpoint.
And those who are unlikely to experience it, probably are a bit squeamish, I think.
I'll take Literary Allusions for $500, BA.
I fear my book is basically Ferngully for young ladies, but I'm still excited to read it.
How DID you do it?
http://www.toontracker.com/totaltv/mcbragg.jpg
Mikki, that book is literary rape.
Bellevue Ave, is it literary cute rape?
hahaha, yes, yes it is.
@6: Did you seriously pick up Girlwood? Yikes.
I did, but it was toward the end and I had already had tons of beer, and I didn't read the back until I got home. I just said "I want something for young adults please" and that was the only one left. Unfortunately, I hated Ferngully.
Bellevue Ave, that is the best kind!
@1 Cow: Send me an e-mail, and I'll mail you the book.
@3: Randy: Send me an e-mail on Monday reminding me to put the book upstairs with our receptionist and you can have it.
I love it when a plan comes together.
I got Allen Ginsberg's letters, which I'm assuming will have lots of material not fit for polite company.
Also, something involving werewolves and something else with Lord Byron and a love triangle.
I'll race all all yallz for the first review.
*all. Poopstain.
I almost picked up Girlwood.
So that's who got it.
I hope the werewolf book isn't as bad as it looked.
Isn't "Near Death in the Mountains" just a list of honorable-mentions for the Darwin Awards?
@2,
Don't forget "syntax holocaust," a SLOG coinage, if I'm not wrong.
Mr. Poe, you'll be too busy having hot man sex this weekend, so I'll totally take you up on the challenge. Thanks for giving up the Greg Bear, you can have it when I'm finished with it.
At the last minute, when I was too drunk to know better, a couple more books jumped into my bag. So, apparently I will be reading about a guy who frequents a toothless street hooker and a woman who has imaginary conversations with Paul Newman.
I want that book. (I'll actually read that one.)
I totally didn't take a book. Oops. What can I say, I've got a lot on my reading slate. And now with possibly another drunken book club? I'm going to have to start drinking at work to fit everything in.
another drunken book club?
you mean there are two?
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