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Monday, April 9, 2007
Books Attention Miranda July Fans
Posted by on Mon, Apr 9 at 11:39 AM
As you might have heard, artworld superstar/ex-Portlander Miranda July has a brand new book of short stories coming down the hatch (click the link for the book’s alternately charming and annoying website). I’m a pretty huge fan of Miranda’s work, but I’m evidently not alone. The book jacket has blurbs by big nobodies like Dave Eggers, George Saunders, and Amy Hempel, the undiscovered master of the American short story. Plus, David Byrne liked the book so much he decided to blog about it:
I had recently read her book of collected short stories which is due out in about a month — No one Belongs Here More Than You — which are so good I was both inspired and jealous. Why jealous, I don’t know, I don’t aspire to write fiction. They are sweet, tender, innovative and sexy in a sometimes slightly disturbing way. It’s almost shocking to read or see — as in the case of the performance — something that is contemporary, post-modern, whatever, but also full of tenderness and appreciation for the subtle, funny and delicate connections between people.
If that’s not an incredible array of endorsements for a first-time author, I don’t know what the hell is.
But the really good news: Miranda is returning to Portland on Thursday, May 17 for a reading at the First Unitarian Church (sponsored by PICA). Would you, as readers, like to read an interview with Miranda when she comes through? What do you want to know? Or would you rather read a medium-length review of the new book? Let me know.
Comments
Get the interview! The review is cool, but lets face it, we're all going to read the book anyway, so who needs a review?
Actually, her site says she will be her on May 18th, 27th anniversary of the Mt. St. Helens eruption
That's funny. her publicist says the 17th. I'll look into it.
Interview! Ask if she wants to date a portly young lad and send her my email.
Book reviews can be found easily and by the hundreds, in case you haven't noticed. Not that we don't all love and enjoy Merc reviews more.
A clear date and link for tickets would be nice as well - here on the blog. Assuming the event is ticketed.
On a more serious note:
I'd like to hear about her childhood in terms of where did she get all her weird yet funny yet very true stories, her interests in Portland (why she moved here), and WHEN IS ANY SORT OF NEW FILM WORK COMING OUT!!! I'm dying for something new after her wonderful full length debut.
An interview sounds fantastic! How nice!
I love you Merc so let me save you a few minutes. Tickets go on sale this Thursday. Here is the link for tickets to her Portland reading (May 18, Friday): http://pica.org/programs/detail.aspx?eventid=164
I'm starting to scare myself. Reminiscent of a July-esque character. To quote one of the several amazing book jacket blurb reviews.
It’s not nice to be jealous. But if I could write a story on the top of my refrigerator as well as Miranda July, I maybe would be one of the happiest people in the world. I’m pretty sure I would be. I’m also pretty sure my brother only had the nicest of intentions when he brought this to my attention, and so my official story here is that I’m looking this green because of all the jelly beans I ate today.
Work Hours
Apr.16---9hrs
Apr.19---9hrs
Apr.20---7.5hrs
dust to dust
rights of us all to say otherwise
but how can we realize
that moment only after we perish in our peril
the land of obscurity subsides in our minds
and the random more takes over
as if we had no choice all along
like cogs in a convienence store
working the night shift
kinda pointless yet we still eke out an existence
and maybe that is our purpose
the finite pointlessness
the act of just living it out as if we had a purpose
the irony of it all
all in our inaffectual third eyes
all this time yet we resort to roads and talkshows
and their hosts for are advice
as if we didnt know all along just how crazy it all is
to have a finger actually point in one particular direction
and say here it is i found it
how foolish
so much vanity in a world
where it shines only from several light years away
and otherwise is only a speck of dust or nothing at all
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stmdci aptjdnb shvrwbumz pngc ostvyelg nimdcweh riuqzosy http://www.brylwhqa.nskw.com
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She is unbearably cute.