Tributes
June Jordan: The Real Slim Lady
by Liz Stein on Thursday, October 13, 2005 09:29 amThe Poetry Society of America and Hunter College presented a tribute to the poet June Jordan last week at the Hunter College's Kaye Playhouse in New York City. The tribute included readings of Jordan's poetry by various poets including Jan Heller Levi, Donna Masini, Bob Holman and Cornelius Eady. They spoke of Jordan's powerful personality, poetry and activism and read her work affectingly to a full auditorium.
Donna Masini talked about Jordan's heritage as a West Indian born in 1936 Harlem, New York. According to Donna Masini, Jordan's father abused her and she was constantly taunted by other kids. Her uncle taught her to fight these "bullies" as a child and Masini quoted Jordan: "I lost a lot of fights as a kid ... but nobody fought me twice." Jordan learned to fight dirty and to hate, but later realized the value of Fannie Lou Hamer's words: "Ain't no such thing as I can hate anyone and see God's face."
Donna Masini talked about Jordan's heritage as a West Indian born in 1936 Harlem, New York. According to Donna Masini, Jordan's father abused her and she was constantly taunted by other kids. Her uncle taught her to fight these "bullies" as a child and Masini quoted Jordan: "I lost a lot of fights as a kid ... but nobody fought me twice." Jordan learned to fight dirty and to hate, but later realized the value of Fannie Lou Hamer's words: "Ain't no such thing as I can hate anyone and see God's face."
In The Air Tonight
by Levi Asher on Monday, August 22, 2005 09:33 amThe liftoff of Hunter S. Thompson's ashes was apparently a big success. Here are some comments from KKizer about the unique event:
'When I imagine my future funeral, I usually imagine a cremation and a subtle dispersal by a few close friends and family members. However, if someone were to tell me, "Hey, we want to have a big party to celebrate your life, create a giant cannon taller than the Statue of Liberty and shoot your ashes high into the air, along with a half-hour's worth of fireworks. We'll invite 250 of your closest friends (because you HAVE 250 close friends, including former U.S. Presidents and some of the most respected writers, musicians and actors in the world) and there will be readings of your work and great musical performances, is that cool?" My answer would be "Only on two conditions. One, everyone gets drunk. Two, everyone gets laid."
Hunter S. Thompson was the second coming of Mark Twain. He was a great American writer and critic, and simply a great American. So many writers have gone and were little more than a side note at the end of a newscast or a small piece of filler in the paper. But not Hunter. He made headlines for weeks, even six months after his death. And he was the first writer (ever?) to go out with a massive celebration equal to his massive presence on the literary landscape.
So fuck the detractors who say Hunter wouldn't like this. Funerals are for the living. And if the living wanted to spend (a reported) 4 million dollars out of their personal wallets to celebrate HST's life, I say, good, he was worth that and more.'
'When I imagine my future funeral, I usually imagine a cremation and a subtle dispersal by a few close friends and family members. However, if someone were to tell me, "Hey, we want to have a big party to celebrate your life, create a giant cannon taller than the Statue of Liberty and shoot your ashes high into the air, along with a half-hour's worth of fireworks. We'll invite 250 of your closest friends (because you HAVE 250 close friends, including former U.S. Presidents and some of the most respected writers, musicians and actors in the world) and there will be readings of your work and great musical performances, is that cool?" My answer would be "Only on two conditions. One, everyone gets drunk. Two, everyone gets laid."
Hunter S. Thompson was the second coming of Mark Twain. He was a great American writer and critic, and simply a great American. So many writers have gone and were little more than a side note at the end of a newscast or a small piece of filler in the paper. But not Hunter. He made headlines for weeks, even six months after his death. And he was the first writer (ever?) to go out with a massive celebration equal to his massive presence on the literary landscape.
So fuck the detractors who say Hunter wouldn't like this. Funerals are for the living. And if the living wanted to spend (a reported) 4 million dollars out of their personal wallets to celebrate HST's life, I say, good, he was worth that and more.'
LitBits: Low Carb and Packed with Energy
by Caryn Thurman on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 09:17 amGrab and go literary goodness for your busy lifestyle ...
-- Al Aronowitz, the man who introduced Bob Dylan to the Beatles and helped popularize Beat literature and culture with his series of articles in the NY Post has died.
-- In the Summer Reading 2005 feature on NPR, librarian Nancy Pearl offers up 10 memoirs that are worth a look. The list includes some beat-flavored picks, such as Joyce Johnson's Minor Characters and Hettie Jones' How I Became Hettie Jones.
-- Al Aronowitz, the man who introduced Bob Dylan to the Beatles and helped popularize Beat literature and culture with his series of articles in the NY Post has died.
-- In the Summer Reading 2005 feature on NPR, librarian Nancy Pearl offers up 10 memoirs that are worth a look. The list includes some beat-flavored picks, such as Joyce Johnson's Minor Characters and Hettie Jones' How I Became Hettie Jones.
American-born Sobin Dies
by Caryn Thurman on Tuesday, July 12, 2005 01:27 pmGustaf Sobin, the U.S.-born poet and novelist most known for the novel The Fly Truffler, died July 7 in his adopted French homeland. Said to have been inspired by expatriate life after meeting Hemingway in Cuba, Sobin was noted for intricately incorporating the lush history and landscapes of Provence into his work. Sobin was 69.
Hunter S. Thompson: Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride
by Kevin Kizer on Thursday, July 7, 2005 08:33 amFlying Dog Ales has placed a golden ticket in one of its containers. The ticket is good for two round-trip tickets to the August 20th Hunter S. Thompson Memorial celebration in Woody Creek.
Here's what Flying Dog's website said:
A golden ticket has been placed, 'willie-wonka style', inside one of containers. The ticket is an invitation for two to Hunter Thompson's memorial at Owl Farm in Woody Creek, Colorado on Aug 20. You and a friend could be joining Hunter's inner circle, including Willie Wonka himself, aka Johnny Depp, to witness Dr. Gonzo's final departure from the business end of a cannon! The prize includes round trip airfares from anywhere in the continental US, two nights accommodation and transportation to and from the memorial.
Here's what Flying Dog's website said:
A golden ticket has been placed, 'willie-wonka style', inside one of containers. The ticket is an invitation for two to Hunter Thompson's memorial at Owl Farm in Woody Creek, Colorado on Aug 20. You and a friend could be joining Hunter's inner circle, including Willie Wonka himself, aka Johnny Depp, to witness Dr. Gonzo's final departure from the business end of a cannon! The prize includes round trip airfares from anywhere in the continental US, two nights accommodation and transportation to and from the memorial.
Shelby Foote
by Caryn Thurman on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 03:05 pmSinglemalt alerted us to this sad piece of news about author Shelby Foote:
"So I read that he just died. Although I own his three volume set on the Civil War (ranked by the Modern Library as the 15th greatest non-fiction, English language book), I haven't got around to reading it. He had this relaxed, southern air about him on the Ken Burns Civil War documentary.
I'm bummed out that he died. I don't really know why because I haven't read his Civil War trilogy. But it depressed me nonetheless. Strange."
"So I read that he just died. Although I own his three volume set on the Civil War (ranked by the Modern Library as the 15th greatest non-fiction, English language book), I haven't got around to reading it. He had this relaxed, southern air about him on the Ken Burns Civil War documentary.
I'm bummed out that he died. I don't really know why because I haven't read his Civil War trilogy. But it depressed me nonetheless. Strange."
Merchant of Merchant-Ivory
by Levi Asher on Thursday, May 26, 2005 07:22 amLet's take a moment for Ismail Merchant, co-creator of some of the best literary films of our time, who died yesterday, May 25, in a London Hospital at age 68.
From 'Shakespeare Wallah' in 1965 to 'The Golden Bowl' in 2000, the team of Ismail Merchant, James Ivory and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala produced films steeped in the greatness of Victorian and modern literary traditions, often adapted from books by authors like E. M. Forster and Henry James.
'A Room With A View' was their first breakthrough success, though in my opinion the team hit its peak in 1992 and 1993 with the wonderful 'Howards End' followed by the soaring, sublime 'Remains of the Day', featuring Anthony Hopkins as a repressed butler in a grand mansion. This film contained a smaller cast and fewer costumes than most Merchant-Ivory productions, but was probably their most thrilling work of all.
From 'Shakespeare Wallah' in 1965 to 'The Golden Bowl' in 2000, the team of Ismail Merchant, James Ivory and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala produced films steeped in the greatness of Victorian and modern literary traditions, often adapted from books by authors like E. M. Forster and Henry James.
'A Room With A View' was their first breakthrough success, though in my opinion the team hit its peak in 1992 and 1993 with the wonderful 'Howards End' followed by the soaring, sublime 'Remains of the Day', featuring Anthony Hopkins as a repressed butler in a grand mansion. This film contained a smaller cast and fewer costumes than most Merchant-Ivory productions, but was probably their most thrilling work of all.
A Cuban Dream
by Caryn Thurman on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 07:03 amOur weekly Seen and Heard update will return soon, and we hope that it will contain a lower percentage of obituary coverage. We recently heard from LitKicks member Rubiao who also noted this trend and wrote in to share some thoughts on another great writer that passed away on February 21, 2005.
It seems that this month was a bad month for famous literary icons and for at least one major religious icon as well. Those giants who have passed away have overshadowed at least one of the lesser-known writers who have moved on recently, namely one Guillermo Cabrera Infante. This Cuban giant living in exile wrote with the most unique style I have ever encountered.
Some Time Bye and Bye
by Jamelah Earle on Wednesday, March 30, 2005 04:57 pm
In a year that has already been rife with the passing of several writers, I'm sad to report that poet Robert Creeley passed away this morning after becoming very ill with pneumonia. I had the pleasure of interviewing him early last year, and we corresponded a little bit after that. He was definitely an important figure in American poetry, but from the little I got to know of him through the interview and subsequent e-mails, he seemed to be a really cool guy with a genuine interest in online writing and publishing and encouraging young writers.
He was kind enough to write a poem for our 24 Hour Poetry Party, which I'll put up here. It seems especially poignant today.
So Long, Lamantia
by Jamelah Earle on Monday, March 14, 2005 02:42 pmPoet Philip Lamantia passed away last week at the age of 77. His obituary is available at the San Francisco Chronicle, but I thought, in tribute, I'd put up a couple of his poems. Please feel free to share your thoughts about the poet or his work.
I have given fair warning
I have given fair warning
Chicago New York Los Angeles have gone down
I have gone to Swan City where the ghost
of Maldoror may still roam
The south is very civilized
I have eaten rhinoceros tail
It is the last night among crocodiles
Albion opens his fist in a palm grove
I shall watch speckled jewel grow
on the back of warspilt horses
Exultation rides by
A poppy size of the sun in my skull
I have given fair warning
at the time of corpses and clouds
I can make love here as anywhere
There is this distance between me
and what I see
There is this distance between me and what I see
everywhere immanence of the presence of God
no more ekstasis
a cool head
watch watch watch
I'm here
He's over there . . . It's an Ocean . . .
sometimes I can't think of it, I fail, fall
This IS this look of love
there IS the tower of David
there IS the throne of Wisdom
there IS this silent look of love
Constant flight in air of the Holy Ghost
I long for the luminous darkness of God
I long for the superessential
light of this darkness
another darkness I long for the end of longing
I long for the
it is Nameless what I long for
a spoken word caught in its own
meat saying nothing
This nothing ravishes beyond ravishing
There IS this look of love
Throne Silent look of love
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