Burn after reading
The Fire Gospel is Faber’s not-so-thinly disguised attack on the publishing industry; not so much Faber biting the hand that feeds him, but taking the whole arm off. Robert Louis Stevenson said that regardless of the plot, characterisations or setting, the thing that lingers longest in a reader’s mind is the personality or “feel” of the writer, and this applies to Michel Faber, only not with The Fire Gospel. Compared to his other works his dark satire fails to ignite.
Reviewed by Susan Tomaselli.
Famous Doubles
An excerpt from the press release for Paul Harvey‘s new exhibition: Gilbert and George, the Mighty Boosh and the White Stripes are famous double acts in Famous Doubles, a new show of paintings by Paul Harvey in October in Notting Hill. Gilbert and George have given their backing to the painting depicting them — but […]
Mother Mary
She eyes me nervously all day. The stare duration increasing as day moves toward evening; the light dimming outside. I am going out tonight. With a friend. Into town. For the sixth time she warns me not too get too drunk. Try not to wake the baby. Don’t be too late because ‘I’m bound to worry and wait up for you.’ What time do I think it might be? I don’t know I say. The bars are 24 hour now. We might end up at a club. She makes me promise not to visit the strip joint. Then reminds me of the time four years ago when I was so drunk I crawled the pavement and vomited in my Dad’s car. How he was nearly sick himself the next morning clearing it up.
By Antony Hitchin.
ampere’s and
Today’s quick lit [& alt.cult] links from around the web: Beyond the drugs: exploring the work of artist Fred Tomaselli & Slaughterhouse-Five is an enduring classic, but how about Kurt Vonnegut’s other work? & ‘Look at the Birdie’, a previously unpublished Kurt Vonnegut story (via @MaudNewton) & Haruki Murakami‘s 1Q84 due summer 2010 (read 3:AM‘s […]