Nice post, ARX. Re: "All that is to say: I feel privileged to have accidentally discovered it (and I don’t even remember how!)", I felt forced start a spreadsheet recently when I buy a book to remember where I heard about it and in what context, because I was forgetting too many of the initial reference points...
The best part of working at a library is pulling holds in the stacks and discovering books and authors I’ve never heard of. I’ve taken so many photos of books to read later.
Thought experiment: How can you be part of an in person scene, with parties with booze and snacks, where (1) you are anon, (2) you don’t live in LA or NYC, and (3) (he asked self-pityingly) you have not (yet) done anything that merits an invitation?
Since we know the answer to the foregoing, it is with pure, unselfinterested benevolence, that I hope your proposal comes true.
Tao Lin reading was good, the little fragmentary pauses during the litany where you think he must finally be done, but then he starts again, were agonizing. The expressions on the people where they’re starting to wonder whether the joke is going on too long were also very nice.
Well, at least you would get an invitation, since you’ve got a really good book already published. Maybe you could go to wearing some kind of mask, maybe like a Venetian carnival mask.
Thanks for writing about Our Last Year. I've been listening to you on podcasts since Tao shared a post with me where you mentioned my book. Thoroughly enjoying your perspective. I have Incel and am excited to read it.
It's interesting to hear you mention my "credentialed success." I get what you mean, but also: I feel like I'm on the periphery. But I like being on the periphery, and it's somewhat calculated. It's weird, right? Like you say, there's a liberating effect to not exactly playing the game as it's once been played, or to having the freedom that a smaller press offers, but then also, the book might not get out there as much. But then I wonder: does that matter? It's difficult to see clearly bc all of this is mixed up with ego/self, etc. I have a longer essay (or, I hope it's remained longer - it's being edited down at the moment) about some of these ideas coming out soon, something I've been thinking about for probably twenty years. In a culture in which self-as-commodity is valued more than anything else, how does one write freely, honestly, openly, etc?
Also, weirdly, I think I wrote about this video one time for htmlgiant as part of a longer thing about one of Tao's early books.
Anyway, really good post and thanks again. Looking forward to reading more (and to starting Incel).
Thanks for the comment, Alan - as I said in the post, I think it's an impressive, under-appreciated gem of a novel and I look forward to spreading the good word about it. I am also looking to do a podcast on it at some point in the coming months.
>there's a liberating effect to not exactly playing the game as it's once been played, or to having the freedom that a smaller press offers, but then also, the book might not get out there as much.
Would be interested to read your essay about these ideas, please let me know when it's out!
I appreciate the word-spread for sure. Thank you again. I'll be interested in the podcast, too.
And will do re the essay I mentioned. Based on what I've read here, I'll think you'll find at least parts worthwhile. Feel like there's a coalescing thing going on right now in certain lit spheres. A good energy/feeling about it.
Awhile back, right before starting my own publishing company, I asked Richard Nash, then publisher at Soft Skull, for advice. He said: "Quit when the parties stop being fun." I ran my company for a decade, and when the parties stopped being fun I closed up shop. In retrospect, it feels like much of the essential wisdom was embedded in that simple piece of advice.
Nice post, ARX. Re: "All that is to say: I feel privileged to have accidentally discovered it (and I don’t even remember how!)", I felt forced start a spreadsheet recently when I buy a book to remember where I heard about it and in what context, because I was forgetting too many of the initial reference points...
There are so many fantastic books out there.
I feel exactly the same way!
OK i'm a Tao Lin fan now
Look at me / I’m the purist now
Indeed you are!
The best part of working at a library is pulling holds in the stacks and discovering books and authors I’ve never heard of. I’ve taken so many photos of books to read later.
Thought experiment: How can you be part of an in person scene, with parties with booze and snacks, where (1) you are anon, (2) you don’t live in LA or NYC, and (3) (he asked self-pityingly) you have not (yet) done anything that merits an invitation?
Since we know the answer to the foregoing, it is with pure, unselfinterested benevolence, that I hope your proposal comes true.
Tao Lin reading was good, the little fragmentary pauses during the litany where you think he must finally be done, but then he starts again, were agonizing. The expressions on the people where they’re starting to wonder whether the joke is going on too long were also very nice.
All valid questions for which I don’t have any good answer, truthfully.
Well, at least you would get an invitation, since you’ve got a really good book already published. Maybe you could go to wearing some kind of mask, maybe like a Venetian carnival mask.
Thanks for writing about Our Last Year. I've been listening to you on podcasts since Tao shared a post with me where you mentioned my book. Thoroughly enjoying your perspective. I have Incel and am excited to read it.
It's interesting to hear you mention my "credentialed success." I get what you mean, but also: I feel like I'm on the periphery. But I like being on the periphery, and it's somewhat calculated. It's weird, right? Like you say, there's a liberating effect to not exactly playing the game as it's once been played, or to having the freedom that a smaller press offers, but then also, the book might not get out there as much. But then I wonder: does that matter? It's difficult to see clearly bc all of this is mixed up with ego/self, etc. I have a longer essay (or, I hope it's remained longer - it's being edited down at the moment) about some of these ideas coming out soon, something I've been thinking about for probably twenty years. In a culture in which self-as-commodity is valued more than anything else, how does one write freely, honestly, openly, etc?
Also, weirdly, I think I wrote about this video one time for htmlgiant as part of a longer thing about one of Tao's early books.
Anyway, really good post and thanks again. Looking forward to reading more (and to starting Incel).
Thanks for the comment, Alan - as I said in the post, I think it's an impressive, under-appreciated gem of a novel and I look forward to spreading the good word about it. I am also looking to do a podcast on it at some point in the coming months.
>there's a liberating effect to not exactly playing the game as it's once been played, or to having the freedom that a smaller press offers, but then also, the book might not get out there as much.
Would be interested to read your essay about these ideas, please let me know when it's out!
I appreciate the word-spread for sure. Thank you again. I'll be interested in the podcast, too.
And will do re the essay I mentioned. Based on what I've read here, I'll think you'll find at least parts worthwhile. Feel like there's a coalescing thing going on right now in certain lit spheres. A good energy/feeling about it.
Thank you for this!
Awhile back, right before starting my own publishing company, I asked Richard Nash, then publisher at Soft Skull, for advice. He said: "Quit when the parties stop being fun." I ran my company for a decade, and when the parties stopped being fun I closed up shop. In retrospect, it feels like much of the essential wisdom was embedded in that simple piece of advice.
If there’s any like-minded people reading this in Melbourne, let’s start something. Something as minimal as readings in a pub, go from there.
im not autistic, im an elf!
Do you want to come on my podcast and talk about this?