Monday, April 07, 2008

It's Monday: Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!

I was instantly struck with James Tate’s new book, Ghost Soldiers. At the same time, I found Charles Simic’s new book, That Little Something, interesting, but not anything to go wild over. The funny thing is that I stopped reading The Ghost Soldiers after getting about halfway through, and I’ve now finished That Little Something. What does that say? I’m not sure.

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Here’s something of which I’m terribly jealous. At 10:15 pm Saturday night, in Rock Creek, Montana, an email went out from Lucas Farrell, Greg Hill Jr., and Brandon Shimoda. They were going to put together an instant poetry website called Left Facing Bird. In the space of six hours they were able to get 100 poets to send poems. The result is up:

leftfacingbird.com

What a great idea that was/is.

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Also this weekend, Amazon.com sent me an email telling me books I might be interested in purchasing. We all get these emails periodically, I imagine. What made this one funny to me is that Amazon suggested I purchase The Little Book of Guesses, by John Gallaher. I’m wondering if maybe I should. You know, support the cause and all. I could place it in the box of guesses I have by the back door.

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Jason Tandon, a contributor to The Laurel Review, has a new book out. Go here to see:

http://www.sunnyoutside.com/releases/027/weehour_o.html

Bookshelf:

There are a lot of new books coming out in 2008 (Cole Swensen!), but, as I’m short of money just now, I’m going back to some books from last year that I feel I rushed through. First up, Bin Ramke’s Tendril.

Soundtrack:

R.E.M.’s new album is better than their last one, but it still hasn’t gotten me very fired up. Much more interesting, I’m finding this, from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - "Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!":


Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - "Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!"

6 Comments:

At 4/08/2008 10:06 AM, Blogger Matthew Thorburn said...

Amazon is right -- I think you'd really like that book!

It's the strangest thing, but whenever I read poems by that John Gallaher guy, they always remind me of you.

 
At 4/08/2008 11:54 AM, Blogger John Gallaher said...

Will I never have my own voice? Alas.

 
At 4/11/2008 7:57 PM, Blogger noiselessinfinity said...

I second the notion on the new R.E.M. Also second the notion on Dig Lazarus Dig!.

 
At 4/12/2008 5:13 AM, Blogger John Gallaher said...

Indeed, the whole album has this nervous energy I find both right now and a strong echo of late 70s edge. Or something like that.

 
At 4/14/2008 8:03 PM, Blogger Busstogate said...

Have you read Cave's ... And The Ass Saw The Angel ?

 
At 4/15/2008 4:20 AM, Blogger John Gallaher said...

Actually, I almost did once a few years ago, but then put it down. It seemed like it was going to be a little hard to take... but I've off-and-on been a fan of the music for years, so maybe I should go back and pick it up again.

I just have to get myself ready for torture and hatred and revenge. Maybe after the presidential election?

 

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