Mark Sarvas provides the first of a much needed glimpse inside the inner trappings of n+1. I’m as shocked as anyone to learn that there was a time in which the people at n+1 were friendly with litbloggers. But, like all enfants terrible, something caused these manboys to lapse into unintentional self-parody and attack the people who, oddly enough, are probably in the best position to sing their praises. Since Keith Gessen and Marco Roth, as far as I know, lack the introspective know-how and perspicacity to pursue therapy, I certainly hope that Mark’s generosity, in which he will reveal the shifting character of these two men, will assist all parties.
n+1 Revealed
– March 14, 2007Posted in: Uncategorized
The Call by Yannick Murphy: The always interesting author of Here They Come and Signed, Mata Hari returns with a novel that whips up a worldview from a rather quirky set of limitations: namely, the call logs that a veterinarian maintains as his son is unexpectedly put into a coma and an unforgiving economy denies him work. What emerges is a surprisingly optimistic, often funny, and very moving account on how one family uses acceptance and forgiveness as a way to atone for hard knocks. (
Birds of Paradise by Diana Abu-Jaber: Forget Franzen and Eugenides. If you're looking for a social novel that counts, Diana Abu-Jaber is the author you're looking for. Building from the free-form exploration of consciousness and identity in Crescent and the gripping procedural structure of Origin, Abu-Jaber's latest novel is her finest, equally fluent with gutterpunk culture and smarmy real estate men. It has been suggested by The Washington Post's Ron Charles that you will likely gain some pounds while reading this novel. This is certainly true. Abu-Jaber's description of food is so precise that it often made me want to do more cooking. But I very much admired the way in which Abu-Jaber presents all her characters as unwitting victims of rough capitalism, which permits them some dignity even as they perform terrible acts.
The Last of the Live Nude Girls by Sheila McClear: This memoir isn't so much about the decline of the Times Square peepshow, as it is about one young woman's efforts to pull herself up by by her bootstraps when presented with few economic options. Filled with self-introspective candor and a quiet dignity, McClear's story is one that might befall any of us in these volatile times. While McClear does get back on her feet, her book leads one contemplating the terrible fates of other young women now moving to New York and falling into deadlier vocations. (
If y’all didn’t seem so genuinely aggrieved about this and if it were more interesting, I’d think it was a put on to generate publicity, but no, I guess it’s all “sincere.” At the risk of sounding politically incorrect, it’s also totally retarded.
Ed, you know I love you, but isn’t your excitement over Mark’s sharing of emails a bit hypocritical when one considers the stance you took when Tao Lin did the same thing during your Oscar blogging?
I do realize that Keith Gessen has basically given Mark permission to post these emails over at The Millions blog, but had not done so at the time of your post here.
Ed? Hypocritical? Never!
Consider the source. This is a guy whose idea of “injustice” is someone talking in a movie theater. Only slightly self-centered. But I do think he’s stumbled upon a major story here.
(The giveaway about Ed “Rants” is when he said he would no longer give any attention to n+1. Wow! They must be shaking about that one. This is a guy who WISHES he had real power so he could start excluding lit groups, kicking teenagers out of movie theaters, et.al. Anyone who disturbs his precious bourgeois ego. He truly imagines this blog as the center of the universe. Well, we all have that fault, a little, about our projects, but seldom to such an arrogant extent.)
Christ, you folks have no sense of humor.
Let me know when you want to exchange links, Mr. Open Minded.
Mr. Wickett, that’s bullshit logic. Was I the one who posted the email? In what way am I responsible for Mark’s actions? And in what way am I completely condoning his actions here? Or is your perspective on this point so narrow that you cannot fathom a person finding entertainment in an action that he would not commit himself? Gray areas, sir. The world is full of them. I’d expect such a position from a Bush supporter who believes in the “you are with us or against us” hard line, not a thoughtful guy like you. Of course, we probably disagree on this point and that’s fine.
Of course, if I had turned around and posted a private email on these pages, after I had explicitly removed one on the Oscar blog, THEN you could call me a hypocrite. And I’d happily march my ass to whatever kangaroo court you wish to establish, pleading guilty.
WTF? Did we suddenly roll back the clock to 1997 and slither back into the primordial USENET ether? I’m totally having deja vu flashbacks now…
Sarah, this can’t be USENET because nobody called anyone a Nazi yet. I repeat, yet.
King Wenclas is a Nazi!
I do love the smell of Sturgeon’s Law…