Bono published his second editorial in The New York Times yesterday and as I was choking on my cornflakes I thought I've got to blog about this keek, but then I thought, what's the bloody point? Bono is beyond satire, if you can't see through him by now I cannot help. Besides hypocrisy and evil are everywhere triumphant and it was always thus. Reminds me of this poem by Mary Robinson (1758 - 1800) called January 1795 which I thought I'd just blog instead:
January 1795
Pavement slippery, people sneezing,
Lords in ermine, beggars freezing;
Titled gluttons dainties carving,
Genius in a garret starving.
Lofty mansions, warm and spacious;
Courtiers cringing and voracious;
Misers scarce and wretched heeding;
Gallant soldiers fighting, bleeding.
Wives who laugh at passive spouses;
Theatres, and meeting-houses;
Balls, where simpering misses languish;
Hospitals, and groans of anguish.
Arts and sciences bewailing:
Commerce drooping, credit failing:
Placemen mocking subjects loyal;
Separations, weddings royal.
Authors who can't earn a dinner;
Many a subtle rogue a winner;
Fugitives for shelter seeking;
Misers hoarding, tradesmen breaking.
Taste and talents quite deserted;
All the laws of truth perverted;
Arrogance o'er merit soaring;
Merit silently deploring.
Ladies gambling night and morning;
Fools the works of genius scorning;
Ancient dames for girls mistaken;
Youthful damsels quite forsaken.
Some in luxury delighting;
More in talking than in fighting;
Lovers old, and beaux decrepid;
Lordlings empty and insipid.
Poets, painters, and musicians;
Lawyers doctors, politicians;
Pamphlets, newspapers, and odes
Seeking fame by different roads.
Gallant souls with empty purses;
Generals only fit for nurses;
School-boys, smit with martial spirit,
Taking place of veteran merit.
Honest men who can't get places,
Knaves who show unblushing faces:
Ruin hasten'd, peace retarded;
Candour spurn'd, and art rewarded.
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58 comments:
Big shout out to the ghosts of Swift and John Kennedy Toole of course. And if you're one of those people who enjoys 420 Day (like most of my old high school students in Colorado) have one on me.
And sadly to the ghost of JG Ballard who died today. Sad news.
Oh, dear. And James Houston died this week too. I was just listening to one of his recent interviews with my friend who has the radio show. So astute and gracious. And a friend of indie bookstores.
I am going to take it upon myself to read some Houston now. Snow Mountain Passage, probably. But maybe readers here who read your recent post about Ballard could be importuned to read a bit of Ballard now too. I will, anyway. Funny, with most people it's hard to know how to mark their death. But with writers, it's obvious.
Even though it doesn't do them any good, of course. Philip K. Dick was right about that.
That's a very nice poem, though. Surprisingly timely.
However, I'm not all that worried. About nuclear warfare, global warming, suicidal terrorists, sure. But not, really, about humanity. Someone sent me the YouTube of the Susan Boyle performance on Britain's Got Talent, which I'm sure everyone and his sister has seen by now. You couldn't have made a feel good movie that was better than that. Actually it would not have been as good, because no one would have believed it.
It isn't Susan Boyle that gives me the uplift, although I do think her certainty about her own talent, despite what seems to have been a mysterious lack of encouragement all this time, is something many, many people could take a page from. But what was heartening to me was how instantly that crowd saw their own prejudice and stupidity. I mean virtually as one. It was almost as if they had formed a joint compact to be as stupid and sniggering and trivial as they could, in order to show that they could learn to see those qualities in themselves. And change.
Seana
Some JGB recs: Best Sci Fi Novel: The Drowned World. Best Novel: Crash. Best Surreal Novel: High Rise. Best autobiography disguised as a novel: Empire of the Sun.
Yeah I watched that. I actually thought the judges were ok, it was the audience that thought it had come to the Colliseum.
slightly cheeky obit of Ballard in the Daily Telegraph here
Adrian,
Just wanted to let you know I have something new up over at Declan's site. I know you can't read my stuff, but just incase you have a wandering eye, it's there. I have two different excerpts over there. Anyways, yeah, all I'm saying.
Liam
I'll check it out right now. I dont think I'm not allowed to look at postings on internet sites. That would be insane. Thats public domain or something, right? I wonder how Declan gets away with reading mss? Of course he has uber agent Allan Guthrie watching his back.
+++
Wow, what a terrific piece man! Right up my alley. Really excellent stuff. For everyone to lazy to hunt it out, here it is:
Dont Take Your Guns To Town
oops no, here it is:
Dont Take Your Guns To Town
While we're at this is a link to a book from another of our regular contributers
Seana Graham
and I dont know if you guys remember Greg?
His book This Is An Urgency is on fire right now.
Excellent choice of poem. I read Dennis Lehane's The GIven Day a few months ago, and it reminded me the inequalities and injustices we see today are nothing new. Things don't really change all that much over time. It's like dredging the beach to slow erosion. The fight is, in fact, less to improve things than it is to keep them from becoming worse.
As a former musician, I couldn't let one of Bono's comments pass without comment.
Christianity, it turns out, has a rhythm — and it crescendos this time of year.Bono may be renowned as an uber-musician, but "crescendo" is a term that applies to volume, not rhythm.
On the other hand, I'm beginning to see that what Bobo lacks in depth, he makes up for with verbosity.
I helped Greg sell books and T-shirts at the local author's day in our library on Saturday, and his line of fans was long and steady. He's going to be interviewed on NPR and Sirius/XM in June, and he spoke with Oprah Radio's exec. producer on friday. Things are getting busy and exciting in our little town. I'm super happy for him. We met a guy at the bar after the signing from Bikers Against Child Abuse, and he suggested giving a talk at the Harley dealer. Thanks for your great review, Adrian! I keep finding used copies of DIWMB and passing them out to my friends on their birthdays. We must get it back in print. Anything happening with the film rights? By the way, I can't wait to see this awesome-looking movie which is related to our topic of last week
Dana
Nice catch. This piece was actually edited and copyedited unlike the last one, but even so the copyeditor must have been overworked and you cant change the style - Bono writes with such outre professional paddydom that it would make Malachy McCourt blush. But hell if I had a billion in the bank and got worshipped for my goodness everywhere I went I wouldn't bother with dictionaries either.
HB
Of course I meant There Is An Urgency (its 1 am here). And yes it is a great read and extremely well written and maybe most important of all is a book that will actually help people.
Its funny what you say about bikers. I used to own a Triumph BV and an old Kawasaki 650 and you couldnt meet a more decent bunch of people on the road than fellow bikers. In Northern Ireland two bikers passing always waved to one another or gave a wee nod. There was a real camraderie. I blew a tire once on the Belfast Road and 4separate bikers stopped to offer assistance as I pushed it home. Now I know its a little different in the US with with Harley tribes and Goldwing tribes etc. but I've always liked bikes, bikers and in general they dont get as good a rap as they should (especially here in Australia).
Yeah I heard about Oprah. I know its easy to take the piss but on the whole she's a mighty force for good and I hope they take a serious look at Greg's book. The truth is sometimes scaldingly good for you.
Is DIWMB coming back into print? I'm skeptical. Will they revert the rights back to me? I'm even more skeptical. And Hollywood? Its been 4 years since the book got optioned and although that isnt a terribly long time for there, still I just dont see it happening.
Thanks for taking a look, Adrian. Yeah, the full first chapter makes a lot more sense than just the first 1000 words, but y'know Declan, he's got his rules. It's all good. I'm hard a work at that novel now, still waiting for agents to get back to me about the one I finished in January. Anyway, yeah, thanks again, mate. And for posting here as well.
Oh yeah, forgot to make sense of that post. He's actually going to rob a place so he can get arrested, then go to prison so he can kill his father for having killed his mother. But, one thing after another goes unlike he planned it to be.
Got another older linked to that one on Declan's site, so, if ya have the time. Me, I don't, because I'm late to class. Thanks, bro.
Yes, I am thrilled for Greg and hope that as many people as possible can read and benefit from his book. Inspirational is not generally a word I use as a complement, but in the case of There Is An Urgency, he has re-defined the term for me.
It's a shame, with all the recycled crap Hollywood keeps putting out. They could unearth a gold mine in a trilogy of Michael Forsythe with the right director and star. Damn it could be so awesome.
Yes bikers are good people, as I have discovered as well. I had a Honda Shadow for a few years until I sat upon my friend's shiny new Triumph Scrambler last year and took it for a spin. I no longer appreciated my Shadow and give it to my father in law. If I ever have another bike, it will be a Triumph for sure. Who can afford a Harley but dentists and lawyers? Funny how they are marketed in such a blue-collar fashion. It was amazing to me how often, when I was delivering barns, how rural people in the middle of nowhere would literally have nothing and be living in a broken down shack or trailer and have ordered a barn that I was delivering to house their new Harley.
Perhaps Anvil: The Story of Anvil will make us feel a bit better about Hollywood for a moment.
Watched Herzog's Fitzcarraldo for the first time last night. Quite a wild ride. Looking forward to the documentary about the making of. It was playing at the Nashville film festival this weekend, but I decided to save $20 and Netflix it.
Liam
Wait a minute, its 420 Day and you're going to classes? Shouldnt you be listening to Phish or Dark Side of the Moon or something? When I was teaching high school in Colorado I always hated the 19th and 20th of April (Columbine Anniversay and The Day All My Students Were Always Baked)
HB
If the wife ever lets me I'd like one of these. Yes I loved my old Bonny but boy those things took work. I've heard nothing but good reports about all the new Triumphs.
HB
I've always liked Werner Herzog as a director and person.
If you liked Fitz or Aguire you might like this little YouTube about him and KK.
Gorgeous bike. One day maybe. . .
Great clip. I wonder if that is taken from "My Best Fiend?" the doc Herzog did about Kinski?
Dude, I can't deal with pachuli bands. There were too many Dead heads and jumping round the room Phish fans back in SC. That's cool if that's what you're into, but as for me, it's just another Manic Monday. I'll take the late 80's over Phish any day.
Adrian:
Inspired by the NYT writings of Bono, I spent Sunday at Christ Church Cathedral Dublin, renewing the faith I fell from years and years ago. It was something Bono said about failing his father and his rejection of poverty but acceptance of hard work that did called me back to the host.
The lingering Easterness was in the air, and the congregation, in their colorful Crocs and old suits and drab dresses were swaying, fingers in their ears, while the largest, loudest bells in Europe reminded us all that he who has the ears to hear can enter into a veil of silence.
I had forgotten how much standing and kneeling goes on in Mother Church, and I did the holy aerobics in abject humility, aware that I may be the only one here who did not fully understand the choreographic steps by heart.
Communion called the faithful, and I lined up, confessing my sins to heaven as I neared the altar, joined with my brethren and sistren in a humanity which could have only been intensified if they had all been people of color.
But alas, I had to console myself with the knowledge that I was happier at this moment than I had a right to be, taking the holy hair of the dog and that little wafer of white bread, feeling the faith of my fathers and knowing that I was truly better than all this but able to be with the little people in their moment of abject surrender to the God who lived in that cathedral and in every little Christian church in the third world, and confident that something about this day would reflect well on me, if only I could write in in the proper semi-coherent and very humble way.
It was then I knew that I had to give something back, not just take, and so I removed my favorite Gucci shades from my face and left them as an offering a the feet of the grand statue of the Virgin, just as I conspicuously kneeled before her lady and pretended to pray great prayers, in full view of the communion-bound line of Irish humanity, exposing my humanity and essential spirituality to them all.
And so, it was with tears streaming down my face (actually some artfully applied holy water) that I emerged into the cloudy Dublin day, knowing that my soul song had been sung another Sunday, and that the great God who has so blessed me was still mine, all mine.
Pono
Pono, I think Bono had better watch out at the NYT. Sounds like there is a pinch hitter to hand, and I am willing to bet you might come just a tad cheaper.
Only question is wheter you would really be willing to write this stuff more than once.
Your call.
Sorry, wrong thread.
Seana:
I will write absolutely anything for money. And no mistake. But no one ever offers to pay.
I have converted another soul to the faith of St. Michael of Belfast on this day, however. Vicki began to read DIMWB today, and is thoroughly hooked. So, as I labored at contract negotiation with the pirates of Ireland and the Netherlands, another McKinty acolyte was born. Miracle!
PKL
I'll agree with everything you say except the last. It's no miracle. It's a simple law of nature. Women dig that Forsythe guy. Shouldn't, of course--bad lad and all that. But do.
Patrick
You won a book over at Detectives Beyond Borders was all I was trying to say.
You didnt go see Swift at Saint Pat's did you? They buried him just inside the front door so you dont even have to pay to see him.
Seana
I remember reading one review of DIWMB or maybe DY on Amazon that said "lock up your daughters MF is back!" or something like that. I was pretty surprised that MF was thought to be sexy, I always thought of him as a bit more thuggish than sexy, less Clive Owen more Vinny Jones.
Well, I suppose he's sexy in that Colin Farrell, worried rat sort of way. I think women sort of empathize into his situation, not his actions.And most probably do not approve of the Belfast Six Pack. However I shouldn't speak for others. I'm not even sure that I find him sexy, but I do find him perversely appealing.
and here's to JG
just finished the Empire of the Sun and am presently exploring his best short stories . Thanks for the mention.I'd seen Empire a couple of times and really enjoyed the novel. What a sadness
in survival and what loneliness in hope
Dana, I guess Bono must be a former musician, too. What a gobshite.
==============
Detectives Beyond Borders
“Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home”
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Knowa, you are helping push Empire of the Sun toward the top of my Ballard pile. But I do think some of the more surreal stuff that the Telegraph article talks about sounds enticing too. And thanks for the recs, Adrian.
My favorite understated British Telegraph line of the the article:
Ballard’s accounts of “the mysterious eroticism of wounds: the perverse logic of blood-soaked instrument panels and sun visors lined with brain tissue” did not suit all tastes.Indeed. And yet, don't you all think he would find a better reception today? The movies have prepared us for practically anything by now.
Just me down here right now then? Right.
One thing I discovered from that Telegraph obit was that J.G. Ballard was actually James Graham Ballard, and so part of the same infamous clan I belong to. Which explains a lot--it really does. Although only to insiders of course.
Thanks for the link to the trivia book, Adrian. It was hack work, by any estimation, but honestly done, and fairly amusing if anyone happens to be in the greater Southern California area at any point. I'd like to say it was fun to write, but it wasn't. However some sort of mental anesthesia has prevailed and on balance I'm glad to have done it.
But I'm wasting time. I loved Liam's opening to his novel. It was a very effective hook and I would love to see it when it is finally in print. My only question is, is he Liam or is he Will? Or is there some sort of evil twin thing going on here? Not that I mind, but I'd like to know which one is the writer.
And of course I am so happy to hear of all the stir around Greg's book. We shall say we knew him when, won't we?
Adrian:
Ah, yes, DBB... thanks a million! And, all kidding aside, V and I did visit Swift and Stella and the other ghosts St. Patrick's on a lovely sunny crispy cold Saturday. Always try to do so at least once when in Dublin.
PKL
Yes, much as I enjoy your Bono-bashing, you're probably doing him a favour each time you mention him...I've heard any publicity is better than none.
Rafe old buddy you're probably right. Still its hard to resist isnt it? Here for example is what Bono's guitarist the self styled "Edge" is getting up towith his millions, er, billions.
Seana
Crash is really really good. It aint just for perverts.
I always meant to read Kim Stanley Robinson's California books but havent yet. Steve Erickson's SoCal books sound good too.
Patrick
Of course you would visit your namesake. You shouldn try going to Armagh sometime its the Ecclesiastical Capital of the whole country and right next door is Emain Macha where the boy Cuchulainn was raised.
Aww blast! I've come here to read pure McKinty, dammit!!! Lol.
I'm going to check out Bono's editorials, to see what he's babbling about now. I would also like to read a book or two by Ann Coulter, but without paying for it. No way in the world I'd send hard earned money to that idiot.
The Robinson poem is colorful and a bit depressing.
When I came here, I thought the post was going to be a mixture of talk on "Dune" and "A Confederacy of Dunces".
And wouldn't that have been something, CS? I suppose it still could be.
Dana, if you're still reading down here, I meant to ask how you liked The Given Day. I'm a big fan of Lehane's, but that one's thick and I've heard mixed things.
Adrian, I've always meant to read K.S. Robinson too. And should have, as he walked into the bookstore with Karen Joy Fowler the other day, as I mentioned somewhere. Greeting an author with the words "I've always meant to read your books" just doesn't seem like something an author really wants to hear, so I just waved.
I didn't mean I was going to read Empire of the Sun as opposed to Crash, by the way. Just probably first, especially as it seems easier to find.
I had a story published recently called 'In Pigwell', in a little magazine called Salamander, and I think anyone reading that would find that I am no stranger to perversity myself. I expect it's the Graham in me.
I liked the keywords that the Free Library of Philadelphia lists for Crash: "Traffic accidents, sexual deviation, fiction."
==============
Detectives Beyond Borders
“Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home”
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
TCS
Long time bro!
THANK YOU MAN. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT NO ONE POINTED OUT THAT I HAD MISSPELLED DUNCES!!!!!
This post has been for two days and no one pointed it out and I never noticed. Ha.
Well now I feel obliged to talk about Dune.
Ok, so I read all six of the Frank Herbert books plus the Dune Encyclopedia and the first of those rip off ones his son did.
I dont know what the fascination was with those books for me. The first was ok but they got progressively more complicated and ridiculous as the series went on. Still Frank Herbert sounds like a nice guy and the first one Dune wasnt bad.
Seana
Congratulations. Do you have a link to the story?
I just thought Crash was great. Its almost fun to look at it as a trilogy with Concrete Island and High Rise - all of which are also violent and somewhat perverse.
Peter
Thats about it, but I'd throw "Elizabeth Taylor" in there too. If you were making a film of the book today I suppose it would be "Madonna" or "Paris Hilton".
As for 'Dunes', I was being uncharacteristically polite. Also, I thought it just might be some current twist on the phrase that everyone else already knew, which as we know happens to me fairly often.
My story is not online, and already fades rapidly into obscurity. Or I guess it never really got out of obscurity to begin with. It's not sexually perverse, just perverse. But I took some pride in the fact that one of my writer friends at work who sometimes writes some pretty twisted stuff said to me, "I am never going to let anyone tell me that my stuff is too dark again."
Mine, as you might expect, is intended to be comic, though. Mainly.
"But I took some pride in the fact that one of my writer friends at work who sometimes writes some pretty twisted stuff said to me, `I am never going to let anyone tell me that my stuff is too dark again.'"
Good selling point!
==============
Detectives Beyond Borders
“Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home”
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Seana
You never know you might get anthologised.
Another of the reasons I like JGB is his un English delight in sex and the ability to put it on the page. Serious British writers tend to avoid talking about sex. Ballard takes it seriously. Yes sex can be funny but its also a serious business.
Peter
Off topic but I saw this on the LoHud Yankees Blog today:
"The Blue Jays are 61-41 since Cito Gaston took over last June 2. Only the Angels and Cubs have been better."
Just to be a contrarian, I'd go for The Crystal Word as Sci-fi and The Atrocity Exhibition instead of Crash.
Crash is really really good. It aint just for perverts. What do you mean not just for perverts? Oh well, at least we discovered it first ;)
This post has been for two days and no one pointed it out and I never noticed. Ha. I did, but I was sure it was one of your puns, maybe based on something on Bono's article. A real "Boy who cried wolf" lesson there.
Anon
If its a choice between me being really clever and screwing up, pick screwing up everytime and you wont go far wrong.
The Crystal World is another good one. In fact that early disaster trilogy is actually pretty good.
The Atrocity Ex has "Why I Want To Fuck Ronald Reagan" in it if I recall correctly which I liked.
Oh, it was me by the way. Clicked anonymous by mistake.
Yes, Why I Want To Fuck Ronald Reagan. Talking of perverts ;)
Hi Adrian - thanks for that - great poem - and one i hadn't come across before - reminded me of Raleigh's 'The Lie'.
Cheers
Adrian (another melbourne writer)
thanks Adrian. I agree with that poem except maybe for the last 3 words.
I'm guessing it's art in the sense of artifice.
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