Gerard K H Love
Appreciate your friends
BBQ Sauce.
City Lights Strikes Again: New Buk Collection for 2010 - Absence of the Hero
- Thread starter Garrett
- Start date
cirerita
Founding member
The true title is "Christ with Barbecue Sauce," and in the 1969-70 correspondence, B. said it was his best story in the last two years. No wonder Playboy rejected it :)
btw, the Huntington gardens are great, especially the Japanese and Chinese ones. And if you're a "Reader", they're free.
btw, the Huntington gardens are great, especially the Japanese and Chinese ones. And if you're a "Reader", they're free.
Hey guys:
Well, about that title: basically the goal is to find one of Buk's titles that will fit the whole collection. It was a little harder this time--Portions from a Wine-Stained Notebook suggested itself quite readily given the somewhat miscellaneous nature of the book. I thought it might be fun to use "I Only Write Poetry So I Can Go to Bed with Girls" except there's no poetry in the book and, let's face it, putting "poetry" in the title of a book is like tying a stone to it. Most people avoid poetry like the plague. (I'm a poet myself and edit volumes of poetry for City Lights, so this isn't an anti-poetry remark but simply a publishing one.) The titles were a bit recalcitrant on this one.
That said, as someone who admittedly knew little about Buk before becoming one his editors (a humbling experience to do something both John Martin and Ferlinghetti did), I do think Absence of the Hero captures something fundamental about his work. His anti-hero, warts and all, brutally honest, existential side. The "hero"--as the protagonist of fiction is often called--would seem to him a fraudulent concept. That, in any case, was our primary rationale.
All that said, it's a done deal as we've turned in all the basic info to the distributor.
As for Barbecued Christ--I was hoping Playboy would take that piece of the unpublished ones we sent them; it would have been great to get it in there as I understand that's where he wanted to place it. But they were interested in an essay ("House of Horrors").
So anyways, folks, please bear with the title as the book beneath is excellent, as good as Portions. Many of the pieces were originally slated for Portions but ended up getting bumped as more material surfaced (the volume's editor--I'm the press's editor--David Calonne kept turning up great uncollected pieces and I must point out the generous efforts of Abel Debritto, who's unearthed so many gems). So I'm thinking you'll be happy with the finished product.
This is turning into an essay so I'd better sign off, but again, fire away if there's anymore questions/concerns. Book should be available come April. When I'm at the City Lights office on Thursday, I'll check into the hardcover ordering situation.
All the best,
garrett
Well, about that title: basically the goal is to find one of Buk's titles that will fit the whole collection. It was a little harder this time--Portions from a Wine-Stained Notebook suggested itself quite readily given the somewhat miscellaneous nature of the book. I thought it might be fun to use "I Only Write Poetry So I Can Go to Bed with Girls" except there's no poetry in the book and, let's face it, putting "poetry" in the title of a book is like tying a stone to it. Most people avoid poetry like the plague. (I'm a poet myself and edit volumes of poetry for City Lights, so this isn't an anti-poetry remark but simply a publishing one.) The titles were a bit recalcitrant on this one.
That said, as someone who admittedly knew little about Buk before becoming one his editors (a humbling experience to do something both John Martin and Ferlinghetti did), I do think Absence of the Hero captures something fundamental about his work. His anti-hero, warts and all, brutally honest, existential side. The "hero"--as the protagonist of fiction is often called--would seem to him a fraudulent concept. That, in any case, was our primary rationale.
All that said, it's a done deal as we've turned in all the basic info to the distributor.
As for Barbecued Christ--I was hoping Playboy would take that piece of the unpublished ones we sent them; it would have been great to get it in there as I understand that's where he wanted to place it. But they were interested in an essay ("House of Horrors").
So anyways, folks, please bear with the title as the book beneath is excellent, as good as Portions. Many of the pieces were originally slated for Portions but ended up getting bumped as more material surfaced (the volume's editor--I'm the press's editor--David Calonne kept turning up great uncollected pieces and I must point out the generous efforts of Abel Debritto, who's unearthed so many gems). So I'm thinking you'll be happy with the finished product.
This is turning into an essay so I'd better sign off, but again, fire away if there's anymore questions/concerns. Book should be available come April. When I'm at the City Lights office on Thursday, I'll check into the hardcover ordering situation.
All the best,
garrett
bospress.net
www.bospress.net
Garrett;
We all want what is best for Buk. I agree that the words on the inside are more inportant than the title. I also agree that the word "poetry" will not sell many books. Sad, but true...
Best,
Bill
We all want what is best for Buk. I agree that the words on the inside are more inportant than the title. I also agree that the word "poetry" will not sell many books. Sad, but true...
Best,
Bill
chronic
old and in the way
True, but the name "Bukowski" certainly will.
Rekrab
Usually wrong.
Garrett: we're not trying to make life difficult for you. ABSENCE OF A HERO is a good title...for a short piece. For a book, it's a bit ponderous. But if it's too late, everything is already turned in, how about a limited run dust jacket for the hardcover that has an alternative title, CHRIST WITH BBQ SAUCE, and livelier art than the standard edition? I'm only guessing the art will match the title on ABSENCE and be on the tame side. Maybe the first 100 copies have the renegade dj and the rest say ABSENCE. Any which way, it's fantastic that the book is being published, and City Lights deserves a ton of credit for that. I'll buy no matter what it's called.
Damn, David. You're sure hammering this issue! Kudos.
bospress.net
www.bospress.net
Hi David;
I'm not sure that you need to let it die. The fact is that we, on this forum, are into this more than most other Bukowski readers. In the end, we will all buy the book anyway (if they do a special limited edition, many of us will buy both editions!). They can't fault us for trying to add our two cents!
Best,
Bill
I'm not sure that you need to let it die. The fact is that we, on this forum, are into this more than most other Bukowski readers. In the end, we will all buy the book anyway (if they do a special limited edition, many of us will buy both editions!). They can't fault us for trying to add our two cents!
Best,
Bill
Especially when it's finger-lickin' sacreligious.
Amen. I'm in for that.
HenryChinaski
Founding member
this thread has made my day! Portions was such a great collection and the fact that we are even seeing another one is a great thing in itself. hopefully it will be just as good. hell, city lights could release a Buk collection with the title "All the shitty stuff that got returned" and i'm damn sure everybody here would buy a copy.
ROC
It is what it is
Great news.
Put me down for a limited hardback with edgy art and a fuck-you title.
Actually, the title is fine... not great, but understandably understated given the current cultural climate and commercial considerations (now there's a crappy title).
I've been absent due to a house move (I missed you guys).
This new book can be my house warming present.
Put me down for a limited hardback with edgy art and a fuck-you title.
Actually, the title is fine... not great, but understandably understated given the current cultural climate and commercial considerations (now there's a crappy title).
I've been absent due to a house move (I missed you guys).
This new book can be my house warming present.
ROC; yes indeed you've been missed (although, until now, I hadn't really noticed - how's that for heart-warming?).
Hey guys!
Well, I'm glad you're not too put off by the title. And no worries, David--I appreciate the spirit in which the comments are made.
Still working on the hardcover issue in terms of reservations, if it's possible; boss has been out of town but I'll be able to discuss it with her soon.
In terms of the hardcover title, I'm afraid it too is a done deal for a couple of reasons--#1 being that all of the info is in same as the softcover; once the isbn # is attached, there's really no way to alter it. #2, even so, it'd probably be cost prohibitive--many factors involved including design and so forth. Publishing is in a tightening the belt stage right now due to the economy, so we need to be as cost effective as possible.
Again, I very much appreciate everyone's enthusiasm and feedback, even if I can't always act on it (but hey, if it wasn't for you guys, we wouldn't have thought to do the hardcovers of portions and this one in the first place--we do so few hardcovers--so believe me, your comments are taken into consideration). It's a pleasure to talk to his hardcore audience.
Best, g
Well, I'm glad you're not too put off by the title. And no worries, David--I appreciate the spirit in which the comments are made.
Still working on the hardcover issue in terms of reservations, if it's possible; boss has been out of town but I'll be able to discuss it with her soon.
In terms of the hardcover title, I'm afraid it too is a done deal for a couple of reasons--#1 being that all of the info is in same as the softcover; once the isbn # is attached, there's really no way to alter it. #2, even so, it'd probably be cost prohibitive--many factors involved including design and so forth. Publishing is in a tightening the belt stage right now due to the economy, so we need to be as cost effective as possible.
Again, I very much appreciate everyone's enthusiasm and feedback, even if I can't always act on it (but hey, if it wasn't for you guys, we wouldn't have thought to do the hardcovers of portions and this one in the first place--we do so few hardcovers--so believe me, your comments are taken into consideration). It's a pleasure to talk to his hardcore audience.
Best, g
so, is it too late to vote for BBQ'd Jesus and the Charcoaled Marys?
wait, that's my next bands name. hands off, it's taken.
wait, that's my next bands name. hands off, it's taken.
Okay, the plan is just to buy the hardcover and then ask Bill to make a clamshell for it with whatever title we want. ;)
Well, that works, doesn't it?
Clammy for a hardcover. That would fall into the unprecidented category, but who gives a crap?
Clammy for a hardcover. That would fall into the unprecidented category, but who gives a crap?
Ah! I get the idea! It's 'Christ with BBQ-sauce' being on the plate as a meal!
okay.
Haven't thought of this before! Has any of the non-native-speakers here?
(I thought 'with' would simply mean 'Christ AND bbq-sauce' and I didn't see the fun in the connection. Would you translate that word-per-word into German [Christus mit Barbeque-Soße] one wouldn't think of Christ being the food. You might imagine him, holding a bbq-sauce in his hand - even the MOST 'sacrelegig' [sp?] thought you'd have, would be 'Christ being showered with bbq-sauce'. [But that's not really funny, even though it reminds me of the 'Nickelodeon Kid's-choice-awards'] I don't think, ANY German would imagine him as a food on the plate.)
and still, I don't find it that funny.
To me, 'ABSENCE OF THE HERO' captures Hanks mentality and view of life much better.
okay.
Haven't thought of this before! Has any of the non-native-speakers here?
(I thought 'with' would simply mean 'Christ AND bbq-sauce' and I didn't see the fun in the connection. Would you translate that word-per-word into German [Christus mit Barbeque-Soße] one wouldn't think of Christ being the food. You might imagine him, holding a bbq-sauce in his hand - even the MOST 'sacrelegig' [sp?] thought you'd have, would be 'Christ being showered with bbq-sauce'. [But that's not really funny, even though it reminds me of the 'Nickelodeon Kid's-choice-awards'] I don't think, ANY German would imagine him as a food on the plate.)
and still, I don't find it that funny.
To me, 'ABSENCE OF THE HERO' captures Hanks mentality and view of life much better.