Stewart Home has been raving about "Baron's Court, All Change" by Terry Taylor for a long time now. Well, he's a man of great taste, and th...moreStewart Home has been raving about "Baron's Court, All Change" by Terry Taylor for a long time now. Well, he's a man of great taste, and this novel is a superb snapshot of London circ. very late 1950's. The narrative is a page-turner, but what is really great is the language -especially coming the main character, who has a way with British slang unlike the futuristic Alex from "A Clockwork Orange." Our teenage hero is totally over 'normal' life, yet he's still from that world and is quite sweet. But with the introduction of Charge (pot) and his love of Jazz music - he goes into the world of modern jazz and pot dealing. Taylor wrote this novel when he was quite young, yet the writing and his observations are very sharp. This book is very much a proto-mod attitude towards life, music, drugs, and the need to break away. Fascinating work!(less)
About three years before Swinging London hit the headlines, Colin Wilson of "Outsider" fame was writing about the down and out (and in) Soho...moreAbout three years before Swinging London hit the headlines, Colin Wilson of "Outsider" fame was writing about the down and out (and in) Soho. This was Wilson's second novel which reads like a memoir, and is a really beautiful snapshot of boho London before it was defined by the popular media of the time. For some life was very causal, and for the hardcore Soho citizen a way of life that totally ignore the mainstream view of life. Colin Wilson always struck me as a romantic, but in a very good way. And this is a very solid and a very quick read into the world of Soho, London and its citizens. And like any good book on London, the city becomes a character in the story. The edition I read is New London Editions and it promises to be an important press.(less)
Paul Nelson's life narrative is too good and too tragic. A man who didn't compromise, and paid the price for his stance in the world - nor could he ...morePaul Nelson's life narrative is too good and too tragic. A man who didn't compromise, and paid the price for his stance in the world - nor could he really take care of himself as well. in other words the dark noirish side of being a professional rock n' roll critic.
Nelson was one of the first important figures in Bob Dylan's professional life and eventually signed the New York Dolls to Mercury Records, where he worked as an A&R man. A job for sure that wouldn't last forever. The great aspect of Nelson's work as a critic and even as a human being is his ability to see through the artist's work and really define it on a very personal level. That I think is a critic's job, and Nelson nails it to the written page.
The painful thing about reading this book is a lot of people are going to identify with Nelson's love for culture and what it means to him/us/them. Any person who loved Jackson Browne as well as the New York Dolls is able to see beyond the veil of pop machinery and just focus on the work on hand. The fact that he went all out to get the Dolls signed is an amazing narrative. No one in the music biz liked the Dolls except for a handful of critics - and Nelson was the one who really stopped at nothing to get them signed and that alone we can be really grateful for Paul Nelson.
But here is a man who didn't drink alcohol, but consistently had two cans or bottles of coke with his daily hamburger (he is sort of a Popeye Wimpy figure) and led a life devoted to his interests and nothing else. Also the fact that he ended up working at a video store is both tragic and great at the same time.
The tunnel vision that made him unique is also what killed him in the end. And again, that is the scary part of someone who is so devoted to comment on music, film (a huge film fanatic as well as music) and living on the side of noir despair. A very sad book. But the interviews with his fellow critics and friends (most love him to bits) is quite moving and a tribute to those who write to expose how 'their' feelings are attached to the shine or the mirror-like image of pop culture.(less)
Based on the great Marcel Allain/Pierre Souvestre character Fantomas, the author/graphic comic artist Benoit Preteseille takes "Fantamas" in...moreBased on the great Marcel Allain/Pierre Souvestre character Fantomas, the author/graphic comic artist Benoit Preteseille takes "Fantamas" into a more crazy and bloody world. And the original Fantomas is pretty much out there, but this goes a littler further and is also quite sincerely creepy. This version of Fantamas is disfigured and actually in one of the stories cuts off his lower half after chopping his lover's head off. So yes a lot of identity role playing and sawing limbs are at work here. The book is in French (and no I don't read French) but the graphic images do tell the tale - and maybe i am making this up with my horror imagination, but this is a work of a very talented artist. One should know the tradition of Fantomas. And yeah, this is one of the books I bought at the weird but fantastic (and best) bookstore ever. Located in Paris of course.(less)
His best novel. The themes are basically the same, but Michel Houellebecq tells the tale again with great energy and in a large tongue in cheek manne...moreHis best novel. The themes are basically the same, but Michel Houellebecq tells the tale again with great energy and in a large tongue in cheek manner. On one level it is about the rise of an artist who doesn't really want to participate in the art market. He has nothing against it, but his character is not one where he follows the market place. Yet he's extremely successful in what he does. The other textual parts are Houellebecq's fascination with what people do on their 'free' time - the need to be a tourist in 21st Century life as well as the issue of aging, fame, and the beauty of maps. in many ways, of all his novels, this is the most Situationist like. Houellebecq is for sure not Guy Debord, but he shares his sense of love (disgust?) at looking at culture and what that means to an artist/writer as well
There are major plot turns that makes this narrative into a policer. The twists in the plot makes this a really fun read. "The Map and the Territory" is the best novel of the year and its January 3, 2012.(less)
Ah I always do things half-assed backwards. Ok, so this is the first part of the two part story and I sort of gave a review for the second part. Wh...moreAh I always do things half-assed backwards. Ok, so this is the first part of the two part story and I sort of gave a review for the second part. What's amazing and interesting is how much research Hergé did for his stories. Besides clothing, he had a good eye for architecture as well as weapons, automobiles, etc. These young reader editions all have additional information regarding the story - and overall its very interesting. Similar to a bonus on a DVD set. The world of TinTin is very very rich.
The narrative doesn't impress me that much, but the detail work of his Hergé's illustrations is really impressive. And as I mentioned before I am really attracted to his drawings. And I think I got that bug ever since I was a child.(less)
I have known TinTin all my life and i must have read the series as a very very young tot, or my mom read them to me. For the past 40 something years...moreI have known TinTin all my life and i must have read the series as a very very young tot, or my mom read them to me. For the past 40 something years I have been avoiding re-reading the books, while at the same time being very attracted to the author/artist Hergé's artwork. in fact I am totally nuts about it.
It is fascinating that Hergé did a remarkable amount of research for his narrative/artwork. He made models of locations/ships, and in many ways they are sort of like little films or at the very least visual film treatments - but alas, that doesn't really matter, because the work really does it best on the printed page. "Red Rackham's Treasure" is the second TinTin book, and my understanding is that it is sort of attached to the first adventure "The Secret of the Unicorn" which I will read next. Nevertheless "Red Rakham's Treasure" stands up on its own, and all the eccentric characters are fully exposed and explained. What we have here is a boy's adventure, but with very well dressed characters. And that alone is worth the attention, and seeing how Hergé works and thinks, this has to be an important aspect to the aesthetic of TinTin.
This book as well as the others I will read shortly are young reader's edition's, which is exactly (at least I have been told that) the same as the original, except the images are bigger, and each title has an additional 20 pages of bonus material, which is quite interesting.(less)
A graphic memoir by Derf Backderf who went to high school school with serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. What we get are snapshots of Dahmer's life befor...moreA graphic memoir by Derf Backderf who went to high school school with serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. What we get are snapshots of Dahmer's life before he totally answered to his darker side. Yet, clearly he was on that road to mayhem perhaps all his life. One is never sure, because I think everyone has a Dahmer they went to school with. And that is the quiet shock of the narrative, at least for me.
There are two worlds that are expressed in this 'graphic novel.' One by Backderf, who seemed to have been charmed with a good family life and friends, and then there is Dahmer, a tortured soul with no friends and a disturbing family set-up. The thing is the problems he had at home is not that different from millions whose family are going through divorce or drug related problems. Some can just pick up the pieces and go on, but Dahmer can't go on.
Dahmer basically went through school totally wasted on alcohol. & to amuse the school population he pretended to be spastic. Which was obviously a role he took to his heart on many levels. The disturbing part of the narrative is that no one picked up on his problems or worse, they didn’t care or bother to think about it. The title is miss-leading because Backderf is not a friend of Dahmer . He knew him causally at school, and like his other classmates saw him as an object to use or have fun with. Which is typical of teenagers in that social setting, and Backderf doesn't run away from that role in his teenage years. But clearly the problem with Dahmer was obvious and the fact that his community didn't see it coming is the shocking aspect of the narrative.
In many ways "The Doctor is Sick" is very much like "A Clockwork Orange," Burgess' mega-hit novel. The structure of the main char...moreIn many ways "The Doctor is Sick" is very much like "A Clockwork Orange," Burgess' mega-hit novel. The structure of the main character going through a difficult journey is the same -and confronting surreal or out-of-wack situations via the journey is part of the fun in both Burgess books. Also I think the main draw to Burgress' work is his language play. Here is an author who loves the accent of the local population - and being set in London, its highly an adventure to accents and class structures. I didn't love the novel, but found it very interesting. I think because I am obsessed with London as a literary landscape, and Burgess uses that landscape quite well.(less)
L'écume des jours (Foam of the Daze) by Boris Vian is such a multi-media type of structure - it works as a novel, an anime, a manga, a musical, a fil...moreL'écume des jours (Foam of the Daze) by Boris Vian is such a multi-media type of structure - it works as a novel, an anime, a manga, a musical, a film, and also as a French comic or graphic novel by Benoît Preteseille. Very minimal yet complexed, the drawings expressed the haunted characteristics of its main characters. As things gets darker the drawings get more expressive. Also Sartre as sort of a rock n' roll figure in the comic hits the right spot for me. Essential of course. (less)
Ian Hunter is a very much underrated songwriter and made some great records solo as well as with the fab Mott The Hopple. And what we have here is hi...moreIan Hunter is a very much underrated songwriter and made some great records solo as well as with the fab Mott The Hopple. And what we have here is his diary/journal in the very key year when they are breaking into a bigger audience via the help of David Bowie. The book is very much of Hunter expressing his joys, anger, and frustration of touring America circ. 1972. "All The Young Dudes" is in the air, and Mott is riding on the wave via that song. I think any person who picks up a guitar or snare drum as a profession will enjoy this memoir. Because Hunter is not offering something unique in that world, in fact its pretty much so-so hotel and its very so-so food, and the physical strain of keeping yourself in order to perform and deal with a lot of cancelled gigs. So there is nothing romantic here or even sexy, its basically a job. A nice job of sorts, but nevertheless a job. Reading this I wanted something more funny or crazy, but the truth is ....nothing happens on a tour of this scale (struggling of course) and it is really waiting between flights, dealing with the lack of a sound check, and weird and very foreign urban situations, that is a first for a British citizen. What's kind of cool is that the whole band checked out hock shops looking for music gear. I find that endearing. And yes, I think this book is a must for the man ( a very much a man's world then) and woman who picks up an instrument and play for whatever currency that's out there.(less)
Britpop, as a movement, had a huge affect on maybe a handful of people - mostly those who lived in North London. But saying that there were some grea...moreBritpop, as a movement, had a huge affect on maybe a handful of people - mostly those who lived in North London. But saying that there were some great bands that came out of it, who without a doubt is Pulp. On the other hand I am not sure if Luke Haines was one of the 'movement's bright lights, but for sure a great personality. And like most great personalities they usually have talent on the page. Therefore "Bad Vibes" is a splendid trip to the underbelly of British pop music world circ. 1990's. While Haines has distaste for the pop world, one suspects he also has great admiration for the power structure of the pop world as well. If for nothing else then to rebel against its limited power and vision.
And as for Haines' music, I only know Black Box Recorder, which is pretty good (hardcore) British pop. Another music figure who delivers to the medium of the book. Very nice.(less)
The second and the best of the Luke Haines books. And the first one is very enjoyable, but this one seems tighter, because I think the subject matter...moreThe second and the best of the Luke Haines books. And the first one is very enjoyable, but this one seems tighter, because I think the subject matter is much better. The first one is about being in the music world during Brit-Pop, and this one is about....him in his own world.
I highly recommend this book if you are a Black Box Recorder fan, because it pretty much covers those years and his commentary, like the first book, is also much more wittier. Although his image is of a grouch, I think he is actually a very good critic. Which means I don't agree with him all the time, but he knows how to say what's on his mind and he does it with great spirit.
Also the one problem I have with him, music wise, is his smarty pants teacher-like attitude towards culture. But alas, in this book he gives credit to those who were there first. And he has a really nice and interesting reading list at the back of the book, including one of my faves Stewart Home. And I am hoping that Mr. Haines will return to empty page and fill it with some grief and good humor.(less)
More of a chapbook then say a book book, but nevertheless the original handwritten and some typed up letters from genius Boris Vian to his translator ...moreMore of a chapbook then say a book book, but nevertheless the original handwritten and some typed up letters from genius Boris Vian to his translator at the time (late 1950's) Stanely Chapman. A remarkable document of Vian asking Chapman to help him with his song lyrics. A tad too rock & roll for Chapman, but nevertheless a charming collection of letters.(less)
Part 2 of three parts of the manga "No Longer Human" based on Osamu Dazai's novel of the same name. And when we left our hero from volume o...morePart 2 of three parts of the manga "No Longer Human" based on Osamu Dazai's novel of the same name. And when we left our hero from volume one he survived a suicide pact with a lovely - and now how does he live and go on? Well he does of course, but without ruining others and himself as well. Usamaru Furuya is perfectly matched up with Dazai's obsession of life among the edge of total failure. So far part 2 is like watching an accident as it happens. Very enjoyable!(less)
The perfect book for me to pick up at Shibuya Tower. Somewhere between my personal desire and what others in Japan have given me, I find myself surro...moreThe perfect book for me to pick up at Shibuya Tower. Somewhere between my personal desire and what others in Japan have given me, I find myself surrounded by Astro Boy toys and books. When I first started to go to Japan, Osamu Tezuka was one of the sources of understanding that culture and it was such a pleasant adventure. Frederik L. Schodt's book on the culture and history of Astro Boy is a must-read for anyone who have even the slightest interest in manga and its history.
Tezuka is without a doubt a major figure in pop Japanese culture - perhaps the key figure, and without a doubt a genius in his field. He is also a mega-figure to write about, and Schodt's book is a good starter in the world of Tezuka, and by mostly focusing on his most famous work in the west - Mighty Atom aka Astro Boy.
The story of a boy robot made by a scientist who was grieving over his deceased son. But that 'father' eventually disowns the robot due to the fact he doesn't age. And therefore we have the consistent tension between robot and human. Tezuka thought long and hard on this and Astro Boy is not a simple subject. He's a mixture of popular science and all the hope it brings, but also the inner-danger of nuclear power and the arrogance of science. And it is this tension that makes 'Astro Boy' into a major work. Also Tezuka's skills as a writer and illustrator is pretty amazing. For sure he's the Disney of Japan, but I think he's more then that - way more. Schodt did a remarkable job introducing the world of Tezuka and why he's important.(less)
Boris Vian is in a very real sense to me, a god. The fact that I devote my press TamTam Books to him - and that my second half of my life is basical...moreBoris Vian is in a very real sense to me, a god. The fact that I devote my press TamTam Books to him - and that my second half of my life is basically thinking of Vian in every manner possible - well, this book is heaven sent to me. What we have here are selections of his art work - some paintings, but mostly drawings on paper and notebook paper. Its put together in chronicle order of his work - so in a sense this is sort of a visual biography of the man via his drawings and some of the text from his novels, plays, etc. Beautifully designed, this is an important book for all Vian lovers that are out there. The book is in French. And I am happy.(less)
"The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec comes back! Volume 2: "The Mad Scientist" and "Mummies on Parade." Jacq...more"The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec comes back! Volume 2: "The Mad Scientist" and "Mummies on Parade." Jacques Tardi is my favorite living comic book artist from France, and of course I have favorites in Japan, but let's not confuse categories and things. Volume 2 is more mood narratives that fall in the French pulp genre then anything else. Things can happen any moment and time - and our hero Adele seems to never have a night's sleep - with assassins breaking into her apartment, and strange phone calls in the middle of the night.
Adele is a Detective of sorts who studies the occult and secret organizations and has a thing for mummies. She and a group of individuals and creatures make strong impressions on the landscape of turn of the century Paris. And it is Paris that is really the star of the series. Always mysterious and dangerous (especially in the middle of the night) and yet hauntingly beautiful. And with the addition of a tight narration makes this series into a graphic novel masterpiece. Volume 3 is coming out in 2013, and that is the only tragic part of the series. The waiting...(less)
This book is not only about men's attire, but also the Vienna mindset from the author and great visionary architect Adolf Loos. The structure of Aust...moreThis book is not only about men's attire, but also the Vienna mindset from the author and great visionary architect Adolf Loos. The structure of Austria's class system has a lot to do with how people dressed during the turn of the 19th into the 20th Century. What's charming (and this book is nothing but charming) is Loos' writing style which seems to be geared for the fashion magazine of its time. One thing that comes through is that Loos knows his landscape, and he knows how that landscape should look - so its natural for an architect to be also interested in clothing, because clothing is another form of architecture. So what's fascinating about this book is not the subject matter itself, but how such an interesting man, a great designer, looks at the world of fashion and fabric. And yes, a must for the dandy's book collection, without a doubt!(less)
This sounds like an insult, but its a compliment. Jarvis Cocker is a low-rent Noel Coward. I am a huge fan of song lyrics turned into books. Some ...moreThis sounds like an insult, but its a compliment. Jarvis Cocker is a low-rent Noel Coward. I am a huge fan of song lyrics turned into books. Some of my favorite are Cole Porter and Ira Gershwin. There is something sweet about reading lyrics away from the music world - and into the world of books. Of course the works were originally meant to be with the melody, but by reading the lyrics as text, it gives the work another dimension.
"Mother, Brother, Lover" is almost an non-literal diary for Cocker, as a lot of the songs are based on real incidents, real people, but of course re-done by the magic of Jarvis. All the hits are here, but a lot of B-Side pieces as well as works he wrote for others. And yes, the other songwriter he reminds me of is Ray Davies. The common thing he has with Davies and Coward is a sense of place (U.K.) and shared national point of view of the world because of the location. Also Cocker has a knack of writing that goes directly to the subject. He doesn't hide behind language, which is sometimes great of course, but for someone like Jarvis, he needs to be direct and quick. His genius if he has it, is his character. And reading "Mother, Brother, Lover" you get a lot of character, which by the way is excellent.(less)
It has been a Usamaru Furuya month for me, since I read "Lychee Light Club early this month. And I liked it a lot - but this is really my cup o...moreIt has been a Usamaru Furuya month for me, since I read "Lychee Light Club early this month. And I liked it a lot - but this is really my cup of sake. "No Longer Human" is a classic and great Osamu Dazai novel, and Furuya does a good job in updating the story (slightly).
A story of a wealthy young teenager who had everything but quickly loses it due to feelings of severe alienation. Yes, it could be a Who rock opera concept, but in the hands of Dazai its a poetic downsizing of a character slowly losing his sense of identity. His only hope really is becoming a writer. And the book (and graphic novel) is based on Dazai's personal life. I discovered this writer while living in Japan, and at the time (and still does to be honest) makes perfect sense to me. Whenever I write something I think of him first. And its interesting Furuya has taken on this novel as a graphic piece of narration. His work is super great and sophisticated. His "No Longer Human" is a three part series. I can't wait till volume 2.(less)
Hergé has always been a mysterious figure to me. What interests me more is not TinTin, but the research that went into his work. The fact that he wa...moreHergé has always been a mysterious figure to me. What interests me more is not TinTin, but the research that went into his work. The fact that he was a depressive personality and sort of in murky waters with respect to politics -makes him a fascinating subject for a biography. As far as I know there are two biographies in English (one of them is coming out next month) and of course, this graphic biography by Boucquet, Fromental and the remarkable illustrator Stanislas.
I am a total sucker for the typical design for graphic novels in France. And the great publishing house Drawn and Quarterly keeps the same design. And if you looked at it fast enough at a bookstore, you think it was part of the TinTin series. So, yes, a very elegant book. But I also feel that this book was edited down, because it jumps around a lot. And I did enjoy reading it in one sitting (well I am in a bed with a cold), but still, i wished it lingered in certain parts of the narrative. But for sure, I am going to dwell into the world of TinTin. This book wet my hunger for boy reporters who get themselves in jams.(less)
Reading Greil Marcus is always a pleasure. And its the reason why I am reading this particular book, because I really don't have a passion for the Do...moreReading Greil Marcus is always a pleasure. And its the reason why I am reading this particular book, because I really don't have a passion for the Doors or their imagery. But on the other hand they are a band that's important to my personal culture. Being raised in Los Angeles, I saw the Doors at the Whiskey, opening for Them with Van (the other) Morrison. It may have been the first show in a club, not sure. My mind I was around 12, but I think i was actually 14. Nevertheless I went there with my Dad to see Them, and the Doors was a superb surprise. I think it may have been before their first album was released, but I remember being really impressed with Jim Morrison's voice. It sooth as well as rocked. And there was something quite personal in the way they communicated with their audience in the club. On the other hand, Them was very cold and cool. Not a bad thing mind you, but totally the opposite of the Doors.
The next I saw the Doors it was at an outside concert - and I thought they were boring. They didn't have that concentration or the force of their show at the Whiskey. And at this time it was around the height of "Light My Fire." But the magic was gone, at least to my young ears at the time.
The other times were non-musical - but I remember being invited (with my Dad) to the back stage of the first Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young show at the Greek theater, and as we were walking to the entrance of the backstage, Morrison was being escorted out by a security guard. Then all of sudden Stills shows up and tells the security guard to let Morrison stay. And that was my memory of the evening! The next time after that I saw him in Topanga Canyon, drinking beer in a brown bag behind a wheel of a parked Volkswagon bug. Of course all of above could have just been a dream, but....
But back to the book, Marcus uses the Doors' culture and music as a springboard on his thoughts on 1960's American culture. its basicially a long riff how culture and band connects and makes commentary on to each other. Marcus is writing this book as not only a fan (and he's a very critical fan) but also the state of the world via the eyes of Jim Morrison and Co.(less)
I accidently ran into manga artist/writer Usamaru Furuya's work via looking at the cover of his version of Osamu Dazai's great novel "No Longer ...moreI accidently ran into manga artist/writer Usamaru Furuya's work via looking at the cover of his version of Osamu Dazai's great novel "No Longer Human." Mind you I haven't read it yet, but Dan at Skylight Books in Las Feliz put this little dynamite in my hands. "Lychee light Club" is a group of damaged kids who have a powerful unhinged chess loving' leader, who at the same age controls this goth gang. They kill, destroy, and build their own version of a Frankenstein, who has one human eye that belongs to a member of the gang.
The violence is very extreme and over-the-top, which .....makes this work better then others. The art here very much reminds me of another manga artist i.e. genius by the name of Suehiro Maruo, who is a major influence on Furuya. The manga is based on an actual theater piece of the same title and helped put together by Maruo - so this is very much a literal tribute to the original stage production as well as to the works of Maruo.
The narration is pretty good, but for me, its the visual aspect of the piece that grabs my attention. Its one long beauty of a penmanship by Furuya. Like everything else there is so much dregs in the field of manga, its nice to be exposed to someone who is really using the medium of comics to not only break into new ground, but also just pushing to the horror and violence that this medium is or can be great at.(less)
A very beautifully layered novel that one can almost taste the narrative. Considering it deals with cannibalism among other things this may not be yo...moreA very beautifully layered novel that one can almost taste the narrative. Considering it deals with cannibalism among other things this may not be your type of flavor - but it is an essential read by one of the great English language writers alive. What strikes me about the novel for me personally is the jaded aristocratic voice that runs through it. All of Dennis Cooper's novels have a strong visual sense - and usually with the minimal language. "The Marbled Swarm" is different because the text is so dense and beautifully spread out - that its just a joy to go over the sentences over and over again. It has its own music, and the images that come from the "music" is both funny and highly poetic.
A lot of people will probably react to the violence and sex, but to me in the hands of M. Cooper its a beautiful instrument that plays a haunting melody. In about six months i am going to re-read this book - not only for the pleasure of the text, but also to dig into the narrative that is as twisted as the secret tunnels that are featured in this novel.(less)
At last! A novel about novelists that don't write. In fact they master the notion of "no." Enrique Vila-Matas is at the moment, one of my...moreAt last! A novel about novelists that don't write. In fact they master the notion of "no." Enrique Vila-Matas is at the moment, one of my favorite living authors, who consistently questions the nature of literature and why one writes 'literature.' It is probably the ultimate book on writing and its (non)writers.
Although its a work of fiction, it is really a hardcore Literary criticism on a series of writers who either like Melville's great character Bartleby, just refuse to participate in the world of writing and therefore their lifestyle and the work that they did leave on this planet, is .....writing. All the subjects one thinks of who we may think is in this category Duchamp, Kafka, Robert Musil, and especially Robert Walser are investigated in short poetic chapters. Its a hard book to put down, and Vila-Matas has a real understanding why these (non)writers click into our conscience. Superb.(less)