Alex Kudera's Blog, page 85

plus Jane Howard on a visit to old Ex. . .

Exley’s writing has won him a steadfast, patient literary cult and a number of prizes, but very little in the way of riches. “At a time when most of my contemporaries are getting ready to retire, I’m trying to rub two shekels together to buy a can of chicken noodle soup.” 

Super Bowl Weekend

To honor Super Bowl LIII, let's send you to recognized writers Walter Kirn and Tony O'Neill for appreciation of the greatest football story ever told, A Fan's Notes  by Frederick Exley. Of course, it's set against football and American success and not merely about it. . .

Thank you for your help

Thank you for ratings, reviews, purchases, or reads of my novels, Fight for Your Long Day and Auggie's Revenge, as well as my published short stories. I could never feel this alienated and miserable without you, generous family, friends, and fans who have forgotten to publicly acknowledge my life's work.

And less than a day after that lovely thought, an unprovoked friend informed me he had just bought Auggie's Revenge , and he apologized for not attending to it sooner. So that, of course, changes everything, and with or without you, I know once more that I'm destined for literary respect, if not greatness, and will no doubt get at least one more book published. Would it be too much to ask for two or three? A novel and two memoirs? Don't forget film options, translations, or story collections! Hah! Ugh. Oy.

Happy new year!

A Nigerian Among the Turks

"His daughter," he said. "I’m sorry, Obi. His little daughter. Want to touch you, Kanki. You say yes?"

~~ from "The Desire to Unlearn" by Chigozie Obioma

The Cry of the Sloth

"Meanwhile, I have been practicing, and I believe I have learned to do a pretty good imitation of the sloth's cry. I place my thumbs firmly against the openings of my nostrils, blocking them completely. I then give a vigorous snort and at the same time fling both thumbs away from the nostrils in a decisive forward motion. The result is a woofling whistle which I imagine is quite close to what a young ai must sound like. I did it at the post office the other day when the clerk told me I had insufficient postage on my package."

~~ from The Cry of the Sloth by Sam Savage

short fiction update

"Free Car," "My Father's Great Recession," "Early Morning Train," and "The Betrayal of Times of Peace and Prosperity" are short stories accessible for free online while "Frade Killed Ellen" and "Turquoise Truck" can be accessed for ninety-nine cents wherever reading costs less than a dollar.

R.I.P.

Mary Oliver and Sam Savage passed on. If you are literary and dead as of this week, don't be shy about dropping me a line, so I can add your news here. And I already feel guilty and weird about neglecting or mentioning that Jack Bogle has positioned himself long on the afterlife in the total market index fund in the sky.

Housemates

from "Housemates" by Eric Thurschwell:

"The New Year brought the worst ice storm on record. The roads were impassable. The supermarkets closed. He ate my cat."

Back and Broke in Philly

In 2017, I published a reprint of one of the more polished excerpts of a memoir I hope to publish one day. Enjoy!

Michael A. Ferro

Stuck on an idea for your novel-in-progress? No worries! Just wait until literally seconds before you’re about to finally fall asleep after more than an hour with insomnia and BOOM—the ideas will come. Have your fucking notepad ready!— Michael A. Ferro (@MichaelFerro) January 10, 2019