Twice Upon a Time: Listening to New York

by Hari Kunzru

When the internationally acclaimed author Hari Kunzru first moved to New York he chose as his imaginary guide the blind composer and musician Moondog, AKA, Louis Hardin. Dressed as a Viking, Moondog played his “snaketime” rhythms on the streets of New York for over three decades from 1943-74. With great lyrical intensity Kunzru recalls the strange soundscape of an unfamiliar place, and celebrates both the city and the musical genius of Moondog.

“The next day I take an MP3 player and I make the journey again, accompanied by Moondog’s early music, recordings from the forties and fifties . . . Sounds leak in and out the iPod’s ear buds, layering modern 6th Avenue onto city noise of sixty years ago. Archaeology.”

Twice Upon A Listening to New York is an extraordinary essay on the sounds of New York, beautifully designed with photographs of the city. It gives readers the opportunity to experience the city through the eyes and ears of Hari Kunzru, one of Granta’s "Best of Young British Novelists," and author of My Revolutions and Gods Without Men.

Genres: Fiction, New York

105 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 15, 2014

About the author

Hari Mohan Nath Kunzru (born 1969) is a British novelist and journalist, author of the novels The Impressionist, Transmission and My Revolutions. Of mixed English and Kashmiri Pandit ancestry, he grew up in Essex. He studied English at Wadham College, Oxford University, then gained an MA in Philosophy and Literature from Warwick University. His work has been translated into twenty languages. He lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Jana]

This is unlike any "book" I've ever read. I don't even know how long it is, I read it on the Atavist app on my iPad over several small sessions. I think it's more of an essay. It's a wonderful multi-sensory experience.

Random thoughts:

* I met the author when he did a book tour for Gods Without Men. After listening to him for an hour I knew that I would be in good hands reading whatever he wrote. He is an amazing person. So as I began this, I knew that I trusted the person leading me.

* I love New York City.

* Thanks to my son, I've been exposed to a wide variety of music and musicians such as Moondog, a big part of this "book". Also John Cage who is mentioned.

* This is an interactive book that you read on your phone or iPad. The music and text are synced and the text sometimes stacks onto the page.

* There is no use trying to explain it. Must experience. Take your time. Enjoy.

* This is a Literary Disco podcast pick and I'm now off to listen to the episode and see how they liked it.

* I already want to reread it...

[Drew]

A perfect confluence of form and content. A radical explosion of the public/private dichotomy in writing. It's a story meant to be read on the subway or on a streetcorner in New York City with your headphones in and your mind engaged and life going on around you. But make sure the headphones aren't too loud. You want to be able to hear the city around you, too. Because that's a layer of the story. Unpredictable and chaotic and yet beautifully musical. You'll find your anchor here too. Moondog will make sure of it.

More at RB: http://wp.me/pGVzJ-Xu

[A Battleground]

Completely new reading experience. So much going on. Incredibly well thought out. http://www.avclub.com/article/what-ar...

[Angela]

COOL. Music and narrative and photos and fun...and I don't think this really counts as a full book but WHATEVER. Thanks Atavist!