The Flappy Parts

by Kevin L. Donihe

In a Better World . . .

Mary Poppins will take us to her fairy tale hideaway where we will dance with succulent fawns who speak some Finnish dialect.

Collecting the best poems written over the last decade by Wonderland Award-winning author Kevin L. Donihe, The Flappy Parts is a gonzo journey through the nightmare absurdities of modern life. But even as undead midgets rise from the grave and nymphomaniac computers rape human beings, Kevin L. Donihe points us toward a stranger and better future.

He shows us that between Heaven and Hell, it's all about The Flappy Parts.

Genres: Bizarro Fiction, Poetry

132 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2010

About the author

Kevin L. Donihe is one of the originators of the Bizarro Fiction literary movement. He is the author of the Wonderland Award-winning novels HOUSE OF HOUSES and SPACE WALRUS, among other books published by seminal Bizarro publisher Eraserhead Press. He was also the editor of the horror anthology series BARE BONE for Raw Dog Screaming Press. His work has appeared in THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF LEGAL THRILLERS and John Skipp's PSYCHOS: SERIAL KILLERS, DEPRAVED MADMEN, AND THE CRIMINALLY INSANE. Hailing from the mountains of Tennessee, he now lives in Astoria, OR.

Reviews

[Rodney]

Colorful, absurd, uncomfortable words from a madman (I mean that as a compliment). Often funny as hell to boot.
Favorites of the bunch:
A Long Time Ago
Welcome Mat
Go Figure
In A Factory Town
Cathode Ray Watcher
Others
Tableau for the 25th
Bug
Computerstadt
Brought to You By
The Chattering Things
Down Where It’s Dark

[Bradley]

Kevin Donihe is the greatest poet who I have ever had a beer bottle cap fight with. He has been involved with the bizarro genre since its inception. In my opinion, he is the genre's most underrated author. All of his books are fantastic, but they rarely get the readership they deserve (with the possible exception of his recent novel, Night of the Assholes, which is due to its irresistible concept). My first exposure to his work was in his first novel, Shall We Gather in the Garden, which left me impressed. Soon after, I experienced a massive coincidence when a man sold me a copy of the first issue of his literary journal and Donihe's work was included in it. The journal was called Bust Down the Door and Eat All the Chickens and I consider Kevin's participation with it a massive coincidence considering he was so obscure at the time. Later, I would take over the editorship of the journal and frequently publish his work. In fact, many of the poems in this book originally appeared in Bust Down the Door and Eat All the Chickens. Considering I am overly fussy about the material that I choose to publish in my journal, I consider my prior publication of it a ringing endorsement.

This book is great. I had a wonderful time re-experiencing the poems that I published so long ago and reading ones that were unfamiliar to me. The poems will appeal to those who aren't particularly fond of poetry along with connoisseurs of the art form. Most of the poems are humorous and narrative-based. They share a commonality with the prose poems of Russell Edson due to their content often being unreal. I was also reminded of James Tate's recent prose poems of absurdity. The majority of the book is written in verse while some of the poems consist of prose. During his verse poems, he always seems to end his lines at a point which enhance the poems in their entirety.

If you are interested in the writing of Kevin Donihe, buy this book. If you are fond of poetry and are interested in the bizarro genre, buy this book.

If you dislike poetry and have an overwhelming urge to radically change your viewpoint about it, buy this book.

[Seb]

This is a gift from Kevin himself 🥳

I really love Kevin's work. His books are crazy, ethereal and really meaningful. The messages and philosophy he puts into his books are top notch and it's always a pleasure to read one of his.

This poetry collection though is out of my comfort zone and doesn't feel like the novellas. It's hard to put hidden messages in a few lines only.

Some poems I liked. Others I didn't get.

All in all the lasting impression is ... weird ...

[S.T. Cartledge]

I love bizarro. And flash fiction. And poetry. So when I found out Kevin Donihe was putting out a book of collected flash fiction and poetry I knew I had to get my hands on it. Kevin’s a great author, really clever and inventive, and I think his ingenuity is particularly notable in this collection. At the time of reading this collection I was only just getting into bizarro. As of maybe two-three months prior. The first book I read by Kevin was Washermouth, and I was a big fan. I’ve still got to read more of his work, and I’ll probably do so over the Christmas holidays. What I love about Kevin is his strange and wonderful, and at times uncomfortable, ideas. There are plenty of those in this fantastic collection.

[Kirsten Alene]

I have read all of Kevin Donihe's novels. He is one of my favorite bizarro authors and I love his fiction. Needless to say I could hardly wait to read The Flappy Parts. The volume is comprised of about half previously published poems and half completely new work, and spans about ten years. But there isn't a single poem in the entire book I wouldn't want to read again and again. Sometimes hysterical, sometimes strange, sometimes awkward and spastic, sometimes sad, there are no filler poems, no poem is mediocre. Fans of Donihe's longer work have probably already picked this up but I strongly encourage anyone who loves poetry, hates poetry, or is pretty neutral about poetry to read this book.

[Rich]

Donihe writes in a tradition closest to poets like James Tate, Charles Simic, Bill Knott, Jeffery McDaniel, and Russel Edson. The higher points in collection extend beyond absurdist light verse and display an imaginative talent for strange imagery.

[Matthew Revert]

Very impressed with this one.

[Sarah]

Strange, beautiful, and silly. Like no other poetry I've ever read.

[Suki St Charles]

Beautiful, strange, and weird.