Roberto Bolano's "The Savage Detectives" discussion
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The Savage Detectives
the cabbage detectives
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Comments on the Interviews
Ok, i might try to pop in a reply to Mary's post 67 now, quickly. Give me about 20 minutes..
Steve wrote: "I don't even know where to start. Not only is this all LOL funny, but it's a great story. I keep refreshing to see if there are updates.As a tribute, I'm going to put a few shreds of cabbage on..."
Glad you're liking it, Steve. I think the latest interviews by Ian and Mary are sheer genius. The cabbage/pizza tribute may be going too far, though!
Traveller wrote: "Ok, i might try to pop in a reply to Mary's post 67 now, quickly. Give me about 20 minutes.."
I have a feeling this will be good..... :)
Thanks for patience, everyone. I am still tied down on life matters but will try to contribute on Sunday - hopefully about 24 hrs. from now.Do carry on - great stuff! I will figure out what happened to me when I can get the proper focus.
Oh Jim, I'm just going to apologize in advance ;-)
Mary wrote: "Oh Jim, I'm just going to apologize in advance ;-)"What have you done, Mary? OMG, i sense poor Jim is going to need some kind of rescue... :P
Traveller wrote: "Mary wrote: "Oh Jim, I'm just going to apologize in advance ;-)"What have you done, Mary? OMG, i sense poor Jim is going to need some kind of rescue... :P"
This is going to be good. I can't wait to see what Mary has come up with. :)
And I just read over the most recent interview posts from you, Traveller. Excellent - capturing in full the zany confusion of the story.
And Ian - post 70 - it's nice to know that Hollywood picked up on the Cabbage Detectives, but I prefer the book. :)
First he's practically making sweet love to a pineapple, then he's institutionalized, now he's New Orlean's new up and coming Drag star. How did this happen?
Sorry that i left it to Mary to plunge the kni.. i mean apply the sequins and false eyelashes.. - i found i just couldn't do it to poor ol' Jim... :P
I could. And would. He may even enjoy it.
I really wish I could help out today. If you need me to be a drag queen for a day or so, I can deal with that (a lot less traumatic than what I am actually dealing with). Do what you need to do to move the story along, and I will try very hard to chip in tomorrow.If you have seen the movie 'Some Like It Hot', you may find some useful analogies. Poets instead of band members as in the movie? I can work on my falsetto. I just hope the makeup and sequins will come off, sooner rather than later.:)
Your choice. I shall return soon.
Jim wrote: "I really wish I could help out today. If you need me to be a drag queen for a day or so, I can deal with that (a lot less traumatic than what I am actually dealing with). Do what you need to do to ..."Jim, please don't worry. It sounds like what you are dealing with is traumatic, and definitely much more important. We'll be happy to see you back when you can, in particular because it will mean that things are better on your end. Just take care of yourself.
Jim wrote: "I really wish I could help out today. If you need me to be a drag queen for a day or so, I can deal with that (a lot less traumatic than what I am actually dealing with). Do what you need to do to ..."Dear Jim, please don't worry about us. Just deal with what is important, we might miss you, but absence makes the heart fonder. Cabbages aren't all that important in the big analysis of things, and we'll still be here when your life is a bit less hectic.
Thanks so much, Kris and Traveller, for your thoughtfulness and kind words! I will be back when I can, and I really appreciate your understanding.
Heh heh, Kris and Ian, your posts are very entertaining indeed! :D..but does this mean that we have attained our goal, and that the Cabbage Detectives group has therefore been dissolved?
Kris, brilliant job in drawing all of the separate plot threads together!
Traveller wrote: "Heh heh, Kris and Ian, your posts are very entertaining indeed! :D..but does this mean that we have attained our goal, and that the Cabbage Detectives group has therefore been dissolved?
Kris, b..."
I think there is still room for some more posts to wrap things up. It would be nice to get DJ and the other Cabbage Detectives together at the end, I think.
Mike wrote: ""Viajero Haldez,Angeli on Decatur, Decatur Street, New Orleans, July, 2012"A restaurant enjoyed vicariously?"
That one's credit goes to Ian - it seems to be a restaurant that serves a lot of tomatoes in their menu... (the RL one, i mean)
Yes, i think one needs to pay attention to detail in these interviews, including the 'place' headings. Nicely spotted, Mike, and nicely planted, Ian!
Most of my own place names are just silly made-up names to fit in with themes and/or literary references. ..but that specific one was cribbed off Ian. :P
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All place names in my interviews are actual places, although I was fast running out of cafes and restaurants over here.
Victor Bray is a real tomato farmer and drag racer.
I did go to primary school with him.
He occasionally comes into my donut store:
http://vimeo.com/28083616
Ian wrote: "Mike supplied the restaurant. I just looked its menu up online. All place names in my interviews are actual places, although I was fast running out of cafes and restaurants over here.
Victor Bra..."
In that case, my profuse apologies to Mike about the credit for the restaurant, for which he too, should receive credit.
Yes, i knew about Victor Bray being real, because i looked him up. ;)..but i didn't know you and he went to school together Ian!
I wasn't too sure if Priscilla was a real person, so i held back on her until i read what Ian said about her questionable gender and then i let loose. :D
..and created a double for just in case...
Reply to message 81: 
Giuseppe Arcimboldo
Message 82: Haha- nice touch- in fact, when i saw "Brad Pitt", i actually started off thinking it was Ian's post...Oh, and nice with the pics, Kris and Ian - that cabbage lady is a wonderful find!
Traveller wrote: "Message 82: Haha- nice touch- in fact, when i saw "Brad Pitt", i actually started off thinking it was Ian's post...Shucks, my name there gave it away....
Oh, and nice with the pics, Kris and Ian - that cabbage lady is a wonderful find!"
all these links given here are so apropos,just like when I was first reading the book,scurrying to check out all his references. I feel like I am living in this now, not merely a passive reader but actively involved in the search for the meaning of...whatever.
Wonderful cabbage goddess, and Robyn Hitchcock,great song
Mod
Strangely, he doesn't include this fact in his CV.
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I was trying to head the narrative to a second dinner, possibly at Angeli's where Big Vic got to make his cabbage pizza (the chef not knowing the recipe).
Many other mysteries would be revealed on this occasion.
Magdelanye, are you interested?
Can we do it by this Wednesday.
This doesn't mean that the Interviews will be ended, just that the first adventure will be completed.
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Priscilla is a distant relative of a work associate of Clint Eastwood.
All of the posts since my unfortunate dropout: You guys are simply amazing!Kris, Traveller, Ian and Mary - absolutely brilliant job of working through all the issues and writing me into the script when I couldn't help out. Thank you so much!
Post 81 - Ian, you found the perfect photo for my 'disguise'! I have no idea where you found it (and don't want to...):)
Magdelanye - great finish, or whatever it turns out to be...
My quasi-legal stress adventures continue, unfortunately. But I wanted to thank everyone for an awesome job! I may have some clarity on key issues later this week. We shall see, but thanks to all for your support.:D
Jim, I'm hoping that your stress dies down - quasi-legal sounds very stressful indeed. I just made a pot of jamabalaya for dinner (no cabbage in it). I wish I could invite all the Cabbage Detectives here for dinner.
Mod
Very exciting - I see we are getting closer to the actual meal at Angeli's!I am wondering what Jim wants with DJ's volume of GOOSE.
Oopsie, i apologise- i've been both busy and ill, and wrote post 88 in such a hurry that i forgot to omit paragraph breaks.Fixed now. :)
I just had to take up on all the naughty nuttiness.. :D
Now, i wonder where Magedlanye had disappeared to?
Jim wrote: "All of the posts since my unfortunate dropout: You guys are simply amazing!Kris, Traveller, Ian and Mary - absolutely brilliant job of working through all the issues and writing me into the scrip..."
Sorry to hear that your troubles are not over yet, Jim. Hope the end is in sight..
I was hoping to get another interview post up tonight, but after a full day with my nephew (fun but exhausting), which came after a full day with my niece, I am too tired to write anything that makes any sense (as you can see from this comment). Tomorrow night should be better, though. I'm eager to see what happens at the dinner.
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Ah, but there is that I stay awake long enough to write. I fell asleep while reading.... just woke up now after having a long dream about being stuck at some academic conference that seemed to go on and on and on.....
I'd say sleep is definitely a priority here... see you later, Kris. :)
Sleep helped. I must be getting old. :)
Well, it seems that one advantage of getting old must be that short-ish naps seem to refresh you! ;)
post 94 - Abbacadabra !!!:)
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:)"
I originally put that, but then I was worried we might get sued. I googled it and discovered there really is an Abbacadabra. I added a last couple of sentences.
That works, as could Los Abbadabacadabra. So, how many great Anglo-Hispanic Abba tribute bands are in Australia?
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So, how many great Anglo-Hispanic Abba tribute bands are in Australia?"
Done, that's much better.
It might sound like self-promotion if I answered your question ;)
Ian wrote: "Kris wrote: "That works, as could Los Abbadabacadabra. So, how many great Anglo-Hispanic Abba tribute bands are in Australia?"
Done, that's much better.
It might sound like self-promotion if I answered your question ;)"
Ah - hints of a hidden talent. :)
BTW, I now have "Hernando" going through my head - new lyric/title and all. (Excellent change there. Cracks me up.)
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No, I have no talents that you're not aware of.
Ian wrote: "No changes required (apart from the "H"). They're real, just taken from different verses.No, I have no talents that you're not aware of."
Yep, know that - I made a mistake in the first comment, and edited it. I was a child in the 1970s - I definitely know the lyrics to Fernando. Indelibly imprinted on my brain.
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If you disagree, say so, and feel free to add some interviews.
I think it's great, Ian. Impressive job linking together the threads, and I am so glad that there's a very celebratory ending. It seems cinematic to me - I can just imagine the end credits rolling over the scene of everyone (except Victor and Lupe) dancing and partying. This has been so much fun! I'm so glad you came up with the idea, and I can't imagine more fun people to do this with.
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Ian wrote: "Thanks, Kris. I don't think anybody could have predicted where it would go or how it might end. Yet I think it still seems to have a sense of, maybe it was intended to happen like that after all. Don Juan being reformed and the band being reformed. "It seems only fitting that there be some wordplay in the final theme or message. :)
Thanks for the fun, everyone! It's been a great experience that i'll never forget!And thanks Ian, for doing this and for the invite. ^_^
As a tribute, I'm going to put a few shreds of cabbage on a homemade pizza tonight (ath inthane ath that may theem).