Michael Chabon, author of “The Yiddish Policemen’s Union”: Bryan Charles–whom I met during a residency at the MacDowell Colony a few years back–actually published two excellent books during 2010: There’s a Road to Everywhere Except Where You Came From, a memoir; and Pavement’s Wowee Zowee, part of the delicious “33 1/3″ series from Continuum. Though one is an account of aspiration and scuffling in Manhattan in the year leading up to the 9/11 attacks (Charles filled a cubicle in the WTC and his account of the day is startling and fresh), and the other is a (quirky, personal) consideration and history of a great band’s neglected masterpiece, the two books actually interlock and engage with each other in a number of interesting ways.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Michael Chabon on Bryan Charles
From the Wall Street Journal's "Great Writing You Missed This Year" feature on December 28th:
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3 comments:
I was hooked on Charles' "Wowee Zowee" book through the preview; the fact that that was the only Pavement album I'd never bought didn't stop me from buying the book (and the deluxe reissue of the album as well...jury's still out on the album...from there I went to his first novel "Grab on to Me Tightly as if I Knew the Way" - fantastic. I'm getting to the memoir within a week or two; looking very forward to it.
Please, dear Continuum, make these books available for e-readers.
Hey Anonymous,
Many of them are available on e-readers, especially the newer books (we're working on the backlist, but that might take a little time). At any rate, Wowee Zowee is available, so have at it!
-JM
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