Roberto Bolano's "The Savage Detectives" discussion

Comments on the interviews should not be made in the Interviews folder, because that folder should end up being just the interviews themselves.

If you want to comment, refer to the post number and make your comment in this folder.

Ian, I'm just back from the music festival, and I love the interview you wrote - post number 2. So perfect in so many ways - I laughed so hard I cried. So many great details! ("Feline Groovy" - :) ) Thanks for providing me with a hip flask - quite necessary to deal effectively with the "library fascists" and "bibliotechnocrats".

I'm a rebel. :)

Ha ha, nicely done on post # 2. So did Kris become Kim, or did Kim just join in later?

Liked the beleaguered library staff comments. :D

Traveller wrote: "So did Kris become Kim, or did Kim just join in later?"

How embarrassing. I need a good editor.

Oh! And I had to laugh at the no paragraph breaks. :D

Traveller wrote: "Oh! And I had to laugh at the no paragraph breaks. :D"

Haha. It was hard, very hard.

You are all so creative! Love this idea.

Jenn(ifer) wrote: "You are all so creative! Love this idea."

Agreed! Great job, Ian and Kris.

@ Post 3 (Interview):

After Mary

Thank god for your place
In this forest of life forms
That draws me to you.

@ Post 4 (Interview):

Blue Jay Way

We share our dreams of
Politics and litricchia
While sipping coffee.

Stephen M's just blew my mind. And Dr. Pepper onto my laptop. Great stuff.

Thanks, Kris and Jay Rubin (aka Stephen M), you guys astonish me.

Sorry I hadn't got a notification re your interview much, much earlier, Kris.

Jay Rubin thanks you both. He's off at a conference abroad and I'm taking care of Eiji right now. He left behind a new Murakami manuscript that I'm looking over.

Ian wrote: "Sorry I hadn't got a notification re your interview much, much earlier, Kris."

No worries, Ian - the notifications were a mess most of today. And your poetic replies are wonderful, for both posts 3 and 4.

Stephen M., I'm still laughing over yours. So perfect. My cats approve too (big Rubin/Murakami fans). :)

Kris wrote: "And your poetic replies are wonderful, for both posts 3 and 4."

Did I get the right Mary?

Ian wrote: "Kris wrote: "And your poetic replies are wonderful, for both posts 3 and 4."

Did I get the right Mary?"

Definitely.

I'm glad it struck a humorous chord Kris. I think that's the best compliment a person can get about their writing.

And Ian. I hope I got the various details about Brisbane correct. I had only the pictures and articles on the internet to try to convey the beauty of the place.

Stephen M wrote: "And Ian. I hope I got the various details about Brisbane correct. I had only the pictures and articles of the internet to try to convey the beauty of the place. "

You did brilliantly, Stephen/Jay (Gould?).

@ Post 4 (Interview):

Flat White Noise a la Grindhouse

We exchange views on
DeLillo and Lentricchia
Sans screen and wifi.

Broken Hearts, Broken Pots

Under coffee sacks
I talk of Murakami
You, of La Nique's pot

Smiling at the Impressive Brevity

Learning of Don Juan
In a brilliant flash fiction
Says much more in less

Found in Translation

I'm glad Jay Rubin's
Coffee and companionship
Mend my broken heart.

Tediousness the Limb and Outward Flourishes

Even when Don Juan
Has little of worth to say,
He will say it all.

Sorry, i got a bit behind with the lag in notifications and other things going on, but I've read posts # 3, #4 and #5 now.

Nicely done, Kris, on the style; i think you nailed it! I can't really comment on Mary, since i sadly do not know her. Which seems to be my loss. :P

Stephen, i hope you won't be mad at me if i say that you almost reminded me more of Murakami than Bolano... #+#

and Ian.. OMG, now you guys are even showing off in THIS thread..

*Trav hides under a boulder*

Wondering who Ian was talking about in # 5...

Traveller wrote: "Wondering who Ian was talking about in # 5..."

My muses are many and varied (and well-travelled).

Are you working on an interview? I'm trying to improve my punctuation, so I don't distract you.

Hahahahahaha!!! ROFL ROFL, Ian you are the greatest!

It was rumoured that she hadn't slept with a man (well, not a wink) since she was trapped in a toilet in a University building for ten days when it was occupied by the army.

Hahahaha, ok, i really laughed out loud. I laughed a lot.

Hoo boy, i just love this GR place!!!

Ok, message 6.

Ex-future wife. LOL

If you wish to amuse, choose a good muse.

Ian wrote: "Traveller wrote: "Wondering who Ian was talking about in # 5..."

My muses are many and varied (and well-travelled).

Are you working on an interview? I'm trying to improve my punctuation, so I don..."

No, i've been thinking and thinking who i know well enough, but i guess it's ok, if we just, kinda improvise over some bits, hmm? To fill up the gaps we don't know about.

Ok, i admit i've been thinking about trying to do you, but i'd reach my word limit for a post before i came to the end of the vignette. >:D

I suppose it would be too evil if we introduced bondage and Marxism...

Ok, the Marxism would be appropriate.

It doesn't have to be a member of the discussion group. And you're not restricted to one interview. I would just try anything that comes to mind. Doesn't have to be bondage. Yet.

Ian wrote: "Doesn't have to be bondage. Yet. "

Couldn't resist being a bit mischievous there.

Traveller wrote: "Couldn't resist being a bit mischievous there."

Oh, you're so naughty, you deserve a good spanking.

Interview post #6 - a-ha - our origin myth!! I also love the wordplay with the rocking the boat, etc.

Ian is a master punsman.

Traveller wrote: "Ian is a master punsman."

Indeed - even without paragraph breaks!

Thanks as well for your compliment, Traveller! It means a lot. It's good to know I can step outside of academic writing once in a while.

Kris wrote: "Traveller wrote: "Ian is a master punsman."

Indeed - even without paragraph breaks!

Thanks as well for your compliment, Traveller! It means a lot. It's good to know I can step outside of academic..."

Oh, you seem eminently qualified to do so! You should write fiction more often!

Post 7 Interview needs a soundtrack:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMR-ES...

Traveller wrote: "Stephen, i hope you won't be mad at me if i say that you almost reminded me more of Murakami than Bolano..."

I can't be mad, because Jay Rubin wrote it. I'm sure he was paying homage to the person he loves and translates.

Great work Ian and Kris. I'm loving where the cabbage detectives origin story is headed.

FREEDOM FOR ALL VEGETABLES!

Ian wrote: "Post 7 Interview needs a soundtrack:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMR-ES..."

Don't you ever sleep?


Stephen M wrote: "Traveller wrote: "Stephen, i hope you won't be mad at me if i say that you almost reminded me more of Murakami than Bolano..."

I can't be mad, because Jay Rubin wrote it. I'm sure he was paying ho..."

In that case, i hope Jay is happy that he did it well. :)

Ian wrote: "Post 7 Interview needs a soundtrack:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMR-ES..."

Perfect. :)

Stephen M wrote: "Great work Ian and Kris. I'm loving where the cabbage detectives origin story is headed.

FREEDOM FOR ALL VEGETABLES! "

Thanks, Stephen! I was worried I might be getting too slapstick-y.

Vegetables of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your bain-marie.

Ian wrote: "Vegetables of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your bain-marie."

Out of the bain-marie and into the revolutionary fire.

Post 7 . Only got time to read it now. I am howling. Positively howling!

We need to publish this i tell ya!
*rolls on the floor with tears running down cheeks*

The people around me around me think i'm totally nuts, i'm laughing so much. In fact they think i'm crying.. Kris, you're just too much!!!

Tomatoista's!! hahahahaha!!!

Traveller wrote: "The people around me around me think i'm totally nuts, i'm laughing so much. In fact they think i'm crying.. Kris, you're just too much!!!

Tomatoista's!! hahahahaha!!!"

Thanks, Traveller! You all inspired me. :)

You guys are all hilarious, I'm just catching up on the cabbage thread now. My co-worker just ask me why I was laughing so much and I said "visceral realism" and he looked freaked out (I think he thinks it's a STD). I love idiots.

Mary wrote: "My co-worker just ask me why I was laughing so much and I said "visceral realism" and he looked freaked out"

Pfft... what a philistine.