tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177632582583412430.post8538197317216334443..comments2021-04-27T01:44:48.698-07:00Comments on Lost City Journals: The Great Book of IndigestionB.F. Spathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07812674692335927438noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177632582583412430.post-16852204902161628202013-04-21T14:10:45.987-07:002013-04-21T14:10:45.987-07:00Vincent, I am indeed a big fan of Bukowski—read mo...Vincent, I am indeed a big fan of Bukowski—read most of his books. <br />I wonder if you have ever read "The Golem" by Gustav Meyrink? Probably a big influence on me, along with Thomas DeQuincy, and a few others.B.F. Spathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07812674692335927438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177632582583412430.post-66023291902506216262013-04-20T20:42:57.626-07:002013-04-20T20:42:57.626-07:00I've mentioned Pessoa several times in my blog...I've mentioned Pessoa several times in my blog since discovering him (via another blogger) in 2009. A search on "Pessoa" brings some of them up but not <a href="http://perpetual-lab.blogspot.co.uk/2009/10/champion-of-ordinary_07.html" rel="nofollow">this one</a>. <br /><br />I've also had certain experiences as an amateur handyman myself, and mentioned them in my blog, which a search on the word can reveal. I would have written about them more, but felt bound by confidentiality as I was a volunteer for an old people's charity; and didn't want to write about jobs I'd done for one or two neighbours either.<br /><br />I find doing home improvements a perfect displacement activity for postponing the effort to write.<br /><br />As for being too personal, you have illustrious examples in the form of Charles Bukowski & Fernando Pessoa, both of whom used the thin cloak of fiction. Your writing also evokes Bukowski quite strongly, not quite in style, not in content, but as a sort of life-affirming <i>via negativa</i>. Not in the theological sense, but by a complete inversion and subversion of the all-American notions of "ambition" and "success". For in that inversion, in this perhaps toxic reality, one discovers the only wealth and fame: being alive now.Vincenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18297306807695767580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177632582583412430.post-16285917909269774812013-04-20T19:21:33.778-07:002013-04-20T19:21:33.778-07:00Vincent, thank you for your kind remarks! Very gla...Vincent, thank you for your kind remarks! Very glad that you appreciate my efforts. <br />All of my writings have their origin in my journal entries, which I started about ten years ago. I discovered Pessoa about two years ago, and "Disquiet" quickly became my favorite book, as well. It kind of encouraged me to continue in the direction that I'm going.<br />I'm not certain why I decided to delete "Handyman". It somehow didn't feel right to me at the time——possibly because it was too personal——I don't know. It's actually a short story that is 95% finished—just needs some editing. <br />I will certainly check out your blog, Vincent...<br />Thanks again!<br />~BrianB.F. Spathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07812674692335927438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177632582583412430.post-86724939550954507522013-04-20T06:47:34.056-07:002013-04-20T06:47:34.056-07:00Which came first, I wonder. Reading Pessoa or deve...Which came first, I wonder. Reading Pessoa or developing your writing in this style. Google Reader presented me with your March 12th post (Handyman) though you have deleted it. (I love this quirk of GR.) I hope you are continuing that project, with its excellent writing.Vincenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18297306807695767580noreply@blogger.com