Our Save-the-Date Card (in color)
Here's the final color version of our save-the-date card.
Our Save-the-Date Card!
We've designed our Save-the-Date card, Sarah and me! For our very small Kentucky wedding! We're super proud of it, and we wanted to share the results. We used MS Word, for to we have no fancy Adobe products on our computer, and we were too bathroby for the graduate-lounge computer lab.
cover! (Fawcett Crest, 1970)
I Tell You What to Do When Visiting the World's Largest H&M
Just up at the Desert Companion: me telling you to go to the world's largest H&M and also me telling you what to resist and what not to resist when you're there. .  |
| The world's largest H&M, formerly an FAO Schwartz. Please note that horses are still part of the decor. |
Postcards: Transparent Things Fawcett Crest 1972 paperback cover, by Ted CoConis
This paperback cover for Fawcett Crest's 1972 edition of Transparent Things
features a Ted CoConis illustration. (CoConis also did a terrific one for 1970 Fawcett Crest Ada: I'll post that one in a bit -- it was in the old Fulmerford site. (That cover has since been used, Coconis's web site informs us, for a CD cover: Year Long Disaster
.) More on CoConis and Nabokov in Paul Maliszewski's "Paperback Nabokov," available in McSweeney's Issue 4
.)
features a Ted CoConis illustration. (CoConis also did a terrific one for 1970 Fawcett Crest Ada: I'll post that one in a bit -- it was in the old Fulmerford site. (That cover has since been used, Coconis's web site informs us, for a CD cover: Year Long Disaster.) More on CoConis and Nabokov in Paul Maliszewski's "Paperback Nabokov," available in McSweeney's Issue 4.)Nabokov-centric Previously Unpublished Updike Interview
Terrific, previously unpublished 2006 Nabokov-centric interview with John Updike. (Via the Nabokv-L forum.)
Favorite quote: "I didn’t realize we had this marvelous man in our midst." (On their overlapping years at Harvard in the early fifties, when Updike was a student and Nabokov a guest lecturer.)
The interviewer is Lila Azam Zanganeh the author of the forthcoming The Enchanter: Nabokov and Happiness
, which looks terrific.
The interviewer is Lila Azam Zanganeh the author of the forthcoming The Enchanter: Nabokov and Happiness
, which looks terrific.News: Letters to Vera, in Russian (Next Year, in English)
Snob magazine (see this New Yorker "Shouts & Murmurs" for more on the magazine) to publish a selection of Nabokov's letters to Vera. (Don't speak Russian? The collected letters will be available in English in 2011. That's what you get for not knowing Russian: waiting!)
More information here and here.
More information here and here.
VN Sighting: Mark Helprin
From the Yale Daily News:
“Get another boat to put your other foot on in case the writing boat sinks,” Helprin said.
Helprin’s near-death experiences as a young man traveling through Europe were also critical to his development as a writer. When he was about 17, the New York-born Helprin was traveling in Europe. Helprin said he rode a motorcycle to Aix-en-Provence, France to impress a French girl there, even though he had never been on a motorcycle before. She rejected him, he said, and on his way back, he crashed.
“The lesson is: don’t drive a motorcycle when you’re depressed,” Helprin said.
Though badly injured, he made his way back to Marseilles, he said, and collapsed near the USS Robert A. Owens. The crew tried to treat the bloodied and feverish Helprin. “For that reason, I’ve always loved the Navy.” Nevertheless, he was still in poor physical condition. Helprin said he traveled to Switzerland to recover, where he met author Vladimir Nabokov and his wife eating breakfast on the balcony of the hotel where all three were staying.
Helprin, mispronouncing Nabokov’s name, shouted, “Nabokov! Nabokov! Isn’t that amazing, because I’m a writer too!”
The rest at Helprin entrances with stories. (Via the Nabokv-L forum.)
Nabokovilia: Richard Burgin
The Nabokov reference embedded below (from the short story "Jonathan and Lillian," collected in The Conference on Beautiful Moments
) also appears, in slightly altered form, in Richard Burgin's Rivers Last Longer:
"Eric!" she said, taking his hands, her cheeks coloring slightly after he kissed her.
"This is Louise, fire in my loins, my sin, my soul, Louis -- the Great Garret, who deserves to win next year's Nobel Prize, and every year's for that matter."
Jonathan was impressed that West knew Nabokov as well as Fitzerald, but he had said it with such grandiloquence that Jonathan cringed.
See also this bit from Burgin's "The Identity Club
":
He was considered at present an "uncommitted member" and had been debating between Nathanael West and some other writers. Nabokov, whom he might have seriously considered, had already been taken. At least, since he still had a month before he had to commit, he didn't have to dress in costume...
) also appears, in slightly altered form, in Richard Burgin's Rivers Last Longer:"Eric!" she said, taking his hands, her cheeks coloring slightly after he kissed her.
"This is Louise, fire in my loins, my sin, my soul, Louis -- the Great Garret, who deserves to win next year's Nobel Prize, and every year's for that matter."
Jonathan was impressed that West knew Nabokov as well as Fitzerald, but he had said it with such grandiloquence that Jonathan cringed.
See also this bit from Burgin's "The Identity Club
":He was considered at present an "uncommitted member" and had been debating between Nathanael West and some other writers. Nabokov, whom he might have seriously considered, had already been taken. At least, since he still had a month before he had to commit, he didn't have to dress in costume...
Vegas Valley Book Festival Stuff
Hello! I'm going to be at a couple of different Vegas Valley Book Festival things this week. If you're around and want to say hello, please do.
This Thursday, I'll be here:
This Thursday, I'll be here:
- Thursday, November 4, 7:00 pm, Clark County Library Theater. The Perpetual Engine of Hope — Las Vegas Stories Inspired by Iconic Photographs. Local authors P Moss, Dayvid Figler, Oksana Marafioti, Megan Edwards, Alissa Nutting, Juan Martinez, K. W. Jeter, and Geoff Schumacher, moderator, discuss their contributions to the Las Vegas Writes Project 2010: A collection of seven original short stories based on iconic Las Vegas photographs; published by CityLife Books as part of this year’s book festival" (http://vegasvalleybookfestival.org/calendar/)
And this Friday, starting at 5:30 pm, I will be on a bike and I will be reading poems at various places with various people:
- Friday, November 5, 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm First Friday @ 18 b the Arts District My Wheel is in the dark: A Night Ride with Las Vegas Bike Bards. Sponsored by Nevada Humanities, First Friday and the Office of Cultural Affairs First Friday hosts the Vegas Valley Book Festival’s poetry night with Mayor Oscar Goodman and Dayvid Figler reading original haiku poems at 6 pm on the main stage (Colorado Street and California) Featuring a mobile poetry brigade led by Jarrett Keene; with poets Jeffery Bennington Grindley, Harry Fagel, Artikulate, Juan Martinez, Dayvid Figler, Shaun Griffen, and Joan Dudley. Readings at the Government Center, Commerce Street Studios, Trifecta Gallery, Holsum Lofts, Contemporary Arts Center, and the Beat Coffee House — with free shuttle service to some sites (http://vegasvalleybookfestival.org/calendar/)
On Saturday, November 6, starting at 11:30 am, I'll be part of this reading, which is part of an artist-writer set of collaborations titled I Hope You're Feeling Better. I did three collaborations! Two with Jennifer Henry, one with Andreana Donahue. Check them out! At the gallery! The thing that I will read will be brief, and may in fact be an angry e-mail to Jennifer (for to: one of our things was a back-and-forth of graphics and story we modeled on Missing Missy):
- Saturday, November 6, starting at 11:30 am. I Hope You're Feeling Better A collaborative art project featuring work by eighteen Las Vegas writers and visual artists. The exhibition events are supported through funding from the Vegas Valley Book Festival and Nevada Humanities. (http://cac.wildapricot.org/events?eventid=230184&EventViewMode=EventDetails)
I Tell You What to Wear
If you are going to a party and wondering what to wear -- and you are a person who (a) donated to Nevada Public Radio and is getting their magazine delivered, or (b) you are somewhere near a place in Vegas where you can pick up Desert Companion for free, or (c) you are on the Internet -- I tell you:
Also: are you thinking of getting someone something? I help you out too (as does the always awesome, always stylish Ms. Sara Nunn):
And that is it! I am done telling you what to do for the nonce, other than you should maybe consider getting yourself a nice camel blazer or a tweed sports coat.
Also: are you thinking of getting someone something? I help you out too (as does the always awesome, always stylish Ms. Sara Nunn):
And that is it! I am done telling you what to do for the nonce, other than you should maybe consider getting yourself a nice camel blazer or a tweed sports coat.
Captain Adama Book Festival
Hi! I'll be reading and talking, alongside some awesome writers, over at the Sudden Fiction Latino panel for the Latino Family and Book Festival taking place this weekend in Los Angeles. It's taking place over at California State University, Los Angeles, and our panel is on Saturday, October 9, at 2 pm, in room 136 of Salazar Hall.
Stop in! Say hello!
Note that Captain Adama is all about this festival. Captain Adama!
Also: I was on the radio this morning! KNPR's State of Nevada, talking about my story for the Vegas Valley Book Festival's Las Vegas Writes Project.
Now I am talking about my story to the two cats in our house, whose interest in fiction is not to be underestimated.
Stop in! Say hello!
Note that Captain Adama is all about this festival. Captain Adama!
Also: I was on the radio this morning! KNPR's State of Nevada, talking about my story for the Vegas Valley Book Festival's Las Vegas Writes Project.
Now I am talking about my story to the two cats in our house, whose interest in fiction is not to be underestimated.
Nabokovilia: The Extra Man, by Jonathan Ames
Accidental Google-aided Nabokovilia. From Jonathan Ames's novel The Extra Man
:
Her apartment was on the first floor of a house on quiet dead-end in Princeton (it was called Humbert Street and some people in town believed that Nabokov, whose first American home was in Princeton, must have taken note of this when he would go for his constitutional walks), and Elaine had this fantasy of putting her breasts in her opened bedroom window as if she was just leaning out to get some night air, and her window was on an alley, and I was to come long and suck on her breasts in the darkness, and then go away without saying a word.
:Her apartment was on the first floor of a house on quiet dead-end in Princeton (it was called Humbert Street and some people in town believed that Nabokov, whose first American home was in Princeton, must have taken note of this when he would go for his constitutional walks), and Elaine had this fantasy of putting her breasts in her opened bedroom window as if she was just leaning out to get some night air, and her window was on an alley, and I was to come long and suck on her breasts in the darkness, and then go away without saying a word.
Nabopop: Bored to Death
Bored to Death's first episode of the second season (titled "Escape from the Dungeon") features a nice bit of Nabopop: When a female student smiles at first-time creative-writing instructor/second-time struggling novelist/bumbling Craigslist-advertising amateur detective Jonathan Ames, his friend (played by Zach Galifianakis) says, "Hello, Nabokov."
On Paradise (My contribution to Las Vegas Writes, part of the Vegas Valley Book Festival)
There is an event associated with the project! Please attend. There is also a book! Please buy 20 copies to give to everyone you know.
More stuff:
- On the Vegas Valley Book Festival
- On Las Vegas Writes
- On the Event (also has info on My Wheel is in the Dark: A Night Ride with Las Vegas Bike Bards", a poets-on-bikes thing, also part of the Vegas Valley Book Festival, in which I will also be participating).
Desert Companion
The September/October issue of the Desert Companion is out! And therein I once again tell you what to wear. You'll find the issue in all sorts of places in Las Vegas, but the story is also here at the Desert Companion site or below in this embedded thing:
(via 
Sighting: Maxim Shrayer on Five Nabokov Books
Pnin is the immigrant of Nabokov’s American novels. The main character is a Russian professor at an American college, and the novel is to a large extent about Russian culture misunderstood by Westerners. But it is also a truncated love story with a moral dilemma. Pnin himself is not Jewish but Mira, once Pnin’s beloved, is Jewish, and she died in Buchenwald. The story is punctuated by the tension of his trying to forget and being incapable of unremembering. Nabokov was one of the very first American writers to write extensively about the Shoah in a work of fiction. Nabokov wrote Pnin in the 1950s and parts of it were published in the New Yorker, so it is astounding how far ahead of his literary contemporaries Nabokov was in his thinking about the Shoah and how it might be remembered and memorialised.Read the rest at Five Books. (Via the Nabokv-L forum.)