I Am Not Steve Martin

From today's VSL:

Midway through his career as an actor and performance artist, John Haskell began cultivating his own, strange corner of the literary landscape. His first book — I Am Not Jackson Pollock (2003) — positioned him as a sly interpreter of our often-befuddling culture. His new novel, Out of My Skin, should cement that reputation.

The novel’s hero, Jack, is a writer who wants to walk away from his own, befuddled self. And so, after meeting a Steve Martin impersonator, he decides to become one, too. What he’s really trying to do is find a way to empty himself of his cares and neuroses. Instead, he feels colonized by a persona that takes over and won’t let go. It’s a quirky premise but a solid one, and Haskell exploits it to the fullest: The book is crammed with quiet surprises and quick, thought-provoking moments.

From today's NYT, an article on Steve Martin's banjo playing:

“It’s a secret world,” he said of bluegrass in an interview at his “SNL” dressing room, where his banjo sat beside him in its case like a baby in a bassinet. “It’s a big world, but it’s thin. And it doesn’t make the news, which is actually quite fantastic.”

Wild and crazy guy

New TONY feature on John Haskell, whose third book is the excellent Out of My Skin:

Distinctions between the author and his book’s narrator are intentionally blurry. Like his protagonist, Haskell recently moved from New York to Los Angeles. Like Jack, he is fascinated by the films that are discussed within the novel: North by Northwest, Detour and Sunset Blvd. “I wanted to have a sense of reality,” Haskell says of his decision to make Jack a skewed version of himself. “I wanted it to be as if it could have been this guy’s memoir—my memoir—about the time I went through this little period in my life, or in his life.”

"Watch out!"

At Five Chapters today, you can read the first part of Caitlin Macy's short story "Eden's Gate," part of her forthcoming collection Spoiled. (Woah, I just tested that Amazon link and saw my blurb!) Caitlin's debut novel, The Fundamentals of Play (2000-ish), is a favorite of mine—one of those books I recommend when someone's about to go on vacation and needs something to read...it's a total page turner...

This might be a good time to say "Watch out!" for these books in the next few months (I read 'em all pretty recently):

February: John Haskell's Out of My Skin — wow. Kind of a perfect novel. Cool and unsettling.
March: The aforementioned Caitlin Macy's Spoiled — includes "Christie," the "argument starter" mentioned in my blurb, plus other excellent stories (and argument starters). Ruthless! But also funny! (Some additions to the Invisible Library, too.)
April: Hannah Berry's Britten and Brülightly (though now I see it's been moved to March) — totally satisfying graphic novel — I'll write more about it later.
May: PERSONAL DAYS UK PAPERBACK!!!!!!! oh shut up

The recognitions

Today's entries have a title in common. The first, "American Purgatorio," comes to us from Dizzyhead Laird...



...and the second, "Brief Encounter," is the handiwork of Dizzyhead Jessica:


More in a bit...stay tuned!