Damn I remember The Starlight! I have Loved Denis Johnson for Years. He was often at SF Public Library & Other places reading. Part political disquisition, part travel journal, part self-exploration, Seek is a collection of essays and articles in which Denis Johnson essentially takes on the world. And not an obliging, easygoing world either; but rather one in which horror and beauty exist in such proximity that they might well be interchangeable. Where violence and poverty and moral transgression go unchecked, even unnoticed. A world of such wild, rocketing energy that, grasping it, anything at all is possible. Whether traveling through war-ravaged Liberia, mingling with the crowds at a Christian Biker rally, exploring his own authority issues through the lens of this nation's militia groups, or attempting to unearth his inner resources while mining for gold in the wilds of Alaska, Johnson writes with a mixture of humility and humorous candor that is everywhere present. With the breathtaking and often haunting lyricism for which his work is renowned, Johnson considers in these pieces our need for transcendence. And, as readers of his previous work know, Johnson's path to consecration frequently requires a limning of the darkest abyss. If the path to knowledge lies in experience, Seek is a fascinating record of Johnson's profoundly moving pilgrimage. (less)
A wonderful reading. Jesus' Son is a great work of art. Another great piece of writing about the struggle for sobriety: Chef's House by Raymond Carver.
I'm just realizing how good this guy can write. Just listened to Will Patton read Train Dreams, (again and again). I'd buy a ticket to hear Will Patton read Train Dreams at the Fillmore. I think Will Patton and Pat Metheny together would give "Train Dreams" a production worth the experience. I appreciate seeing this...
Go down the stairs, after the California basement, until it's really dark. Then fish around and find the door. It'll never open. Keep pushing on that door. Until it opens. Then go down that next set of stairs till you're in that utmost California basement of your soul, the one that isn't a California basement, because it was from the Old House before This One. And there Denis Johnson is saying stuff he wrote, like, "Dear Satan: I didn't enjoy your jamboree last night."
Disturbing that I am the first to comment. Johnson is, to borrow from W H Gass [ from an essay on Henry Miller] a master of 'food and beast language', an author who gets so inside the sweat soaked skin of his divinely dameged characters its seems a form of willful possession. Already Dead and Angels are brute masterpieces and Jesus Son a ragged sort of dreaming. Thanks so much for posting this.
This man’s a genius!❤I wished I found him sooner!😢
Damn I remember The Starlight! I have Loved Denis Johnson for Years. He was often at SF Public Library & Other places reading. Part political disquisition, part travel journal, part self-exploration, Seek
is a collection of essays and articles in which Denis Johnson
essentially takes on the world. And not an obliging, easygoing world
either; but rather one in which horror and beauty exist in such
proximity that they might well be interchangeable. Where violence and
poverty and moral transgression go unchecked, even unnoticed. A world of
such wild, rocketing energy that, grasping it, anything at all is
possible.
Whether traveling through war-ravaged Liberia, mingling
with the crowds at a Christian Biker rally, exploring his own authority
issues through the lens of this nation's militia groups, or attempting
to unearth his inner resources while mining for gold in the wilds of
Alaska, Johnson writes with a mixture of humility and humorous candor
that is everywhere present.
With the breathtaking and often
haunting lyricism for which his work is renowned, Johnson considers in
these pieces our need for transcendence. And, as readers of his previous
work know, Johnson's path to consecration frequently requires a limning
of the darkest abyss. If the path to knowledge lies in experience, Seek is a fascinating record of Johnson's profoundly moving pilgrimage.
(less)
A wonderful reading. Jesus' Son is a great work of art. Another great piece of writing about the struggle for sobriety: Chef's House by Raymond Carver.
A truly brilliant and original writer. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this as there's very little out there on Johnson.
the laughter in this video is kind of eerie
I'm just realizing how good this guy can write. Just listened to Will Patton read Train Dreams, (again and again). I'd buy a ticket to hear Will Patton read Train Dreams at the Fillmore. I think Will Patton and Pat Metheny together would give "Train Dreams" a production worth the experience. I appreciate seeing this...
I would too! Can we book Will at the Fillmore? :)
Go down the stairs, after the California basement, until it's really dark. Then fish around and find the door. It'll never open. Keep pushing on that door. Until it opens. Then go down that next set of stairs till you're in that utmost California basement of your soul, the one that isn't a California basement, because it was from the Old House before This One. And there Denis Johnson is saying stuff he wrote, like, "Dear Satan: I didn't enjoy your jamboree last night."
so good, one minute in
wow US writers are vibrant, truly impressive
He's so charming and witty.
Disturbing that I am the first to comment. Johnson is, to borrow from W H Gass [ from an essay on Henry Miller] a master of 'food and beast language', an author who gets so inside the sweat soaked skin of his divinely dameged characters its seems a form of willful possession. Already Dead and Angels are brute masterpieces and Jesus Son a ragged sort of dreaming. Thanks so much for posting this.
Nice to see.
Goosebumps!
a genius
@WankerYank It's from a book called Shoppers which contains Two plays
Masterly
My favorite writer.
You can’t like someone that’s dead
That’s like trying to pay your taxes with playing cards.
@@_aworldthatspoke950 what?