Hey guys,
I have fiction on Thieves Jargon and poetry on Juked (9/27/07). Read it if yaz have time and tell me what you think. I will post my latest opus soon. It is depressing.
-Juan
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Oh, god that story is really good. Nice work, man. I love the way the Revolution just hovers in the background. I love the back-and-forth between poetic language and the Truth that it hides (this is only the most clear example, i think that this dichotomy dictates your entire style in this piece): “he’d just had one of those magically lonely days, caught somewhere between the turning of the earth and the swirling of the sky—that is to say, he’d been kind of stoned and kind of drunk since breakfast.” That binary creates such hilarity but also real tension, that I feel so muchly.
The poem on Juked is also good, but I really liked the story.
How do you feel about that website–thieves’ jargon? It looks pretty cool to me.
Keep submitting but never submit.
November 8th, 2007 | #
Thanks, Jed. I’ve gotten a couple reader e-mails, and they all say that it’s funny but don’t pick up on that tension/contrast. It’s a political piece that’s really just a comic piece. Has anyone ever given you a look like they just caught you masturbating? That was the line I was happiest with, perhaps because I know that look so damn well. Anyway, Thieves jargon is a great site, with a lot of really great writing that is often pretty damn hysterical. There was a story on there called “Spinsters” that was fucking amazing. Matt DiGangi, the editor, seems like a really nice guy. Even when he doesn’t take my stuff he usually gives some explanation as to why… a rare thing in an editor, I think.
I will never submit, don’t you worry, pretty girl.
November 9th, 2007 | #
I think I know that look. From when I was caught masturbating. If I was.
That line made me really happy too. I agree with Jed, this is a really excellent story. I’m sorry I never commented on your last one - I had some stuff written out about cliche and genre and America and road movies and outlaws, but I couldn’t quite get a grip on what I was saying and then the time was no longer ripe, but rotten.
Anyway, this is set in present day Oaxaca, no? Claro que si. I love mezcal, but I can never find it up here - I don’t understand why people drink tequila when there’s delicious mezcal in the world.
You know, come to think of it, the comments I half wrote on your last story could hold true to a certain extent on this one. Despite, or rather due to the fact that your story is set in Mexico, its a very American story. That is, the American as ex-pat. The Sun Also Rises is one of my favorite books, and there are some strong similarities here, most of all the dazed, semi-castrated lead male. That, compared with the flaunting cock of the naked dude really works well. Actually, one of the strongest details that I remember is how the med student turned sculptor left the genitals off the statue.
Sorry this comment is going nowhere. Suffice is to say great job on the vivid, interesting, well crafted story. I’m going to go buy some mezcal.
by the way, real absinthe is now being sold again the US. the kinds with wormwood are labelled Lucid and Kubler.
November 17th, 2007 | #