More than 40 people braved the near total lack of Saturday night parking in Los Feliz to come out and hear Sam Lipsyte read from his latest novel, Home Land. (See our Recommended sidebar.) Fortunately for us, nothing in L.A. ever starts on time, and we bagged front row seats for the reading.
Lipsyte read four sections from Home Land, including the opening chapter and a considerably wilder later section that describes a frenzied session of "breakup sex," the climax of which - no pun intended - manages to render the simple words "Uh oh" among the funniest in this deeply funny book.
We were fortunate enough to be invite to reconvene with the author at a party afterward, where we surely hogged his time and attention for longer than he probably cared for, but touched on such varied subjects as: his current gig teach in Columbia's MFA program; his reading list for said workshop; the pitfalls of workshops; the uncertainty that attends writing a first novel; how little the completion one novel equips you to finish another one; the importance and power of blogs (which he seems to appreciate); all the groovy attention Home Land has been getting; writers we dig (you know we mentioned John Banville); and much more. Here's a picture of us near the evening's end, with Lipsyte hagiographer Jim Ruland (l.), Lipsyte and your host (r.).
So what's on his reading list?
Posted by: Nicky | February 07, 2005 at 08:08 AM
It's coming. He's promised to send along a copy.
Posted by: TEV | February 07, 2005 at 08:41 AM
So what were his thoughts on blogs and the perils of workshops? Sounds like a fascinating conversation.
You're such a tease, TEV.
Posted by: Justine | February 07, 2005 at 08:57 AM
I adore this man! And loved the reading. Wonder, as he teaches at same school as Ben Marcus, what his thoughts are on his possible move to IOWA???
And yes, please post his reading list from his MFA program. I would love to see it.
Congrats too on the nod from the GUARDIAN.
Posted by: Angela Stubbs | February 07, 2005 at 02:19 PM