Book Description

Dancing Nightly in the Tavern, Mark Anthony Jarman's impressive debut collection of nine short stories, presents characters assembled from the depths of the local bars, under the influence, on the run, out of work. They are infused with a dark smoke drawn from the raw side of life — stained, imperfect, energetic and earthy — and fueled by a desire to endure. With language both sharp and fluid, and uniquely lyrical, Jarman explores the circumstances of drifting, destinations unknown. Intense. Tempestuous. A seductive read.

Customer Reviews (1)

Vivid, engrossing short stories
Dancing Nightly in the Tavern, Mark Jarman's first collection of short stories, is dense and lively. The author has a truly unique sense of detail and expression, and depicts lives and places that many of us pass by on ourway somewhere else. Jarman took the time to look, and to portray junkies,drunks, and lonely hearts without judgement. This book is entertaining andreal -- highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

Poetry, fiction, and drama by George Hitchcock, a -major American writer/editor of the 20th century.

Foreword by Philip Levine.

Introduction by Robert McDowell.

In 1960 George Hitchcock founded the San Francisco Review. In 1964, he launched Kayak magazine and press. Both established the work and careers of Robert Bly, Raymond Carver, Charles Simic, James Tate, Kathleen Fraser, Anne Sexton, John Haines, W. S. Merwin, Carolyn Kizer, and many others. Hitchcock also authored several books of distinctive, Surrealist poetry, widely produced plays, and fiction. This book includes work from all three genres, and a section on Kayak.

George Hitchcock, at 86, divides his time between Harrisburg, Oregon, and La Paz, Mexico.

Customer Reviews (1)

Along for the Ride: Some Thoughts on "One-Man Boat"
If you have seen the silent film, Nanook of the North, you might recall that moment when the protagonist arrives in his splendid kayak (also the name of George Hitchcock's near legendary literary journal from 1964-1984), he gets out of the boat and then, from within the boat emerge his wife, two or three children and possibly a husky or two -- on that my memory is not clear.And Story Line Press' masterful collection (edited by Robert McDowell, Joseph Bednarik, & Mark Jarmon, with introduction by Phil Levine, "One-Man Boat: The George Hitchcock Reader" accomplishes a similar effect -- out of this collection emerges George the poet, the playright, the actor, the editor, the novelist, the short story stylist, the witness before the HUAC, and on the cover, George, the painter.This selection from a significant body of work should serve as ample introduction to the work of a man, extraordinary by anyone's standards.This collection stands as testimony to a life lived in dedication to ideas about art and the full expression of art as a daily enterprise rather than some caged rarefied entity.I would hope this book becomes required reading for any serious student of late 20th century literature from the West Coast.I'll close with a paraphrase of one of my favorite poems, "Lying Now in the New Grass" -- the poem is an invocation of rest -- it is sensual and surreal.In its final image the "plow of night" passes over the world.I can think of no other way to spend a restful afternoon/early evening than to sit quietly with the magic of this book, a cup or glass of a favorite beverage, resting in the kayak of this book, with the capable hands of a master at the oars, be he Nanook, be he George -- don't let anyone fool you, it only looks like a one man boat -- it is filled with multitudes. ... Read more

Book Description

In The Trenches: The Best of subTerrain represents ten years of alternative writing, as featured on the pages of Vancouver's literary renegade magazine, subTerrain. In The Trenches features works of poetry, fiction and commentary by innumerable talented emerging writers, many of whom have since gone on to become established Canadian authors. Included is work by: Derek McCormack, Steven Heighton, Helene Littmann, Elise Levine, Grant Buday, Dianne Warren, Mark Anthony Jarman, Bud Osborn, Sophia Kaszuba, Michael Turner, Mark Cochrane, Joanne Arnott, Dennis E. Bolen, Tamas Dobozy and many others, plus commentary by the editors.

Book Description
Contributors include:

Elizabeth Alexander
Julia Alvarez
Bruce Bawer
Rafael Campo
Thomas M. Disch
Frederick Feirstein
Dana Gioia
Emily Grosholz
Robert Samuel Gwynn
Marilyn Hacker
Rachel Hadas
Andrew Hudgins
Paul Lake
Sydney Lea
Brad Leithauser
Phillis Levin
Charles Martin
Marilyn Nelson
Molly Peacock
Wyatt Prunty
Mary Jo Salter
Timothy Reid Steele
Frederick Turner
Rachel Wetzsteon
Greg Williamson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

much-needed rebuke to complacent orthodoxy
This is a fine riposte against the free verse orthodoxy that has dominated the thinking of lazy academicians and hipsters for decades. How many ignorant sneers from these "fundamentalists" have I heard over the years? Hey, if you can't write a good sonnet or villanelle yourself, don't knock those who can. And if metrical poetry ain't your thing, great--it's a big world--plenty of free verse for those who want free verse. The idea that formal verse ever disappeared, however, is something of a myth (perhaps self-serving in the case of the so-called "New Formalists"). Strong metrical poets have appeared in every generation of American poets, from Robinson and Frost to Ransom, Francis, Winters, and Cunningham to Nemerov, Wilbur, and Hecht. Also, many acclaimed contemporary free verse poets started off writing formal verse (e.g., W.S. Merwin, James Wright, and Adrienne Rich). It's out there, and it always will be, because the challenge of it will always engage some writers--although few will ever be up to it. Of those poets born in the 40s and 50s collected in this volume, the most outstanding seem to me to be Timothy Steele, R. S. Gwynn, and Dana Gioia. The anthology is uneven but it provides an excellent introduction to contemporary verse that should send the reader off in search of collections by the best individual poets. (If you want a really scathing attack on academic orthodoxy, check out Gwynn's _Narcissiad_.)

great collection
I am both a fan of formal poetry and free verse, but it always seemed like contemporary poets only wrote in free verse. i couldn't find any modern formal poetry. that's why this collection was such a wonderful little gem to find. some of the better poets born after 1950 are included here.

Excellent
New Formalism was long overdue, and this volume surveys it admirably.Recommended.

New Formalism still has some ground to cover
"Rebel Angels" showcases many contemporary poets who may be praised for working in traditional forms in an up-to-date idiom, but who may also be chided for inefficient workmanship.Meter and rhyme, as Dana Gioia has pointed out, have been in decline for decades.The New Formalist poets have made a valiant effort at reestablishing meter and rhyme, but unfortunately their own competence in traditional forms is in some question.There are exceptions:Timothy Steele, while he sounds too much like Richard Wilbur on occasion, is the best of the lot, with Bruce Bauer, Charles Martin, and Brad Leithauser runners-up.The rest suffer deficiencies in craftsmanship, sometimes serious ones.The revival of formalism has much ground to cover.However, despite these reservations, the book provides a good starting point for those interested in contemporary, formal poetry.(The committed reader would do well to check out the original volumes by the poets mentioned above, particularly Steele.) ... Read more

Book Description
Yet, these are ultimately poems of survival.Jarman explores the redemptive power of the imagination and the ways in which we transform experience into stories we tell about our lives.His characters vividly express the will to cling to existence and understand it as they pursue the meaning of family, home, identity, and love.Invented memories resurrect a forgotten past, opening doors of possibility and adding a strange richness to everyday life."Flowers of the flesh,/ Hung on the cliffs to watch and be watched./ Don't let me see reproach, don't let me see it,/ In your eyes.Let me be the only one/ Who knows and tells you." ... Read more

Book Description

Debut novel from the author of 19 Knives and New Orleans is Sinking. Salvage King, Ya! is a gritty, down-to-earth story of a hockey player's last few years in the minors. Drinkwater, an almost-got-to-the-NHL tough-mouthed romantic is skidding through the tail end of his 30s on a high-octane journey of self-actualization. Chip-toothed and soaring he struggles to come to terms with the conflicting aspirations of his youth and the reality of inheriting the family junkyard. Roving. Luminous. Rowdy. Funny.

Customer Reviews (1)

Defies description
D-man juggles ex wife, future wife, waitress girlfriend, plane crash, drink-fests, the whole damn kitchen sink.A wild ride.One of those books they say is 'not for everyone', but oh yeah, it's for everyone.Probably helps your perspective if you've played some hockey, but not strictly necessary.Exhausting, crazy - well worth your time.And damn funny, to boot.

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Book Description
This digital document is an article from Queen's Quarterly, published by Queen's Quarterly on March 22, 1996. The length of the article is 2224 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Mir.
Author: Mark Anthony Jarman
Publication: Queen's Quarterly (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 1996
Publisher: Queen's Quarterly
Volume: 103Issue: 1Page: 196-202

Article Type: Short Story

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more