1999 news archive |
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I have updated the articles section with two new items—a dissertation on the "Trilogy" by Nicolas Dawson and a Q&A with Auster, mostly about "Timbuktu". Another quick note before I get to the real news item—Entertainment Weekly is reporting that, due to the fact that they have been unable to find an American distributor for "Lulu on the Bridge", the movie will be released direct to video later this summer. Last night (June 12) I went to Baltimore to see Auster give a reading (to see if and when he will be reading in your city, see the schedule below). It was in a bookstore called Bibelot and cosponsored by the Enoch Pratt Library. The reading was to begin at 6:30. Just to be sure we would get a seat, my wife and I arrived around quarter to six. The reading was being held in a back alcove of the store that held management and computer books. A podium with a microphone was set up next to a small wooden table with a couple dozen copies of "Timbuktu" stacked on it. There were three or four rows of chairs arranged in a half circle around the podium, probably 50 or so. There were a few people already seated when we arrived, but the bulk of the crowd didn't sit down until twenty minutes or so before the reading began. By the time Auster finished reading, it was standing room only, with probably a dozen or so people without seats. Auster arrived a few minutes early, took a look at the crowd, and then started casually browsing the books until he was introduced. A couple of people noticed him and waved to him—perhaps they had seen him the night before in DC, although he seemed to know a couple of people personally. He was introduced by a store employee a few minutes after 6:30. He was wearing black jeans and a casual green button down shirt made of denim which had the top few buttons open to reveal a black t-shirt underneath. He had glasses, which he wore while he was reading, but which he would periodically remove when speaking to the crowd. He prefaced the reading by telling everyone (in case they hadn't read the book yet) that the main character, Mr. Bones, was a dog. He also thought that since a major part of the story took place in Baltimore, it would be appropriate to read passages from that section. He also mentioned that "Timbuktu" was originally just supposed to be a small part of a different novel (could this be the missing "Dream Days Hotel", which was put on the publishing schedule a couple of years ago and then mysteriously vanished, never to be heard from again?). The first passage he read began with the first full paragraph on page 88 ("If he had developed a habit of hunting and foraging for himself...") and ended on page 89 with the end of that same paragraph ("He had kissed his master goodbye less than half an hour ago, and already he was one of them."). The second passage he read was a very long one, starting with the first full paragraph on page 93 ("Two hours later, he discovered an ice cream cone melting on the sidewalk...") and ending, along with the chapter, on page 113 ("To be alive meant to breathe; to breathe meant the open air; and the open air meant any place that was not Baltimore, Maryland."). It was a very good crowd, for the most part—people laughed and applauded in appropriate places, and Auster seemed very relaxed despite the slight cold that he seemed to have (his reading was often punctuated with short pauses to cough). There was, however, one interloper who almost managed to ruin the evening for everyone who was there to see Auster. About halfway through the reading, a man in shorts and a t-shirt who looked like he was in his mid-40s started pushing his way through the back rows, making quite a ruckus. At first everyone thought that he was just trying to find a better vantage point. Then, incredibly, he began to browse the books as if nothing else was going on, picking a book off a shelf and leafing through it, then putting it back and moving on to another shelf. After a couple of minutes, it was clear that Auster was becoming annoyed, glancing in the man's direction every few seconds. Just when it seemed like Auster had had enough and was about to say something to him, the man brazenly walked right in front of the podium as Auster was reading. Auster played it off pretty well—he was reading from the first full paragraph on page 102. Just as the man walked in front of him, Auster was starting the sentence "He simply stopped" and ad-libbed "... just as I'm stopping now." The man turned back to Auster and sarcastically said something like "Please feel free to continue." Although Auster and the crowd were clearly annoyed with this man, who seemed to have no respect for the fact that several dozen people had gathered to hear Auster read, Auster simply responded "You could have gone around back, you know" and continued with the reading. Everyone thought that would be the end of it. But a few minutes later, the same man returned with the same book he had removed from the alcove earlier, walked up to the podium, placed the book on a chair and said "Would you please put this away for me?" The crowd was dumbfounded, and more than a few people shouted at him to leave, some with profanity. Auster picked up the book and said "Perhaps you'd like to get up in front of all these people and read from ... [pausing a moment to read the book's title" 'The Internet Information Book.'" The odd man had vanished by then, leaving Auster to remark "There's always something interesting happening in Baltimore." A couple of people apologized for Baltimore before Auster continued with the reading. Auster managed to get in one more jab against the man when, while reading from the first full parargraph on page 112, he slipped in a reference to the earlier incident:
The rest of the reading went normally—Auster probably read for 30-40 minutes total—and afterwards he sat down at the desk to sign books. Some people had clearly been waiting years for this opportunity—they arrived with satchels full of books to be signed. I got into line as things were winding down and got him to autography a hard back copy of "Timbuktu" in addition to the paperback advance copy I had received a few weeks earlier. I introduced myself and after a couple of seconds he remembered me and introduced me to his assistant (who I have corresponded with). He was very pleasant and polite despite the ugly incident during the reading, and I heard several people in line apologize again for the man. If you don't get a chance to see Auster read and have him sign your copy of the book, you can still win a signed copy of the novel with a personalized message from Auster. To enter, simply send an email to bookraffle@bluecricket.com with your name and address. (Please note that due to the publisher's restrictions, this raffle is open only to those who reside in the United States.) If you go to see Auster read and have a recounting you'd like to have published on the site, send them to me via email. June 10
Unfortunately, I don't know what the names after the city mean—it could mean that he's giving a reading at each location or that he's reading at one and it's sponsored by another. I also don't know that addresses or times, so if you live in one of these cities and want to see him, I suggest you start calling around until you find the answer. If you do get a definite time and address, please email me and I will update this schedule.
March 19
February 21 In addition, Amazon has added a listing for it; I will add a link to it in the bibliography section as we get closer to the release date.
January 16 Auster's film, "Lulu on the Bridge", still has not found an American distributor, although it has been released in several European countries and Japan. One correspondent, who used to work for Auster's agent, had this information to pass along:
Dream Days refers to "Dream Days Hotel", a novel that was originally scheduled for publication last fall, but which was then dropped from the schedule without explanation. One source told me that it had simply been put on hold and that Auster would focus on Lulu, then Timbuktu, with Dream Days to be delivered sometime in the 2000-2001 timeframe. In addition, Auster has another book on the publication schedule with Sophie Calle (a New York artist who was also part of the plot of Leviathan) entitled "Double Game and the Gotham Handbook". It still shows up as being scheduled for November 1998, which clearly isn't right since it hasn't been published yet. I will try to find out more about this title and post the information here when I get it. |
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