Conspicuous Acts of Cultural Consumption

Where I talk about books, movies, television, art, pro-wrestling and other forms of culture and pop-culture

I Write Like

PETERMBALL Conspicuous Acts of Cultural Consumption , , ,

Bugger who I write like*, when presented with a tool of complex literary analysis such as this I can think of only one sensible thing to do with it. And now I give the you the results of my most important and detailed analysis:

When you plug in the lyrics to Sir Mix-a-Lot’s Baby Got Back, you get:

I write like
J. D. Salinger

I Write Likeby Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

And this amuses me no end. Poor Holden Caulfield – if only he’d learned to dial 1-900-mix-a-lot, his life could have been very different**.

So can we all go back to the infinately more interesting 30 Days of Television meme now?

* I tried Horn, got “You write like Jane Austen”, then figured we were done.
** Of course, on further reflection, it makes perfect sense. No-one understands poor Holden and who understands those rap guys anyway?

Today’s Thought

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If this were a sane and sensible world there would be someone out there pressuring Dirk Flinthart to re-release his suburban Brisbane noir novella, Brotherly Love. I mean, dude, how is this ever out of print? More importantly, why has it been out of print for over a decade?  Why do I need to acquire it in op-shops and library seconds sales? I give away copies of this book semi-regularly, and it is loved with a fierce devotion by everyone who sees the words “yakuza”, “overweight computer hacker” and “army of goths” in the blurb. It’s the kind of book that causes readers to get a dangerous gleam in their eye as they contemplate the forthcoming awesomeness, and it does not dissapoint them when they read on.

And alas, I’m at my final copy, which means I must now guard it like the precious and hiss at people who ask if they can read it. I must also tape it together, since I re-read this book so often that it’s going to fall apart.

Angela Slatter’s Sourdough: Pre-order details

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Okay peeps, for your edification I’m going to mention that Angela Slatter’s new short story collection, Sourdough and other stories, is avialble for pre-order from Tartarus Press. It’ll be a limited edition of 300 copies, and I heartily recommend it (I’ve read much of the collection, which is a themed series of linked story, and it moves beyond the realm of awesome and into the realm of quite extraordinary).

“But Peter,” I hear you cry, “you already mentioned Angela’s short story collection was available for pre-order a few weeks ago.”

“Nay,” I tell you, “a few weeks ago I mentioned that her OTHER short story collection, The Girl with No Hands, is available for pre-order from Ticonderoga Press. Sourdough is a completely seperate book, being put out by a boutique press that does glorious hardcovers full of win. Trust me, though. You cannot go wrong by doubling the ammount of Slatter works you’re planning to add to your bookshelf.”

“What?” You cry. “Two short story collections in the same year? That’s extraordinary!”

“Indeed,” I tell you. “But Angela Slatter rocks the freakin’ Casbah and everyone out there has realised it. Get on board, peeps, before you’re left behind.”