Friday, April 15th, 6:00 PM
Sarah Vowell book event for Assassination Vacation
sponsored by Quimby’s and the Chicago Public Library.
FREE
PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT IS NOT AT QUIMBYS!
Head Down to the
Harold Washington Library
400 S. State Street
Chicago IL 60605
Sarah Vowell exposes the glorious conundrums of American history and culture with wit, probity, and an irreverent sense of humor. With Assassination Vacation, she takes us on a road trip like no other?a journey to the pit stops of American political murder and through the myriad ways in which they have been used for fun and profit, for political and cultural advantage.
From Buffalo to Alaska, Washington to the Dry Tortugas, Vowell visits locations immortalized and influenced by the spilling of politically important blood, reporting as she goes with her trademark blend of wisecracking humor, remarkable honesty, and thought-provoking criticism. We learn about the jinx that was Robert Todd Lincoln (present for the assassinations of Presidents Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley); and witness the politicking that went into the making of the Lincoln Memorial. The resulting narrative is much more than an entertaining and informative travelogue?it is the disturbing and fascinating story of how American death has been manipulated by popular culture, including literature, architecture, sculpture, and?the author?s favorite?historical tourism. Though the themes of loss and violence are explored and we make detours to see how the Republican party became the Republican party, there are all kinds of lighter diversions along the way into the lives of the three presidents and their assassins, including mummies, show tunes, mean-spirited totem poles, and a nineteenth century biblical sex cult.
SARAH VOWELL is the author of The Partly Cloudy Patriot, Take the Cannoli, and Radio On. She is a contributing editor for public radio’s This American Life. She is also a McSweeney’s person, and the voice of teenage superhero Violet Parr in Pixar Animation Studios’ The Incredibles. She lives in New York City.
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Yama Moonbow reads from
Accessing the Eye of Wisdom
Tuesday, April 19th, 7PM
FREE
Yama Moonbow is the author of Accessing the Eye of Wisdom, A practical guide to Ultimate Reality will be on hand for a booking signing and discussion. He is a Tattoo Artist who attained enlightenment in May 1998, with his book he hopes to offer a unique perspective on the subject.
This book is not a summation of knowledge comprehended from thousands of books or decades of monastic and ascetic living. It has been written from that place of intuition and inspiration, which exists inside of each of us that, can only be experienced directly. The mission statement of this book is to assist one in having that experience.
Where many books are open ended and leave room for a sequel, this one does not. It is broken down into three parts beginning with the end, then the means of getting there and then the various truths that may be seen after attainment. If life were so simple this book would not be necessary. Although the book is relatively short in page numbers, every word is powerful and the reader will not go away hungry after digesting the contents held within the cover.
From the Author
In May 1998, this direct experience was attained. At that time I did not realize that I had stepped through the mystical door that leads to Universal Love, Knowledge, Truth, Understanding and Ultimately Wisdom. Though I have had many successes in life, I can only say that this has been the greatest One. It is my intention to revise that statement and say; “the greatest success I have had is to help others attain Ultimate Reality”.
The reason I do not sport my photo on this book is because it is not about me but about you and the experience. This experience is available to everyone regardless of sex, race, nationality, religion, education, etc. Therefore my personal race, nationality, religion, education and so forth are irrelevant.
I can only hope that those who seek will find the answers contained within these pages.
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Ben Pleasants reads fromVisceral BukowskiSaturday May 7th, 7PM
FREE
Ben Pleasants is the author of VISCERAL BUKOWSKI: Inside the Sniper Landscape of LA Writers. VISCERAL BUKOWSKI is a memoir of a 20-year friendship with deep insights into the personal life of Charles Bukowski and the city of Los Angeles. Here are clear chapters on childhood friends, Bukowski?s flirtation with Nazism, how Pleasants and Bukowski together rediscover John Fante, adventures in Hollywood, the women, the jobs, the booze and the writing; the way it really happened without the fiction. Pleasants is also a playwright with five plays produced including “The Hemingway/Dos Passos Wars,” and “Contenious Minds: The Mary McCarthy/ Lillian Hellman Affair.” for a better look at his life and work see “How to Write A Short Story\” or “When Bukowski Was a Nazi” at Hollywood Investigator.com.
Ben Pleasants will be reading from the book and discuss the fact that he was Bukowski’s friend for twenty years and the direct link between John Fante and Charles Bukowski. This will be a reading and book signing.
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Saturday, April 16th, 7:30PMAline Kominsky-Crumb, wife of the cartoonist R. Crumb,and Peter Poplaski, author of The R. Crumb Handbook!
The R. Crumb Handbook (MQ Publications) is a brand new take on the life,
trials and ideas of one of the most influential cartoonists of the last
forty years. Wry, self-deprecating, and candid, this is an exceptionally
revealing and unexpectedly moving visual biography. Written with his close
friend and fellow cartoonist Peter Poplaski, the new book allows ample room
for the ?father of underground comics? to express his ideas and opinions on
a variety of subjects: fame and celebrity, art and commercialism, sex and
drugs, age and death. At over 400 pages, this hardcover book features over
300 never seen before illustrations from his sketchbooks, 80 personal
photos, interviews, and a special CD of twenty songs of R.Crumb?s original
music. Not to mention it\’s practically a steal at $25.00. The books at the
event will contain a signed bookplate from Robert (who will not be there),
and Pete and Aline will sign the book too.
This event will also be a part
of the R. Crumb National Lookalike Contest where the winner will go on a
date with Aline Kominsky-Crumb. However, at Quimby?s, the winner will win a
signed copy of the R. Crumb Handbook! Also, word has leaked out that Peter
may dress up as Zorro, so if nothing else gets you here, we don?t see why
that wouldn?t do the trick.
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Musichaikupod: a Companion
Release Event
Thursday, March 17th, 7:00 PM
FREE
JEFF WINKOWSKI is a Poet, Record Producer, Publisher, Founder of Imperfect Music and Literature. Former singer of Blackwall Hitch, melotrome player for the Violent Femnes.
Jeff Winkowski is also co-author of Musichaikupod: a Companion will read some of his haiku forms of record reviews and play each record that inspired the review. He doesn?t tear records apart. He will play a record and then read a corresponding poem. Funny? Yep, sometimes. But he is totally serious about this. He will also lecture on the history and significance of the haiku. This, however, will not be done in 5-7-5. The original design of the haiku was meditation. Meditation on a piece of music helps you to describe the sound in essence. This lost art, as it were, is based on the presupposition of essence to existence.
Musichaikupod: a Companion was printed in a limited edition of 200 with block-print covers on different record jackets. It will be available to purchase at the event.
Check out www.imperfectmusic.com
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