As stated earlier, I have had the opportunity to attend two separate readings and while the first one was really great, the second one was a bit better, sneaking into the excellent category.
Saturday, September 16, 2006: Book Beat in Oak Park, MI
James Hart III, Robert Fanning and Peter Markus
This could have been sub-titled, Marick Press Night, as both James and Robert read from their Marick Press titles and Peter is the newly named Fiction Editor of the press.
Founder, Mariella Griffor, started the evening. She discussed Marick Press and how the city of Detroit has great poetry running through it, and how a press like Marick will have to fight dur to resource issues and competiton. If she were to be asked about the two poets reading tonight (the two Marick Press poets) and why she published them? James Hart III? Because his manuscript was very touching to her. And she believes the reader really needs to open their mind to his means of touching them. As for Robert Fanning? He's been on the poetry scene for a very long time and has the ability to be passionate and innocent with an amazing clarity - a fabulous combination. To describe Marick? It's like going against the stream all the time.
James Hart II introduced his son. He mentioned how years ago, no matter what time of day or night he was galavanting about the city of Detroit, he'd be recognized and asked how he was doing, or how his kids were. Nowadays, when discovered in the same positions, the comment he most often hears is, you're James Hart's father.
He also went on to describe the work of James, as well as his mind. James Hart III insists there is nothing holding the relationship of words together, but the fact that they're on paper itself. Same thing with letters - the only thing holding their relationship together is the fact that they're in words. James II believes the efforts of James III might not only be poems, but best considered documents.
James Hart III read his book White Holes. That is, he read the entire book. It's really a lovely little book, maybe 2.5 x 3.5" in size with great amounts of white space. The back cover mentions:
"Here, in Hart's leftbehind world, what isn't said - what can't be said - carries as much weight as what is said."
It's a perfect description for this book, which was written by a 26 year old Hart after the passing of his mother. It's his dealing with the grief, hence all that can't be said. It's a book that I believe will only grow on the reader more and more over time and readings. That said, i strongly suggest you go out and see Hart read from it. The additional learning of how Hart reads his pauses and breaks can only enhance the enjoyment.
James Hart III then introduced Robert Fanning, stating that he writes his narrative poetry from a non-linear sense and remarked that he believes there is something much deeper going on in Fanning's work, than the conversational tone of the writing might suggest.
Robert read the following poems from his new title, The Seed Thieves:
- Interstate 75
- Skyline Angel
- Failed Existentialist in a Field of Fireflies
- Scarecrow Cross
- Green Stephania
- John's Knees
- Happiness
Fanning did a very nice job of reading, giving each poem a bit of an introduction, introducing family members who had come in to see him read, and when he read, he frequently looked up from his book, making eye contact with audience members. Listening to the poems, and then reading those that he read last night after getting home, I think Hart's comments about something deeper going on is a really accurate one.
Fanning introduced Peter Markus, prefacing by saying he really wished he had something formal prepared as Peter was well deserving of it. Instead, he quickly came up with the statement that Markus had the rare ability to put his reader into states of rapture and dream.
Markus hit the front of a room with a large yellow satchel that he claimed everything he's written in the past decade was within. This includes three small, slightly larger than chapbook-sized, books that are the first three sections of what Markus is calling The Book of Mud. He was happy to announce that Calimari Press has just re-issued the first book, Good Brother, and they also published the third section, The Singing Fish.
He read from his original manuscript of the fourth section, which is currently out at a press (that I personally believe would be a fantastic fit, both for Peter and that press).
To me, the reading was memorable for two reasons:
- Markus stopped and started from three different spots in this section, I believe looking for short enough sections to be able to read. It didn't matter that he didn't read one long section - as soon as he started a new section, I was pulled in to the story and held until the end, actually more upset that I wasn't able to hear more of that section than the fact he was moving to a different one.
- Markus actually received a call on his cell ("Hey Bob, I'm in the middle of a reading.").
Getting a chance to talk to each of the trio afterwards, I can also add that beyond being talented, and passionate in behind the scenes aspects of promoting literature in the area, they are also extremely nice guys. if you get a chance, go see them read and then stick around to talk to them afterwards.
Bookbeat! My favorite hometown store...I still have a treasured bookmark dating back to about '83....Wonderful to hear they are still around....
BK form CA
Posted by: barkingkitten | September 18, 2006 at 02:03 PM