Born this day in 1935 my favorite author, Harry Crews. Southern Gothic in the finest traditions of Flannery O'Connor by William Faulkner.

Flipping through channels one night back in the early 90s I happened upon some soft focus images of a child walking through a cotton field in a night shirt.

The footage looked like it could have been shot on Super8 and the voice over the film really put the hook in me. It turned out to be the voice of Harry Crews. The Super 8 was used in the piece for reenacting Crews' memories as a child growing up in Bacon County, GA. I knew I had to read his work.

While at the Beach later that spring I dropped into a bookstore in Wilmington. And there in the clearance bin were copies of Crews' novel about a female body builder in south Florida, "Body". I couldn't put it down. It was the first book I can recall that made me put it in my lap and laugh out loud.

Back in 2009 I was traveling through Gainesville. Harry taught at The University of Florida. So I dialed information (remember that) and he was listed. I called him and told him what a fan I was and how I had first editions of all his work except his first, "Gospel Singer". In his raspy voice I heard through the phone, "Well, any man who reads my books is a friend of mine."

Harry died March 28, 2012, from complications of neuropathy. If you've never read him, seek out his books. They're a genuine hoot.

#HarryCrews

Have you ever read Car by Harry Crews about a man who eats a car?

I was mildly underwhelmed by it, I have to say.

#Reading #Books #HarryCrews

Listen to this

https://invidious.nerdvpn.de/watch?v=o3-gWE8yTyc

#GospelSinger #HarryCrews #LydiaLunch #KimGordon

Born this day in 1935 my favorite writer, Harry Crews. If we spoke of writers as we speak of race horses we could say, Harry Crews by Flannery O'Connor by William Faulkner.

Flipping through the channels one night back in the early 90s I happened upon some soft focus Super 8 images of a child walking through a cotton field in a night shirt. The voice over really put the hook in me. It turned out to be the voice of Harry Crews. The Super 8 was used in the piece for reenacting Crews' memories as a child growing up in Bacon County, GA. As soon as I could I started looking for his work.

While at the Beach later that spring I dropped into a bookstore in Wilmington. And there in the clearance bin were copies of Crews' novel about a female body builder in southern Florida, "Body". I couldn't put it down. It was the first book I can recall that made me put it down in my lap as I laughed out loud.

Back in 2009 I was traveling through Gainesville. Harry taught at The University of Florida. So I dialed information (remember that) and he was listed. I called him and told him what a huge fan I was and how I had first editions of all his work except his first, "Gospel Singer". In his raspy voice I heard through the phone, "Well, any man who reads my books is a friend of mine."

Harry died March 28, 2012, from complications of neuropathy. If you've never read him, seek out his books. They're a real hoot. Southern Gothic at its best.

#HarryCrews

> 教会で彼が口を開くたび、どこかの間抜けがかならず神を見つけたと泣き叫びながら恍惚となって倒れ込んだ。（中略）この調子でやっていれば噂のお陰でせしめられる出演料も上がるだろう

#HarryCrews 『ゴスペルシンガー』

> 神様、地獄が口を開けてひとり残らず飲み込んでしまえばいいのに

#HarryCrews 『ゴスペルシンガー』

「片手に聖書を、もう片方に分厚い〈ジミーの特製ミートサンド〉を握りしめている

##HarryCrews 『ゴスペルシンガー』

> 苦しみなしでは殉教への期待はありえない。あらゆる宗教的熱狂は最大限の不快の探求、生命を賭する危険への渇望であるべきなのだ。（中略）ああ！皮を剥がれ鍋で煮られて異教徒たちの喉を下っていくことの幸運よ！ 棍棒で殴り倒され煉瓦で叩きのめされ、凶暴な犬どもに襲われる者は幸いなり。それこそが神への、公正なるものへの、道徳的人生への道である。

#HarryCrews 『ゴスペルシンガー』

> The origin of the name "Enigma" is obscure; the name is itself an enigma. Enigma has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names.

Enigma, Georgia - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enigma,_Georgia

へぇー、おもしろー

#HarryCrews 『ゴスペルシンガー』