Monday, May 12, 2008

If the Groundhog Sticks His Head Out and He Doesn't See Lynda Barry...

I thought the nineties were a culturally backwards decade. And now I have proof. During the nineties, Lynda Barry's books went out of print.

I didn't notice this, because of course I had already gobbled them all up in the eighties. Which I'm not saying were perfect. But man. By the late nineties my students were beginning to make fun of the eighties, and although I always knew something was seriously wrong with this I never knew how to express it. I usually muttered about how their decade brought back beige. Now I know. At least we had Lynda Barry.



And she's back! Drawn and Quarterly, bless their souls, is publishing her new book. Apparently her last publisher dropped her. I'm fine with that- I was mad at them because her last book, 100 Demons, was incredibly great but hardly got any distribution. Drawn and Quarterly is also reissuing her old books, and apparently they're putting her on tour, too. If you don't own 100 Demons, go buy it right now. If you don't love it I personally will pay for your lobotomy.

The New York Times has an article about her this Sunday. The slideshow has beautiful images from the new book. And my lovely neighbors tell me she'll be coming to the Philadelphia Free Library on June 5th too. As is Jorie Graham! Cool! This decade is looking good!

5 comments:

Wes said...

You must find a copy of the Lynda Barry Experience CD and listen to it as soon as possible. We checked out a copy of it from the library when we needed listening material for a long road trip. It's totally awesome:

Lynda Barry Experience CD on Amazon

Sam Simpson said...

You're right! I must! I haven't heard it in a long time, and I think I need to own it.

Sarah B said...

I'll be your third blog reader :). i love your images and Im all about badgers in dresses, too. What a happy coincidence!
Sarah

Anonymous said...

I actually own the Lynda Barry Experience CD, will burn it for you if you'd like. Some great pieces on there, and her playing accordian too.

Sam Simpson said...

Thanks matty matt! But I think I need to buy it...if only for the cover art!