Thursday, 28 August 2008
This journal project began in part because my next-door neighbor Lance picked up The Best of American Splendor in the free bin at a garage sale down the street and lent it to me. I didn’t take to it immediately, but I left it on the kitchen table so I could idly browse its stories as I had breakfast.
So I was soon surprised to find myself deeply compelled by the quotidian drama of a file clerk’s bland life. And so I got the tiniest bit obsessed with Harvey Pekar and cast about for information and interviews, largely to find out what he was setting out to do with American Splendor, and I guess also why I was actually drawn to it. Here’s the best quotation I found, from an HBO interview:
Everybody’s like everybody else and everybody’s different from everybody else. So I want them to understand, you know, what we have in common. That’s why I write, so people can understand what we got in common and they’ll see they’re not the only person in the world that’s like that.
A lot of people get worried. They think, Jesus, I’m the only person in the world like this. I’m really fucked. But they don’t know that there are a lot of people that are fucked out there. See? It makes you feel good. It makes you feel good to know that there’s other people afflicted like you.
—Harvey Pekar
August 28th, 2008 at 03:31
license-less people unite!
also, have you seen the movie?
August 28th, 2008 at 05:23
No, but I want to SO BAD. Mad Max is next on my Netflix, though.
Have you seen it? Is it great?
August 28th, 2008 at 05:41
netflix? whaaat. TORRENT IT.
It’s pretty good. I saw it when it first came out without knowing who Harvey Pekar even was, and didn’t like it so much, but i started reading his actual comic stuff and I liked it a lot better. I also liked the Quitter a lot, but it left me depressed and wanting to watch bloody boxing matches for a while.
August 28th, 2008 at 07:45
I have no space on my HD!
But cool, I’ll watch it soons. And I haven’t read The Quitter yet, but I really want to! TOO MUCH TO READ GGGGHH
February 24th, 2011 at 02:31
I’ve been to stunning buffets in Taipei at hotels like the Shangri La and the Magnificent Hyatt with counters unconditional of insolent shellfish and sushi and curry and ice cream and luxurious desserts and all sorts of many cuisine. Does anyone advised of if such a prosper exists in Madrid? It’s a long opportunity, but I’d be appreciative as regards recommendations owing a special dinner. Thanks!