What's Old is New Again

I have just had the deepest watercolor conversation. Meet my new friend. Aleksander Petrov's 1999 animated short film "The Old Man & the Sea" has inspired me to reread the Hemingway novella on which it was based. This heartbreakingly beautiful story, mixing the ephemeral with the persevering, is impressing in literary format, but on film everything is amplified. It moves before the viewer vaguely defined as a lucid dream, striking the emotions while confusing the physical senses. This is an exception to the rule that books had better remain as books rather than cheapening their titles through multimedia. Watch it. Read it.

Ever So Green

I am curling up with W.H. Hudson's cinematic novel Green Mansions tonight for some long overdue quality time. These stills from the 1959 film which was inspired by the story & starred Audrey Hepburn perfectly capture Hudson's super-saturated prose, even in black & white.

So Into Indochine

Again With the Eastern Genre Indochine: Stories Shaken and Stirred was released recently. The chronicle and very sophisticated picture book depicts cultural icons from Andy Warhol to Kate Moss who have passed through the famous NY restaurant. Check the weekly must read list & don't fall behind! We're the fast set.

Iman at Indochine for Indochine's release party.

Because her fur and ferocity are fabulous. As is alliteration.

Ashberian Love: It's Pretty Complicated

This picture of poet John Ashbery appears on the back cover of his latest collection. The designs on the stained glass windows behind him decorate the book. It looks really rather pretty. I'm sure its words are pretty also. Pretty complicated.

Planisphere: New Poems by John Ashbery was delivered today! I can finally breathe easy knowing I'll be able to get him to autograph it when he reads at the Vernon House tomorrow night. Pre-order is the best option online shopping offers, undoubtedly. It has gifted me an additional twenty four hours to analyze Ashbery's characteristically difficult compositions, which will take an eternity regardless. Ah, gifts that keep on giving.