A gay old time on Super Globe Sunday
Mr. Scatter understands an American football match of some importance is to take place this very afternoon. Squadrons from the midsized cities of Indianapolis, Indiana, and New Orleans, Louisiana will battle it out on a field called a gridiron to claim rights of municipal supremacy for the coming year.
All very manly. But Mr. Scatter would like to offer you as an alternative pastime a chance to read his review of The Lunatic, the Lover, and the Poet that is printed in the O! section of today’s Sunday Oregonian.
The new novel, by Portland writer Myrlin A. Hermes, is a smart and witty reimagining of some of the great literary mysteries of our time. (The mysterious events take place in Elizabethan times, but it’s our time that gets all hot and bothered about them.)
To wit:
- Who was this William Shakespeare?
- Who was this Dark Lady of the Sonnets?
- Who was this Melancholy Dane?
- How did Mr. Shakespeare become Mr. Shakespeare?
Drolleries abound, along with intellectual, historical and emotional insights. It is not giving away too much to reveal that in this fictional universe Hamlet is as gay as a caballero going to Rio de Janeiro, and maybe Shakespeare is, too. No Super Bowl rings for them. But they find their compensations.
Enjoy the game. Whichever one you prefer.
February 7th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
A game? There was a game? Oh yes that must be the one that the directors of the art museums in Indianapolis and New Orleans bet on the other day. I wonder who will be shipping their work of art that they’ll probably miss for a few months. Great way to rally the people, even if the don’t know where the museum is.
Thanks for the review. Hermes work sounds like I should put it on the list. Right behind Eric Siblin’s Cello Suites that I’m half way through. Now that I have actual prescription reading glasses I find that I can sustain more than a few pages at a time.
February 7th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
Mr. Scatter, you scooped me! I have a review of my own going up in a few days. Needless to say, Ms. Hermes’ new book is right up my alley. Whatever that means……
Hey, love the new look.
February 8th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Mead, I’m looking forward to your review! Lots and lots of ways to approach this one. Myrlin Hermes, by the way, will be talking about “The Lunatic, the Lover, and the Poet” at 7:30 p.m. this Thursday, February 10, at Powell’s City of Books in downtown Portland.
LaValle, as it turns out, the lads from New Orleans bested the boys from Indianapolis in that little football match. It was considered what’s called in sporting circles an “upset.”
February 11th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Mr. Scatter, I finally got my “review” up — a hasty one, but in time for tonight’s reading, anyhow:
http://meadhunter.blogspot.com/2010/02/hamlet-hearts-you.html
See you there, peut-etre?