Part 48 (1/2)
page 436 ”He never thought anyone was a hopeless writer”: ”He never thought anyone was a hopeless writer”: Marion Barthelme, in an E-mail to the author, August 23, 2004. Marion Barthelme, in an E-mail to the author, August 23, 2004.
page 436 ”sort of like a barracks”; ”uncling”; ”h.e.l.l holes”; ”worn [him] down”: ”sort of like a barracks”; ”uncling”; ”h.e.l.l holes”; ”worn [him] down”: Helen Moore Barthelme, Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2001), 178183. (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2001), 178183.
50. Still Life page 437 ”I know that Donald was good for the university”: ”I know that Donald was good for the university”: John Barth, ”Professor Barthelme,” John Barth, ”Professor Barthelme,”Gulf Coast: A Journal of Literature and Art, 4, no. 1 (1991): 1718. 4, no. 1 (1991): 1718.
page 437 ”No longer will Kafka or Tolstoy be asked to sit”: ”No longer will Kafka or Tolstoy be asked to sit”: Jerome Klinkowitz, Jerome Klinkowitz, Donald Barthelme: An Exhibition Donald Barthelme: An Exhibition (Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press, 1991), 109. (Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press, 1991), 109.
page 437 ”He would often talk to me about new types of VCRs”: ”He would often talk to me about new types of VCRs”: Phillip Lopate, ”The Dead Father: A Remembrance of Donald Barthelme,” Phillip Lopate, ”The Dead Father: A Remembrance of Donald Barthelme,” Threepenny Review Threepenny Review (Summer 1991): 9. (Summer 1991): 9.
page 438 Marion points out that Don had been interested in food: Marion points out that Don had been interested in food: Marion Knox Barthelme, in an E-mail to the author, June 6, 2008. Marion Knox Barthelme, in an E-mail to the author, June 6, 2008.
page 438 ”relaxed”; ”generous”; a ”confidence with subject and form”: ”relaxed”; ”generous”; a ”confidence with subject and form”: Jerome Klinkowitz, ”Fiction: The 1960s to the Present,” Jerome Klinkowitz, ”Fiction: The 1960s to the Present,” American Literary Scholars.h.i.+p American Literary Scholars.h.i.+p (als.dukejournals.org/cgi/reprint/2005/1/351). (als.dukejournals.org/cgi/reprint/2005/1/351).
page 438 ”the most artificial of all artistic subjects”: ”the most artificial of all artistic subjects”: This and subsequent Wilmerding quotes are from John Wilmerding, This and subsequent Wilmerding quotes are from John Wilmerding, Important Information Inside: The Art of John F. Peto and the Idea of Still-Life Painting in Nineteenth-Century America Important Information Inside: The Art of John F. Peto and the Idea of Still-Life Painting in Nineteenth-Century America (Was.h.i.+ngton, DC: National Gallery of Art/Harper & Row, 1983), 11113. (Was.h.i.+ngton, DC: National Gallery of Art/Harper & Row, 1983), 11113.
page 439 ”was discovered when”: ”was discovered when”: Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Sixty Stories Sixty Stories (New York: Putnam, 1981), 445. (New York: Putnam, 1981), 445.
page 440 ”began getting calls from friends”: ”began getting calls from friends”: J. D. O'Hara, ”Donald Barthelme: The Art of Fiction LXVI,” J. D. O'Hara, ”Donald Barthelme: The Art of Fiction LXVI,” Paris Review Paris Review 80 (1981): 184. 80 (1981): 184.
page 440 ”Roger Angell and I went to a reading”; ”Had Don lived to experience the age of memoir”: ”Roger Angell and I went to a reading”; ”Had Don lived to experience the age of memoir”: Ann Beattie, in an E-mail to the author, April 4, 2006. Ann Beattie, in an E-mail to the author, April 4, 2006.
pages 440441 ”Barthelme isn't easy” ”Barthelme isn't easy” to to ”one of the most adventurous American writers”: ”one of the most adventurous American writers”: Walter Clemons, ”Barthelme the Scrivener,” Walter Clemons, ”Barthelme the Scrivener,” Newsweek, Newsweek, October 12, 1981, 100. October 12, 1981, 100.
page 441 ”excitement caused among readers” ”excitement caused among readers” to to ”trifles”: ”trifles”: John Romano, ”Working Like a Stand-Up Comic,” John Romano, ”Working Like a Stand-Up Comic,” New York Times Book Review, New York Times Book Review, October 4, 1981, 9. October 4, 1981, 9.
page 441 ”1975 seems to be the year when minimalist fiction first appeared”: ”1975 seems to be the year when minimalist fiction first appeared”: Roland Sodowsky, ”1970s AD-Decade,” Roland Sodowsky, ”1970s AD-Decade,” Studies in Short Fiction, Studies in Short Fiction, Fall 1996; posted at Fall 1996; posted at /p/articles/mi_m2455/is_n4_v33/ai_20906637. The statements by Kim Herzinger, John Barth, and Madison Smartt Bell come from this Sodowsky article.
page 442 ”Experimentalism is only the misuse of the language”: ”Experimentalism is only the misuse of the language”: Daniel Halpern quoted in Anita Shreve, ”The American Short Story: An Untold Tale,” Daniel Halpern quoted in Anita Shreve, ”The American Short Story: An Untold Tale,” New York Times Magazine, New York Times Magazine, November 30, 1980, 136. November 30, 1980, 136.
pages 442443 ”surprisingly isolated”; ”Donald Barthelme [is] often seen”: ”surprisingly isolated”; ”Donald Barthelme [is] often seen”: Shreve, ”The American Short Story,” 136. Shreve, ”The American Short Story,” 136.
page 443 ”the late-life 'Collected Stories' ”: ”the late-life 'Collected Stories' ”: Clemons, ”Barthelme the Scrivener,” 100. Clemons, ”Barthelme the Scrivener,” 100.
51. Inprint page 444 ”It's Wednesday morning, b.u.t.tercup”: ”It's Wednesday morning, b.u.t.tercup”: Donald Barthelme, ”Dear b.u.t.tercup,” Donald Barthelme, ”Dear b.u.t.tercup,” Gulf Coast: A Journal of Literature and Art, Gulf Coast: A Journal of Literature and Art, 4, no. 1 (1991): 4142. 4, no. 1 (1991): 4142.
page 444 ”Katharine was born”: ”Katharine was born”: Marion Knox Barthelme, in an E-mail to the author, June 15, 2006. Marion Knox Barthelme, in an E-mail to the author, June 15, 2006.
page 445 ”vernacular 'everyman' feel”: ”vernacular 'everyman' feel”: Rosellen Brown, ”On Leaving Texas,” Rosellen Brown, ”On Leaving Texas,” Cite Cite 39 (1997). 39 (1997).
page 445 ”little Menil”; ”wonderful”; ”fixed up in [Don's] stark minimalist way”: ”little Menil”; ”wonderful”; ”fixed up in [Don's] stark minimalist way”: Marion Barthelme, in an E-mail to the author, April 19, 2006. Marion Barthelme, in an E-mail to the author, April 19, 2006.
pages 445446 ”I never really did get over my surprise”; ”His dedication to his students”: ”I never really did get over my surprise”; ”His dedication to his students”: Lois Parkinson Zamora, ”The Long Sonata of the Dead,” Lois Parkinson Zamora, ”The Long Sonata of the Dead,” Gulf Coast: A Journal of Literature and Art Gulf Coast: A Journal of Literature and Art vol. 4, no. 1 (1991): 180181. vol. 4, no. 1 (1991): 180181.
page 446 ”I knew that to build an excellent program in the arts”: ”I knew that to build an excellent program in the arts”: This and subsequent Barry Munitz quotes are from a conversation with the author, September 2, 2004. This and subsequent Barry Munitz quotes are from a conversation with the author, September 2, 2004.
page 447 Don's commitment to ”underdogs”: Don's commitment to ”underdogs”: Phillip Lopate, in a conversation with the author, October 29, 2004. Phillip Lopate, in a conversation with the author, October 29, 2004.
page 447 A faculty member recalls telling Don: A faculty member recalls telling Don: Tim Fleck, ”Burying the Dead Father,” Tim Fleck, ”Burying the Dead Father,” Houston Press, Houston Press, February 8, 1990. February 8, 1990.
page 448 ”In his distance”: ”In his distance”: Phillip Lopate, ”The Dead Father: A Remembrance of Donald Barthelme,” Phillip Lopate, ”The Dead Father: A Remembrance of Donald Barthelme,” Threepenny Review Threepenny Review (Summer 1991), 8. (Summer 1991), 8.
page 448 ” he was a world-cla.s.s worrier”: he was a world-cla.s.s worrier”: Edward Hirsch, ”Donald Barthelme: Doubting It,” in Edward Hirsch, ”Donald Barthelme: Doubting It,” in Responsive Reading, Responsive Reading, ed. Edward Hirsch (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1999), 156. ed. Edward Hirsch (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1999), 156.
page 448 ”Sometimes he would come to my house”: ”Sometimes he would come to my house”: Edward Hirsch, in a conversation with the author, December 5, 2006. Edward Hirsch, in a conversation with the author, December 5, 2006.
page 448 It was business-and in tangible terms, not terribly rewarding: It was business-and in tangible terms, not terribly rewarding: Marion Barthelme points out that Don ”just didn't live long enough to see the larger royalties come in.”. Marion Barthelme points out that Don ”just didn't live long enough to see the larger royalties come in.”.
page 449 FSG was demanding: FSG was demanding: Maggie Curran, letter to Donald Barthelme, February 24, 1982, Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries. Maggie Curran, letter to Donald Barthelme, February 24, 1982, Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries.
page 449 ”That is one of the satisfying things about being a parent”: ”That is one of the satisfying things about being a parent”: Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Forty Stories Forty Stories (New York: Putnam, 1987), 236. (New York: Putnam, 1987), 236.
page 449 ”may jam a kitchen knife”: ”may jam a kitchen knife”: This and subsequent quotes from ”Chablis” are from Barthelme, This and subsequent quotes from ”Chablis” are from Barthelme, Forty Stories, Forty Stories, 3. 3.
52. Many Distances page 451 ”He was going to settle down and be the family man”: ”He was going to settle down and be the family man”: Phillip Lopate, in a conversation with the author, October 29, 2004. Phillip Lopate, in a conversation with the author, October 29, 2004.
page 451 ”I'm still working off that old knowledge”: ”I'm still working off that old knowledge”: Phillip Lopate, ”The Dead Father: A Remembrance of Donald Barthelme,” Phillip Lopate, ”The Dead Father: A Remembrance of Donald Barthelme,” Threepenny Review Threepenny Review (Summer 1991): 7. (Summer 1991): 7.
page 451 ”might retire”: ”might retire”: Padgett Powell, ”The Living Father,” Padgett Powell, ”The Living Father,” Gulf Coast: A Journal of Literature and Art, Gulf Coast: A Journal of Literature and Art, 4, no. 1 (1991): 165. 4, no. 1 (1991): 165.
page 452 ”At times he gave the impression”: ”At times he gave the impression”: Lopate, ”The Dead Father,” 8. Lopate, ”The Dead Father,” 8.
page 452 ”Donald was existentially very lonely”: ”Donald was existentially very lonely”: Edward Hirsch, in a conversation with the author, December 5, 2006. Edward Hirsch, in a conversation with the author, December 5, 2006.
page 452 ”You loved him, he says”: ”You loved him, he says”: Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Overnight to Many Distant Cities Overnight to Many Distant Cities (New York: Putnam, 1983), 161. (New York: Putnam, 1983), 161.
page 452 ”repels any understanding whatsoever”: ”repels any understanding whatsoever”: Jonathan Penner, ”Donald Barthelme's Just-Not Stories,” Jonathan Penner, ”Donald Barthelme's Just-Not Stories,” Was.h.i.+ngton Post Book World, Was.h.i.+ngton Post Book World, November 27, 1983, 3. November 27, 1983, 3.
page 452 ”become a pattern”: ”become a pattern”: Anatole Broyard, ”Books of the Times,” Anatole Broyard, ”Books of the Times,” New York Times, New York Times, December 9, 1983. December 9, 1983.
page 452 ” ”curiously vacuous”: Joel Conarroe, ”Some Tame, Some Wild,” Joel Conarroe, ”Some Tame, Some Wild,” New York Times Book Review, New York Times Book Review, December 18, 1983. December 18, 1983.
page 453 ”Holding the ladder”: ”Holding the ladder”: Barthelme, Barthelme, Overnight to Many Distant Cities, Overnight to Many Distant Cities, 163. 163.
page 453 ”During heated discussions”: ”During heated discussions”: This and subsequent Phillip Lopate quotes are from a conversation with the author, October 29, 2004. This and subsequent Phillip Lopate quotes are from a conversation with the author, October 29, 2004.
53. Between Coasts page 455 ”slightly more speedy and nervous”: ”slightly more speedy and nervous”: Phillip Lopate, ”The Dead Father: A Remembrance of Donald Barthelme,” Phillip Lopate, ”The Dead Father: A Remembrance of Donald Barthelme,” Threepenny Review Threepenny Review (Summer 1991): 9. (Summer 1991): 9.
page 455 ”Donald had this idea to make a dinner in SoHo”: ”Donald had this idea to make a dinner in SoHo”: This and subsequent Walter Abish quotes are from a conversation with the author, February 16, 2005. This and subsequent Walter Abish quotes are from a conversation with the author, February 16, 2005.
page 456 ”Donald didn't socialize the way others do”: ”Donald didn't socialize the way others do”: Edward Hirsch, in a conversation with the author, December 5, 2006. Edward Hirsch, in a conversation with the author, December 5, 2006.
page 456 ”I was afraid he'd get stuck”: ”I was afraid he'd get stuck”: Grace Paley, Grace Paley, Just As I Thought Just As I Thought (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998), 234. (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998), 234.
page 456 ”We were family”: ”We were family”: Roger Angell, in a conversation with the author, December 6, 2006. Roger Angell, in a conversation with the author, December 6, 2006.
page 456 ”true good neighbor” ”true good neighbor” to to ”At one point the cart”: ”At one point the cart”: Lopate, ”The Dead Father,” 10. Lopate, ”The Dead Father,” 10.