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YOU SHALL KNOW
OUR VELOCITY
Dave Eggers

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The Middle Stories
Sheila Heiti

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I.
Stephen Dixon

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SUPERBAD
Ben Greenman

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THE NEAL POLLACK
ANTHOLOGY of
AMERICAN LITERATURE
Neal Pollack

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SAMUEL JOHNSON IS
INDIGNANT
Lydia Davis

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THE NEW SINS
David Byrne

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THE PHARMACIST'S MATE
Amy Fusselman

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THIS SHAPE WE'RE IN
Jonathan Lethem

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LEMON
Lawrence Krauser

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A HEARTBREAKING WORK of
STAGGERING GENIUS
Dave Eggers

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McSWEENEY'S #9
McSWEENEY'S #8
McSWEENEY'S #7
McSWEENEY'S #6

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TIMOTHY McSWEENEY'S
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Previous Selection
Discussed Monday June 3, 2002

THE NEAL POLLACK
ANTHOLOGY OF
AMERICAN LITERATURE
Neal Pollack

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Brief Meeting Summary

Since we are going to revisit this title, we won't reveal too many of the discussion highlights here and taint the experience for others.

It was glaringly apparent that all in attendance were sorely lacking in Gore Vidal readings. We hope to rectify that before the next discussion. Those with Hunter S. Thompson (and even some tangential Vonnegut) under their belts were well served.

The idea was tossed about that this book would make a great organizing element for a college literature course. Names of various UK faculty members were bandied about. It was decided that a great follow-up work would be "The Annotated Neal Pollack Anthology of American Literature."

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[Q] Who has Neal Pollack been?
[A] Neal Pollack has been the Greatest Living American Writer across six decades, seven continents, and ten wives.

[Q] Why is Neal Pollack's "Anthology" the first reading group book?
[A] Several reasons:

• As the first book published by McSweeney's it's a natural choice for our first reading selection.
• As a collection of short stories, folks with little time can read some of it and still participate meaningfully in the meetings.
• It makes us laugh. Out loud. In public places.
• The hardback edition comes with a handy-dandy satin ribbon.
• The paperback includes a convenient study guide complete with discussion questions and notes for further reading (see below).
• There are CDs!

Favorite Discussion Topics
(as found and then chosen by members from the convenient study guide located towards the back of the paperback "Anthology"):

"Is it really easy, as Pollack claims, to take a lover in Cuba? If not, why would Pollack make such a claim? Are there times when a writer, because of his superior connections and vast experience, finds certain experiences attainable that the rest of the world does not? Should we live vicariously through him?" page 23

"In the book's opening essay, 'The Albania of My Existence,' Pollack points out that he had to eat 'dirt for lunch' (page 1). Is Pollack's book remarkable because of the incredible empathy that he has for his characters, or because of his stylistic and narrative risk? Why is he able, like no other Western author, to understand the struggles of the world's forgotten people?" page 22

s e e   h i m
     www.nealpollack.com

h e a r   h i m
     The Beat interview in RealAudio format     [GET REAL]

b e   h i m    (just kidding!)
     www.artofchicago.com/PollackInterview.html

r e a d   h i m

"A Country House in the Country" from Book Magazine
www.bookmagazine.com/issue19/epilogue.shtml

"Behold the Monster"
alt.tv.pol-incorrect

o t h e r   v i e w s

New York Times: I'm Neal Pollack and You're Not

Onion A.V. Club: Neal Pollack

GettingIt: The Neal Pollack Interview

Ironminds: A Converation with Neal Pollack

TRAGOS: I Nearly Killed Neal Pollack and Neal's Response

Bring Neal home. Get "The Neal Pollack Anthology of American Literature" CDs, a revolution in spoken word.

Bloodshot Records
This CD captures eight readings from the critically acclaimed Pollack book. Backing him are the Pine Valley Cosmonauts, featuring the talents of Jon Langford, Kelly Hogan and Sally Timms among others.

HarperAudio
Unabridged. The complete recordings. Three hours on three CDs.

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