Far too sophisticated for me I suppose is the answer.
Yet I can read it. In a strange way it compels me.
I don’t find it all funny but can see how as a play it could be fabulously funny.
I think the characters are revolting. It makes me even more sick to think that it’s been written by a woman. Ugh!
I’m quite bewildered by it.
‘93
Dear Brian,
We have entered a new era of safe sex.
May this book continue to stimulate & excite you, but remember the safest sex is always going to be with me!!
I love you very much,
Leah
Ana Marie Cox
“I don’t think
that is valid”
—Vassil Mitzeu
This book belongs to David John Wighton
It is a very bad book
If you find this book, please do not return it, as the owner doesn’t want this crappy book.
If I get killed tonight I just
wanna say I love you Mom, Dad, Eric
Mark, Leon, Grandma, Joe, Gloria
wujek + Bad sweetie.
I had to do da deed
which was to smoke some weed.
which turned me
into a centipede
men go trippin
over your own feet
as you skippin down
the street
why you tryin to front
some hospitality
when that I can see
are exit signs
saying exit only.
Sept. ‘73
For mummy –
may you read it all – clearly and without prejudice – right to the end!
Lots of love
Hetty xxx
Christmas 1958
Mr. May
Statistics – long may they live!
Alger R.
SOAP
SUPPOSITORY
TISSU
I love you
xxx
Dear Maurice
I didn’t know what to get to tempt you back into the delights of reading… but what better than perverts’ pleasure: Lolita! Read & enjoy.
Love Susannah x
PS: Thank you for six wonderful weeks!
PPS: Yes, permission to vomit granted!!
Oh dear! Susannah can hardly have read the book – or if she has, she has utterly misunderstood it. A profound and moving masterpiece.
[Signature]
Every little bit hurts ..
E L B H.
Every nite I cry Every nite I sigh
“ ” I wonder why oh you treat me cold
Yet you won’t let me go – –
E L B H E L H C E L H C [Every little hurt counts]
You say your [sic] coming home yet you
never phone leave me all alone
my love is strong for you I do wrong – –
for you.
I can’t . . Take this lonlyness [sic] you give
me. I can’t go on giving my life away
come back to me darling
you’ll see I can give you all
the things that you wanted me for.
If you will stay with me
E L B H. E L B H
To you I am a toy and your [sic] the boy
Who has to say when I can play you
you hurt me desert me.
Carol
E L B H E L B H
E L B H
12/06
Troy,
May you think great thoughts,
and always organize them
diagramatically.
Coli
You leave this book alone, you filthy old man, who calls his wife “mommie” and has “done it” with an African alyah! [?]
dear George
apologies that the book is a little ragged. having read the baron in the trees some time ago i felt that it would make a suitable present to you and that in the meantime i might avail myself to the other two stories contained herein without causing you any offence.
as an architecture student i suspect you may have encountered calvino before. encounter him here in a spirit in some ways similar [?] to the little prince you lent me some time ago but richer and funnier and more elusive.
i hope trust you will find the reading as much like drinking as did i.
George, you are a very fine fellow and it is an honour and a privelidge [sic] that you call me friend and that i may call you likewise.
love Sam
Thanks G. This is a wonderful book! Especially the non-existent knight, though I couldn’t but think of it as Monty Python… Much love Tim X
space travel is comparable in
significance to the move of the
fishes out of water 350 million
years ago.
To John Hughes
Go shoot yourself
Henry
May ’58
My love,
If you were to
trespass, I would forgive
you, for you do see the
forest amongst the trees.
I feel you.
Jackson likes:
bread—white or brown
lettuce
cabbage
apple (peeled)
cucumber (peeled)
celery
carrot
hard boiled egg yolk.
Jackson is dead and I
am very sad. Next birthday
I would like two canaries like Jackson ♡
SLOW DOWN
IF THIS BOOK SHOULD DARE TO ROAM
DON’T BLAME ME!
16 January 89
Tony
Miller is my friend, my father, my lover; not a God, because that would be in the realms of metaphysics and unattainable. He is the Rose (thorns included) in my Crucifixion.
Garry [Gerry?]
For Ted
my period is 3 days late
x o.d.
Dear Gengiz,
Known as [full name]
From now on you’ve got my blissing dear, so NO FEAR, ON ON HAVE the best of ALL
[signature]
I hate Bill
Louise,
You have given me so much. I have only myself to give to you. My Heart, my soul and my body are at your disposal.
dispose of carefully.
Mark
I do hereby authorize
the dropping of a bomb on
Darlington School and its
premises in Rome, Ga., U.S.A.
John Pehler,
future leader
of the World
Barbara
To have met someone
and felt alive again
is wonderful…Read
this and realize that
all is possible. You are
beautiful, exciting, sexy, but
most of all the possibilities that
seem——are real.
Thanks for being at Rodney’s
on Saturday night.
Neal
P.S. You bet I want to make
love to you, but then the whole
world wants to.
STACY,
Hi, I hope you are hav-
ing fun. I haven’t left me
dads work because my mom
hasn’t picked me up yet so
what ya doin. I want you
to met my dad sometime.
In this book I didn’t
mean you were a dog so
don’t think I did. If Wendy
see this book I gave to you
she will be mad so don’t
show it to her. I am
eating corn nuts.
STACY, I want you to do
me another favor.
will you call 285—–
Its tola free. Ask for
Peggy. Ask her how she
is come along getting my
cat say your Lori. Tell her
my dad is upset and said
that she (Peggy) should pay 5-
10 dollar for it. Ask her
if some day she could
have me come in and
help look for the people
who have it. If she
already has it could you
have your mom drive you
there to get it.
I means so much to
me. The place is Robinson.
______. You drive
up to 1 US to n US. Just keep
driving. It is pretty far.
I is on your left.
Joey,
I love you Soo much!
You have surpassed the definition
for all. I will always cherish our orgasmic
moments.
love + resistance
Mark
Dear Mom
This may be the last time you
every see me and
this is because debbie
is insane—and if I
stay around any longer
i’ll be in her condition.
*
p.s. Hey. ** Dominik, Hi!!! I think that’s highly possible. Ah, love’s eagle eye came through again. Love having Richie Manic inscribe a book to you with a message that contains his current coordinates, G. ** ellie, Hi, ellie! That’s okay, there’s kind of no lateness here. Well, unless it’s on my end, I guess. Where are you moving? Is it a happy move? What was the seminar? Sorry for all the questions. Yes, visit Paris. I’ll show you my favorite street, and you can pick out yours. It’s true: I grew up in LA, and I don’t have a favourite street there at all. It must be a Paris thing. That walk sounds potent, nice. My weekend was not hugely populated with exciting things, but it passed the time in a pleasant manner. What’s your week looking like? (Another question, oops). ** _Black_Acrylic, Haha, indeed. That facial expression is 90% of the reason I included them. ** Steve Erickson, I sowed my wild younger oats with freeform late 60s FM radio. Indeed about Richie Havens. There were a bunch of here-and-gone ubiquitous playlist includees, as you are finding out. I still remember rushing to a record store to buy ‘Forever Changes’ and the mind blow its first spin caused. Zac and I locked down the final edit yesterday, which is pretty momentous. Tomorrow we’re supposed to start making the trailer with an outside editor. Next Monday we’re supposed to start the sound mix. All dependent on our producer producing the funds to pay for that as he promised to do, and I see no sign that he’s raised that money, so fuck knows, but that’s the plan. Thank you for asking. I’m going to give my body another day or two to repair my leg on its own, and, if that doesn’t work, I’ll see a chiropractor. Our temperature is very, very slowly creeping upwards at the moment. Much needed. ** Mark, They’re a joy. You guys are so amazing. ‘All of Us Strangers’: been wondering about that. Okay, I’ll see if it’s made it to Paris yet. Good day to you, sir. ** seb 🦠, Oh, hi, yeah, I’m a fashion ignoramus, partly caused by my stupid allergy to non-organic clothes, which makes paying attention to clothings’ labels a pointless exercise. Okay, good, new shoes, nice. My dad had a rock grinding machine in our basement, and he collected geodes. Thanks about the leg. It’s driving me a bit insane. Wow, that’s a thing: that’s guy’s random-ish tampon quest. Huh. Maybe you can fake one and help him out. god
speed!!??!! ** adrian, Hey, adrian. Okay, cool, about the worry-free acceptance. Yeah, I mean, I’m interested in hearing about, summarised or it itself, if you don’t mind. You can email it to me, if you want: [email protected]. Thank you. Oh, wow, very nice origin story, and it’s Paris-based, and I think I know the store you mentioned, and I think it’s now defunct sadly, if I’m right. Not cheesy, I’m chuffed. Romanian/ Italian seems like a good combo piecing that together in my head. I lived in De Pijp, which was kind of a semi-shitty area back then. Oh, yes, I did a little visiting guest/residency thing at Sandberg Instituut about ten years ago. Cool place. Really good young artists/students, at least when I was there. Nice. How long will your studies keep you there? Do you guys ever get down to Paris again? We should have a coffee or something when /if you do. I haven’t been to Amsterdam in a while. I really want to go to Efteling, my favorite amusement park in south Holland, but that’s a bit far away from the big A. ** Даrву 🐻, That bear looks mad. Maybe it’s just his tininess plus my insufficiently caffeinated eyesight. Oh, right, the legless Dennis. Maybe he accidentally cursed me. I don’t know how I fucked up my leg, It just kind of started. I think I sat wrong in a chair or something. Oh, no, that’s exciting that your drawing is in charcoal. I’m way open minded when it comes to charcoal. I’m all eyes for it. Don’t buy that ‘you must have intensive training’ crap. I never learned how to write fiction. I just figured it out. Fuck classic training. That’s for, like, illustrators and graphic designers and stuff. Friday, wow, yay! Very exciting! My favourite place I’ve travelled to in Europe … is Iceland part of Europe? There, if so. Otherwise, hm, maybe Rome, even though that’s a kind of boring answer. Have you travelled somewhere that blew your mind or inordinately touched your heart or something? ** Gee, Hi. Are his books translated. I’ve never read his writing. A weird, complex poem! Yes! I’m excited to eventually cast my eyesight on that. It is just a little less freezing here now. I think it’s 3 degrees or something. Which almost feels comforting. Happy Tuesday! ** Bill, Hi. It’s creeping just barely upwards, temp-wise. But it’s still only January, so no bets. I’m glad you watched and liked his clips. Yeah, beggars can’t be choosers, I guess, and better than nothing, and all of that rationalising approach stuff. Are you working on anything? ** Okay. I think today’s post is very charming, if I don’t say so myself, but see what you think. And see you tomorrow.
Now available in North America 
*
Hi!!
I love, love, love this post! Thank you!
Ah, what a treasure that book would be! I’d take a quiet trip there. Not broadcasting his whereabouts. Love telling us the story behind the “I hate Bill” inscription, Od.
Delightfull inscriptions. Im afraid all I can come up with at the moment grabbing the nearest inscribed book here is the following inside the Penguin Book of gay short stories ” Dear Colin. Wishing you a joyous Christmass. All our love Dad. 2003.”
Permission to rant on current projects? When doing the usual hurried google search for 8mm films to slap something on to my audio recordings I found these home movies from the 70’s by a then 10 year old named John Blackstone that is on youtube aka Only kid with a camera. Im appropriating footage from them for two songs. This one I uploaded yesterday: https://youtu.be/HTR0pOPFV74?si=7yEJc0kMDUTwP6FX
Very excited for the next video I started slapping together for another song Im still recording entitled “Two kids” Some of the stills from the the 8mm home movies are so gorgeous I pretend its official artwork for a single.
Well I finishing school so that was the move, which I think counts as happy. The seminar was about music and noise in a philosophical way, but also as a way to be about other things. Something we talked about is how music was a herald that the world lags behind but can see itself in, which was especially interesting I thought. Aw sure, sounds like a plan! If I’m ever on the continent you’ll be able to find me here, too. I wonder if you could make a could make a list of cities where you could have favorite streets and and cities you couldn’t. My week will be classes mostly, what about yours?
Dennis, What the hell happened with your leg? I kicked our wash basket, which I put in the hall and forgot to put back in the closet, last night and cut the fuck out of my shin. Fucker hurt but it’s okay.
My back kills me every day, but I’m afraid to go to a doc bc I feel like they’ll just mess it up more. Not that I don’t trust docs, but…I don’t trust docs, haha.
The gaming was ace. We played Smash Bros and Mario Kart 8. Just having the bigger screen was a plus, but the graphics…wow. It really makes a difference. A lot more fun.
It snowed yesterday and last night. About 3 inches. It’s miserable, haha. Well, to me anyway. You’d love it.
Must confess I have never inscribed a book in my life! Still, it’s a nice thing to do and I would always encourage others to do so.
Play Therapy v2.0 will premiere this coming Sunday and will broadcast every 2 weeks after that. it will be a busy time because the writing class is due to start this Thursday too, so I’m gonna have my work cut out in the coming weeks. Looking forward to it though!
hey Dennis!
wow I never knew Bresson also painted, now I’m ultra curious to see what they look like.
love today’s post and love inscriptions in books! I once bought a copy of Milan Kundera’s The Joke (which I’ve still yet to read) solely because there was a ticket stub for a local comedy bar’s open mic night slipped inside like a bookmark, inscribed with the following:
front: “I Fucking did it”
back: “grade C: I got laughs from dumb shit. they thought it was a style. I’m fucking crazy. The nipple joke killed.”
Dennis!! love this one
<3
Ciao Dennis,
just coming back from a conference on a book called “Sexuality Beyond Consent” by Avgi Saketopoulou, really interesting so I’m really hyped! You should check it out I think you’d like it.
About our studies, we’ll both graduate this Summer and maybe we’ll stay in The Netherlands another year, or maybe less? We would like to live in place more alive, in a way. We were actually considering Paris after our last trip there…feels familiar, you know. We’ll see.
Speaking of, yes, we new actually planning to come back to Paris in February/March, for a couple of days, so we are totally down for that coffee! That would be amazing.
Also, one funny thing: we were planning to go to Efteling for my birthday, because I love amusement parks and I’ve been wanting to go there for years! It made me smile so much when you mentioned it. And, if you ever get the chance to come to Ams someday, we should have that coffee also here.
Tomorrow I’m going to class, they are teaching us how to write a thesis. I guess. See you tomorrow, buonanotte!
hi dennis!! geodes are super cool & good. if i had the space & the money i’d probably get myself a rock grinding machine too. i really love annotated and inscribed books. random personal anecdote incoming, can you tell i like those? hope you at the very least don’t mind them. around a year ago i had this whole thing where i was going to gift my (now ex) boyfriend annotated copies of frisk & exquisite corpse but i never got around to sending them, and i waited so long that we broke up so now they’re just sitting around somewhere in my room. it’s a bit depressing maybe but i think it kinda works.
i think masquerading as a trend-conscious teenage girl (i’m trans. don’t think i ever mentioned that but i could be totally wrong.) forced me into paying extreme attention to brands and their outputs, even now, when i get most of my clothes secondhand. i’ll always admire people who can manage to keep up with fashion nowadays.
godspeed🏹!!!
Salut, yes, today’s post is absolutely charming, especially the first one! My copy of A Severed Head has been waiting for me to read it for ages now, so I consider this a sign from the universe to do so asap. Well, I only found one English translation of Shuji Terayama’s books, and it doesn’t seem to be his most appealing one, so maybe I should just watch the film… I’ve been obsessively working on my weird poem, and it is almost ready now, I think it might even become the opening poem in the collection. At one point, I deleted all of it by mistake, and as I was about to burst into tears I realised I remembered literally every word of it! This rather strange incident happened on the train back home. To be honest, I don’t think it’s that weird or indeed that complex, there’s just some extended religious metaphor, which I hadn’t played with before, and I kind of dig it now! I hope you’ll be okay with it, but your name isn’t/ won’t be mentioned anywhere in it, so no worries if you dislike it. I will send it to you soon, though you have to promise not to get too weirded out by it… But considering that you are Dennis Cooper, I assume you’ll be fine with the weirdness of it/ moi. I’m sad to read about your painful leg; I hope it is better today? By the way, did you like the Jack Spicer pamphlet? Sadly, I didn’t find all the poems as stunning as I thought they would be. And I desperately need a new inspiring poet to read as I only need to write five more poems to have 30 new poems, and have a draft for a full length collection. It is all coming together now, and the new poem is a necessary addition, I think… Sending love and healing vibes to your aching leg. Feel better soon xoxo
Hi! I’m glad you caught onto droll. I like using words in their etymological sense (eg- stupid is *very* different from idiotic). It’s in exurban North Carolina, which might just be one of the most boring places in the country. I grew up in the second largest city in the world, so it’s a bit of a fast change. Did some research and turns out they found Buddy Holly’s glasses two decades later in an envelope somewhere in a basement. Fascinating. Do you ever inscribe books? I try my best not to change the book in any way. I might not have much respect for the integrity of anything (including, say, my body) but I have an unending impulse to take care of books.
“that bear looks mad”
Meanwhile, the bear: 🐻 with a pleasant smile on his face. Hahaha, why do u have beef with the bear? He ain’t mean.
Oh ok. So I’m gonna be emailing you details about the picture/package. It would feel weird putting here so you can look at that whenever but you dont have to respond its just general information. Like size of picture and something about the book.
Yeaa!! When I get my passport and eventually break out of my mom’s dictatorship I want to travel around Europe because there is parts where you can pass the borders through train etc without the checks or something like that.
Ich BRAUHEN Gehen zu Deutschland!!
That could be inaccurate.^^
I like to write in books which is something that makes ppl cringe but I think it gives personality I don’t know.
Congratulations on locking the final edit! Raising post-production money in 6 days seems very difficult, but maybe you can find an investor beyond Fuckhead.
Do you know anyone who saw SALTBURN? It sounds totally obnoxious to me. I didn’t think it was even that popular (although it’s still playing NYC theaters), but somehow it’s had a big enough cultural impact to make “Murder on the Dancefloor” a hit 20 years after it was released.
We had the season’s first snowstorm today! Not a ton of snow, but at least we got more than an inch. It’s pretty icy at the moment. I’ve barely been outside today, but I have to meet a friend for lunch tomorrow.
Dennis, these are hilarious. Maybe except the Bill-hating Mathematics Unlimited inscription.
Congrats on the final edit. Hope the trailer making goes smoothly, and your leg also feels better.
My energy is mostly sucked up by preparing for a challenging new class I’m teaching in 2 weeks, eeek. I’m trying not to be too distracted by more creative projects.
But I did see this old favorite on a big screen tonight, finally:
https://letterboxd.com/film/blood-tea-and-red-string/
Still pretty magical, IMO.
Bill
Hey Dennis.
I love your blog.
How do you feel about receiving short experimental screenplays in the tradition of Burroughs. Cut up and queer and autobiographical.
I can’t imagine too fondly. But on the off chance.
Let me know.