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p.s. Hey. ** Lucas, MX! No, no more Xmas cards, zip. Cool, I’ll spend some of my empty Xmas reading your story. I’m saved! Everyone, Lucas has posted a new short story for one and all to steer our eyes through and absorb. High recommendation is surely needless to say. Here. Enjoy having gotten Xmas behind you. ** Charalampos, Hi. The cover of ‘The Sluts’ could be on a thousand other books. No, my hope is that my novels are inherently unfilmmable. They’re about the reading experience. Any attempt to film them would be just like creating merch. Well, sure, I have visuals in my head while I’m writing the novels. I just don’t try to make the novels create pictures of exactly what I’m imagining. Yep, agreed about your poem approach. May that bear immense fruit. ** jay, Hi. For me it’s earlier films of Dumont when he was most under Bresson’s influence that are the really special ones, basically all of them from ‘Life of Jesus’ through ‘Hors Satan’. But I do quite like the Joan of Arc one. Cool to see those Japanese covers again, thank you. The ‘Jerk’ book looked especially great, inside and out. I had zero say on ‘The Sluts’ cover. It was the publisher trying to get the gay crowd to pick it up. It was very disappointing to me. I’ve had say on most of my American covers to one degree or another. I guess the ones I’m particularly happy with are ‘Guide’s’, the hardcover of ‘My Loose Thread’ (the softcover ‘MLT’ cover is my least favorite of my covers by a million miles), ‘God Jr.’s’, ‘I Wished’s’. It’s still Xmas for you, like for me, so I hope it’s extraordinarily festive, unlike mine, haha. My family were very traditional on Xmas too. My family was normally a big mess, so I kind of really liked that. ** _Black_Acrylic, Hi, B. Unfortunately those two available Dumonts are not among his very best, but they’re okay. Good old Matthew Collings. I liked his stuff too. I’ll try to find those documentaries. Huh. ** Steeqhen, Hey. The South Park movie is fantastic, as is Parker/Stone’s ‘Team America’. I used to quite like ‘King of the Hill’. I don’t know if that series got to where you are. Obviously, I encourage you to use that long lost guy as a writing muse. But of course I would. Yeah, I never really specify where my novels take place on purpose, but it doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to figure out that 90% of them are in an unmistakable Los Angeles and its burbs. Good luck with the Substack stuff. And a very Merry Xmas Day itself. ** James, Don’t let the vibe of artiness intimidate you. If you chillax with them, Dumont’s films are as easy to ‘get’ as pop songs. I like your grandma already. I romanticise people who are short. Greener grass and all of that. No, I traveled all the way over to Krispy Kreme yesterday, and it had closed early for Xmas as they like to do over here. So, I’m bereft until at least tomorrow. My leg survived the trek. Can’t speak for my bystanders’ legs. Someday your family will brag about you. They’ll brag so hard about you that people they know will raise their palms and say, ‘Okay, he’s great, I get, I get it.’ What did your big day consist of? What made it big? ** CHARLIE ZACKS, Hi, Charlie. That was beautiful. I’m honored to have been called to your mind thereby. And Merry Xmas back to you. ** Misanthrope, It’s good, that Paper Mario, no lie. I only have a Switch too. I’m fine with that myself. Did you dip into Denton? I think Chinese food has other good items. Mu Shu Vegetable! Now there’s a great dish. ** Meg Gluth, Hey, bud! Lowkey for me too, big time or I guess low time. Enjoy your chilling. ** Ufuk One-Gazelle, I hereby declare you the special winner. And Merry Xmas! ** David Porter, And a most Happy Xmas to you, Mr. Porter. I’m okay enough, you? Maybe it’s just me, but stories of rescuing people from ponds doesn’t sound all that tedious. Well, I guess it depends on how economical the stories are. Okay. If you have a Xmas tree, I hope there were so many gifts under it that the tree looked like a ballerina. ** HaRpEr, The earlier Dumonts are the ones, if you ask me. ‘Hors Satan’ or earlier. My mother was still bitching at me about how my writing didn’t earn enough money on her deathbed. Interesting, yeah, actually, now that you write that, I think Xmas was my first experience of art, or of thinking about something as art or of thinking artfully about something. Huh. Anyway, I agree 100% with what you said, and I feel the electrical joy in your verbiage. I’ve certainly seen my fair share of ‘A Christmas Carol’ films, but not that one. My Xmases were very regular growing up too: Wake up extremely excited, open one present, eat breakfast, open the rest of the presents, eat turkey dinner (except for me), take Xmas booty to your bedroom, play with it, gradually realise that having the things you wanted does not create happiness, feel depressed, take drugs, feel better about having the things you wished for, watch TV, sleep. Have a great X Day, or had depending on when you see this. ** Tyler Ookami, Hi. I like ‘Jeanette’. Parts of it are great maybe. I would recommend trying the earlier stuff even if you think it’s not your thing, or at least if you want to get a bead on Dumont’s thing and find out if it’s surprisingly yours. I was just yesterday trying to think of a biopic about a rock ‘n’ roll legend whose star did not get nominated for the Best Actor Oscar, and I couldn’t think of one. Freddie Mercury, check, Elvis, check, Janis Joplin, check, Elton John, check, Johnny Cash, check, … Etc. It’s like a guaranteed award magnet. Why is that so gross? It just is. But it’s Xmas, and I shouldn’t be grumpy. Happy, non-grumpy one to you. ** Okay. Today I just kind of put together a real easy-peasy Xmas image stack for you to take delight in or to scroll through at high speed. See you tomorrow.
Now available in North America 
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Merry Xmas everyone! Mum and I will be going to visit my brother and his family for a good traditional Xmas dinner with all the trimmings. I’m hoping to receive a hat stand as my main present this year. Word is that it’s bad luck to leave one’s hats on the bed, so I’m hoping it might bring me some good fortune for 2025.
A swell Christmas collage, with the right mix of joy, violence, and sadness. Whoever spray painted ‘fuck Santa’ is on the naughty list, and if I ever catch them, they’re getting coal lobbed at them.
Hullo D-Dawg, and merry Christmas! My first on the blog. Arty vibes *can* be all me, it just depends on which vein of artiness it is, because there sure are many. For whatever reason I’ve just remembered the film Departure, with Alex Lawther, who I am fond of, and think is kinda cute. He also played a character called James in The End Of The F***king World (or whichever letters are asterisk-ed out), so, name bias, teehee.
Some pop songs are a pain, and not gettable, or I don’t want to get them. So much of Taylor Swift is just so annoying to me. Britney Spears, however, I’m afraid I have to fall in line with the stereotypical gays on her. Love her stuff.
Pfft, sure she’d be glad to hear it. You understand my caution in informing her what the author of Closer thinks about her. Reading anything by you would probably give her a heart attack. She doesn’t gel at all with this edgy new gay subversive stuff, her literary tastes are *very* conservative in the stuffy English way. But we get along.
Getting romanticised by Dennis Cooper for being short, what an added Christmas present, woopwoop. Usually height doesn’t bother me but when I’m in public I see everyone around me walking and I just feel so small. It’s kind of embarrassing being ‘petite’ and called so. Eugh.
NOOO no custard doughnuts ;-; damn! Hoping against hope you eventually reach them. But at least your limbs remain unsevered/broken, that’s a plus.
As for the bystanders, they’ll be fine. Just ask for a new leg for Christmas, things’ll work out.
Such faith in me, Den, thank you. My mother already has a tendency to talk about me and tell others stuff about me I’d rather she not. I guess there’s pride but also I feel a bit like a vanity project, sometimes, which is probably harsh on my parents.
I like having my achievements commended by my family. I’m not such a big fan of them bringing me up in conversation like I’m something to show off. I dunno. I should just accept the compliments and not do so much thinking.
While I’m rambling about family, last night my aunt told me that I ‘need to find a woman who can cook for me.’ Ha. Ha. Ha. I scoffed and said fat chance. She seems adamant that I’m bound to woo over girls. Which is not the goal, duh.
Well, it’s 11:42 right now as I type this. We’re in that morning to Christmas lunch stretch, things are slow. I’m half-blinded by sacred-looking sunlight from outside’s crisp winter morning. I got up at 7 and listened to Christmas songs – I’m really loving Christmas Drag by I Don’t Know How But They Found Me, it aligns with my ’emo’-ness, plus Dallon Weekes was a childhood crush, so. Anyway it’s a good song.
It hasn’t been *too* big a day as of yet, but I’ve already got a new jumper and £60 to spend (almost certainly all on books).
We’ll see how Christmas Day develops. Once more, the most merry Christmas ever upon ye!
Hey Dennis, merry Christmas! I agree, your Guide hardcover is awesome, its got pride of place on my bookshelf. Here in the UK, most paperback copies of that novel have a really shitty, placeholder-ish yellow vinyl record cover, but whatever. Whoever did the Marbled Swarm cover is also totally a genius – the kind of painting with peepholes/gloryhole vibe is crazy evocative. Bad family Christmas dynamics are fun when you’re able to mentally exit them – my boyfriend’s is great, even if his family seems a little suspect of me. His mom told me I was “insanely compartmentalised” in my thinking, which was interesting – and his sister (brain surgeon!!!) said I was really smart so… I think I’ve destroyed the preconcieved images they have of me as this, like, twinky guy without any desires in life outside of sex and money. Hope you’re doing great, and being as merry as you want. If money is tight, I’m sure some of us are happy to chip in for Christmas, FYI!
Hey! MX to you too. Haha, should I send you a card then? I think I have one left over somewhere. And it’s a little late. Glad I could save your Xmas morning with my story:-). Even if for just a little while. I celebrated yesterday, and it was nice: got a really fancy ring as my present, had dinner with my mom, then smoked way too much weed. I watched JLG’s ‘Letter to Jane’ for some reason. I think I liked it. Then I slept 13 hours, which I am incredibly grateful for. I hope you have a nice day! xoxo.
Thanks Dennis I’m OK.. all the better for hearing your response.. it’s the 2nd thing that’s perked me up today… the initial being an inappropriate card from an old pal . … there is sunshine here…. and I’m looking forward to me dinner….
Love u xxx David
Merry Xmas, Dennis! And Merry Xmas to all the blog’s patrons! I think this might just be the most interesting melange of Xmas photos ever curated. The blog, and you, continue to be a gift, so thank you! I’ll be heading over to my parents’ house in a bit to indulge in all of the festivities. Last night, I wrapped presents while watching ‘Where is the Friend’s House?’ & ‘The Night of the Hunter’. Hope you had a lovely day!
I just realized I posted this without using a VPN—maybe the Cloudflare curse is over?!? A real Xmas miracle!
Hope you had a pleasant, non-festive 25th by the time you read this, Dennis. And the appropriate kind of day to everyone here.
I’m back home in the throes of jet lag, trying to figure out how much of the festivities I can handle. Had a good trip, all things considered, but it was good to be back. And finally crack open the new Nicholas Rombes.
Bill
Christmas and guns – does holiday imagery get more iconic?
Ethel Cain’s new album is pretty adventurous, with long dirges based on droning guitar noise. At its most accessible, she reminds me of Lana del Rey, but with much less emphasis on lyrics and hooks. There’s a Southern Gothic atmosphere, as though the record were found in a dusty old attic in a small town in Alabama. At 90 minutes, I’ve only listened to it once all the way through, but I’ll get back to film and music writing in a few days.
Here’s my last 2024 film review, on the would-be erotic thriller BABYGIRL: https://gaycitynews.com/babygirl-film-power-dynamics-good-taste/
I went out for vegan pizza for lunch, and things will be very relaxed for the rest of the day. How was yours?
God, music biopics are so dreary. I suppose I’ll see A COMPLETE UNKNOWN eventually, but it looks so unappetizing. (I saw the trailer yesterday.) Authorized documentaries about musicians are almost as dull.
Dennis, An epic Xmas post. I really enjoyed it.
Ah, no Denton yet. Alex came back much earlier than we thought he would, so I didn’t have time. But we did check out the original Paper Mario on the Switch to get an idea of it. We both liked it, though my mom was kinda rolling her eyes, hahaha. Then we played a couple games of Mario Party.
The Chinese food was good. Mu Shu Vegetable, okay. I’ll look for that next time and try it.
Looks like I won’t be seeing the Dylan movie until next weekend. Times and timing just aren’t great this weekend.
I did find out that the 100% remote pilot has been extended until July, depending on what the new administration does, of course. However, it’s looking like maybe, just maybe, they won’t be so crazy re: coming into the office as we thought.
Christmas haul: $125 in Amazon gift cards, new slippers (which I really wanted; my others were torn to shit), a sherpa throw blanket, a couple T-shirts. I’m good with all that.
Hope you got something good.
I’m about to make that chicken parmesan. Kayla’s gonna help so she can make it herself sometime.
What an eclectic collage of photos, I feel like there’s a story being told, but the more I try to see one the less I can. Guess I just have to let the story find me!
My friend has a hyperfixation on King of the Hill and everything that gives off the vibe that a sleazy teen guy in the 90s and 00s would love, so I’ve always wanted to watch it. I think I was told I’m like the son, if I had to be a character.
Posted a short poem online about Cork at Christmas from my many wanders about, and I’ve been working on some other things, but mostly I’ve been eating, watching movies and tv, and playing Metroid Dread; it is an incredible game!
Can’t decide between going shopping tomorrow in the sales, or spending the day writing, gaming, and drinking. Hopefully whichever I decide to do will be fruitful!
At the moment my family and I are watching the British soaps; we normally don’t watch them, but we’ve kind of made a tradition out of watching the explosive crazy Christmas episodes where people die, trains crash, the usual. Then we try and piece together from context clues and whatever history we might know. It’s a fun game just trying to guess whatever insane storyline will happen, because frankly they will do ANYTHING for the Christmas shock value.
Anyway, I hope you had a good day today. Any plans for the next few days? I normally find myself in this period between Xmas and New Years trying to watch and listen to new releases that I might have missed during the year, and maybe go out one. Talk tomorrow 🙂
Merry Xmas and/or whatever to Dennis and everyone here. I’ve been reading the poetry scroll for the past two days and it hasn’t gotten old. My favorite was by Keegan Crawford, but unfortunately, I can’t find any books by them else I would get it. I loved their poem. Really enjoyed the post today too. Had a good time with some family. Also, worked on my second poetry collection which I’m excited about and which is one of my favorite things to do as of late. I got an audible membership as a gift and noticed “I Wished” was free. Fantastic luck! Excited to read/listen. In a good mood. Walked a lot in the woods. Hope massively people visiting this website had a great day and have a great day tomorrow.
Hi. That’s precisely it Dennis, in regards to Christmas being the first understanding of art. I’ve always thought that. When you realize all of the glitz and magic is an illusion then you see how wonderful creating that illusion can be.
Yes, I had a nice day. I got a lot of good books I’m excited about. It is funny though, that feeling you describe about how easy it is to succumb to that kind of melancholy after everything has been opened and consumed. As a kid, Christmas was the only kind of year where some kind of glam seemed not only accepted but compulsory. The trick I’ve been trying to work on my entire life is to keep a balance. Trying to stop myself from relying on these moments of mutually assured happiness which gave way to the crushing lows of January first, and finding a kind of balance. A kind of balance where I can find the people who get me and I can keep a kind of glitter with me the whole year round. Damn, that sounds depressing, but I do believe that.
Anyway, nothing to fret. Lots of books I’m excited to read, and hopefully a good relaxing stretch ahead of me.
I hope you had whatever kind of day you wanted most.
Merry Christmas, Dennis! Getting to you know since Xmas Eve was a bit busy. Today, I’m spending the big day with wine and movies after getting my gifts and spending time with the folks for a bit. The Criterion BR of Gregg Araki’s Teen Apocalypse trilogy, an external hard drive, and a tonkotsu ramen kit are the highlights so far.
As for theater, Rapid Lemon’s still going strong. They’ve spent the post-pandemic years with just two or three productions for the season, and now they’ve got five, which is exciting. The theme for the Variations Project this year proves to be a fun one: Variations on Night. So many ideas can come from that one. I’m also going to punch up a play I submitted to a theater company I learned about in Harper’s Ferry.
Kind of slacked on theater productions this year besides RL, but I did catch August Wilson’s “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” at the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, and it was electric. Hoping to catch more next year, starting with The Lion King at the Hippodrome in February. Currently debating if I should take a gummy before I get there…
Hey Dennis
Merry Xmas from the smoky sub-tropics! Hope you are well and that next year is a productive and lucky one for you! I would have posted something of a list in response to yours the other day, but I’ve read and seen very little this year outside of work-related technical stuff, which I have been enjoying nevertheless. But, my copy of Bobby BlueJacket finally arrived on Xmas Eve and I just started it this morning. It looks great and has hooked my interest completely, so thanks again for the rec. I’ve started work on a new book and all else is well.
x