Acting upon our friend Marc Cooper's open invitation to his daughter's book launch at the Formosa Cafe Thursday night, I made the half hour drive up from San Pedro. "Mad Men Unbuttoned" has hit the bookshelves and sales and reviews seem to be positive. Quick interview, here.
It was a lively and fully packed little ditty on the rooftop of the famous little dinner. Many of the guests and attendees where cleverly dressed in 1960's attire. I lost count of the number of dudes sporting skinny ties and ladies channelling Jackie O splendidness. Among the men, no one was dressed better than Marc himself. Complete in a very smart grey suit with a fedora.
Upon entering the scene -- unfashionably late -- it suddenly struck me that I have no fashion. Or style. Or what-have-you. Apparently yours truly here exists in some non-fashion cul-de-sac that the creative juices of image makers and ad men --the Don Drapers of the world -- have fully missed. When I was told for the second time by the waiter-staff that this was private party -- gee, was it the Toronto Maple Leafs hat that gave me away? -- I decided to reconnoiter the surrounding neighborhood. I found the Target (Tar-jay) @ Santa Monica & La Brea still open and purchased the best fitting black shirt I could find to cover up my Lebowski summer casuals... It worked. The next waiter I bumped into offered me a chicken shish kebab!
Miss Natasha was dashingly sporting a beautiful blue dress. After patiently waiting to approach the young writer, I was able to share a few notes of common interest related to helping the SEIU and the working class stiffs of the world. Am now the proud owner of an autographed copy of Mad Men Unbuttoned. Later on, Natasha held center court and gave a very gracious and brief thank you speech to all the guests and the many friends and folks who helped her write the book. One had to be a little impressed with Natasha's resiliency after enduring some tough economic times and how that experience prompted and motivated her writing. How good is this book? Well, I've made it to chapter 3 now, and it's been as fun and revealing I as hoped it would be. In fact, we here @ BH have reliable evidence that Natasha's writing is so compelling, that even folks who don't pay for cable nor have even seen an episode of the Mad Man series have bought this book.
(photo: billboard @ the 7200 block of Santa Monica Blvd.)
Just got my copy (great timing, as the new season starts tomorrow) - It's an absolutely beautifully produced book! I've enjoyed the blog and look forward to this. Lucky guy to make the author's party...
Posted by: reg | July 24, 2010 at 07:30 PM
After the recreational reading... and perhaps during those pesky adverts.. I thought you might enjoy these, you seem so singularly fixated:
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&keywords=Louis%20Althusser&rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3ALouis%20Althusser&page=1
My own are in the original french however I was able to locate these translations online.
Yes I am well aware that this might be a touch outside of the mainstream... but thinking outside the box can also provide, if not some insight into our cultural constraints, and as you say, a laugh of two.
If you prefer moral clarity -sans politique- try:
Camus at Combat: Writing 1944-1947 (Oxford 2006),trans. Alfred Goldhammer
Be careful! Moral clarity is a transcendent experience.
I think you're worth it... or I wouldn't say a word.
Of course there is the greatest work of the 20th Century by any author, according to Gabby Marquez...and who am I to disagree(?)...Canto General...in case you are up to the challenge.
If not, Rachel is back on Monday... and a new season starts tomorrow....
Posted by: pablo | July 24, 2010 at 11:37 PM