The Teachings of Don B.

[MalignD at aol.com]

In a message dated 11/22/02 12:08:48 PM, tyronemullet at hotmail.com writes:

<< _The Teachings of Don B._ (1992) does not include the interview in 
question. 
  It is a collection of short, mostly humorous, writings, most originally 
written for The New Yorker, and three very strange short plays.  I think one 
would have to be up on the New York artiste scene of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, 
which I most definitely am not, to fully appreciate Barthelme's gentle 
satire in many of these pieces.  Nonetheless, on the whole I found the book 
entertaining and would recommend it.  I have not read any of Barthelme's 
other work.

Steve Maas >>

I read a slew of Barthelme back in the eighties.  

It's very particular and unusual, often funny.  But I've had trouble 
rereading him and I'm not sure why.  As singular a talent as he is, he has, 
for me, not aged well.  Seems very much an eighties character.  

In a way that's a compliment, in that he seemed at the time very "of the 
moment," very "has his finger on the pulse of the times," etc. 

But he's certainly worth a look if he's unfamiliar.  I suggest:

Unspeakable Practices, Unnatural Acts
Amateurs
Come Back, Dr. Caligari
Guilty Pleasures
City Life