Hey! Fred Milton is still SO #1! Wow!
March 1, 2008 10:39 PM Subscribe
I do dumb stuff, like playing my favorite dumb Barry White song and lip-synching into the mirror so it looks like his voice is coming out of my mouth.
First: Barry White songs are never dumb.
Second: Everybody lip-syncs Barry White songs. Does she think this is unique?
posted by amyms at 10:59 PM on March 1, 2008
First: Barry White songs are never dumb.
Second: Everybody lip-syncs Barry White songs. Does she think this is unique?
posted by amyms at 10:59 PM on March 1, 2008
I think the point of most Lynda Barry stuff I've read is not in how unique the little things we do are, but in the little things we do that show how alike we are.
posted by not_on_display at 11:12 PM on March 1, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by not_on_display at 11:12 PM on March 1, 2008 [3 favorites]
amyms is from North Dakota, where people are different.
posted by hootch at 12:04 AM on March 2, 2008
posted by hootch at 12:04 AM on March 2, 2008
Lynda Barry the Funk Queen? You're goddamn right she is. And brilliant, and all that too.
posted by jokeefe at 12:22 AM on March 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by jokeefe at 12:22 AM on March 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
I think this is a double! But who cares! Cuz Lynda Barry rocks my world! She is most righteous!Right On! Yeah! OK!
Fun post, n_o_d!
posted by Dizzy at 4:19 AM on March 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
Fun post, n_o_d!
posted by Dizzy at 4:19 AM on March 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
I have been reading Lynda Barry since I was nine. I would seriously consider naming my daughter Marlys. That is how I feel about her work.
(Fred Milton wears me out, though.)
posted by Countess Elena at 7:43 AM on March 2, 2008
(Fred Milton wears me out, though.)
posted by Countess Elena at 7:43 AM on March 2, 2008
Yes! Lynda Barry comics are in the top ten of everything that ever existed. Also, if you haven't read Cruddy, you have to do now. It really proves the multi-talented thing.
Countess Elena, I've been reading her since I was little too. I remember seeing the little dedication to her in Matt Groening's School is Hell (my favorite book at the time, of course) and wondering who she was, then noticing one of her books on the shelf in the library and putting two and two together. I was hundreds of miles away from any kind of "alternative" newspaper then so it was quite serendipitous for me that our little library actually had one of her books.
posted by Jess the Mess at 12:02 PM on March 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
Countess Elena, I've been reading her since I was little too. I remember seeing the little dedication to her in Matt Groening's School is Hell (my favorite book at the time, of course) and wondering who she was, then noticing one of her books on the shelf in the library and putting two and two together. I was hundreds of miles away from any kind of "alternative" newspaper then so it was quite serendipitous for me that our little library actually had one of her books.
posted by Jess the Mess at 12:02 PM on March 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
The weekly dose of Ernie Pook's Comeek in the Washington City Paper was a cultural touchstone of my youth. Thanks for this post. I learned from it that Lynda Barry lives in Wisconsin, pretty close to where I live now -- I could easily hit both her and E. Gary Gygax on a heroes-of-my-youth day trip.
posted by escabeche at 12:35 PM on March 2, 2008
posted by escabeche at 12:35 PM on March 2, 2008
Can any of you Barry fans explain what it is you like so much about her comics? I've never felt that moved by her comics. I don't want to be all "your favorite comic writer sucks, amirite" but would really like to hear it if you could explain what you like about her so much.
On the other hand, I really liked some excerpts of her book The Good Times are Killing Me.
posted by grouse at 1:31 PM on March 2, 2008
On the other hand, I really liked some excerpts of her book The Good Times are Killing Me.
posted by grouse at 1:31 PM on March 2, 2008
grouse, not_on display's brief explanation of her appeal is pretty on target.
I'm not a very analytical person, so it's hard for me to explain why I like what I like but I'll try: It's like her version of childhood is the same version as mine. It's instantly recognizable. Even though all the details are different; the emotions are the same. That said, her characters have some darker aspects to their backgrounds that I'm lucky enough not to really be able to relate to, but the characters are otherwise so authentic to me I trust their experiences.
I can see though that Lynda Barry might appeal only to a certain type (or types) of personality (which would explain why there aren't that many comments in this thread) but the people she does appeal to, she appeals to very strongly.
Don't worry, I feel the same way about Juno that you do about Lynda Barry. I can't for the life of me understand what was so clever about that movie.
posted by Jess the Mess at 3:33 PM on March 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
I'm not a very analytical person, so it's hard for me to explain why I like what I like but I'll try: It's like her version of childhood is the same version as mine. It's instantly recognizable. Even though all the details are different; the emotions are the same. That said, her characters have some darker aspects to their backgrounds that I'm lucky enough not to really be able to relate to, but the characters are otherwise so authentic to me I trust their experiences.
I can see though that Lynda Barry might appeal only to a certain type (or types) of personality (which would explain why there aren't that many comments in this thread) but the people she does appeal to, she appeals to very strongly.
Don't worry, I feel the same way about Juno that you do about Lynda Barry. I can't for the life of me understand what was so clever about that movie.
posted by Jess the Mess at 3:33 PM on March 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
I would just like to say that I took the Writing the Unthinkable! course last weekend. While I don't think I gained tremendous insight into the process (don't get me wrong, I learned some new techniques) the price was worth seeing her in action. It was like a writing seminar taught via performance art.
You ever meet a kindred spirit? That was Lynda Barry for me. She's a subculture unto herself that's been influenced by all the other ones abound her.
posted by DonnieSticks at 3:53 PM on March 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
You ever meet a kindred spirit? That was Lynda Barry for me. She's a subculture unto herself that's been influenced by all the other ones abound her.
posted by DonnieSticks at 3:53 PM on March 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
This one has helped me get through the day more than once.
posted by Morrigan at 5:00 PM on March 2, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by Morrigan at 5:00 PM on March 2, 2008 [3 favorites]
Oh dear me I love Linda Barry so very, very much; I must now alarm my roommate by jumping up and doing the funky chicken with all the groove God has so graciously given me.
posted by youarenothere at 7:48 PM on March 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by youarenothere at 7:48 PM on March 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
grouse, like all art, it's appeal lies in its ability to tell truth. To appreciate Ernie Pook's Comeek, it helps to have grown up in US public schools, in the South, as a girl (or queer boy) but that's not absolutely necessary. All the little flowers she draws around the borders, with the two oval leaves? EXACTLY how I drew them around everything as a girl. She captures the flavor of a childhood spent desperately scribbling and dreaming into a spiral bound notebook with stunning precision.
I would highly recommend One Hundred Demons to anyone, though, because the page design alone is gorgeous, and the stories tend to haunt you (well me anyway). It's more universal than the Ernie comics, and just a joy to read.
posted by emjaybee at 9:12 PM on March 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
I would highly recommend One Hundred Demons to anyone, though, because the page design alone is gorgeous, and the stories tend to haunt you (well me anyway). It's more universal than the Ernie comics, and just a joy to read.
posted by emjaybee at 9:12 PM on March 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
Late to the thread but I wanted to say that Cruddy is a fantastic read, regardless of whether you're a fan of Barry's comics. I think emjaybee's characterization of her ability to recreate the doodles and drawing style of an adolescent is remarkably on the nose, which is why there is such a disparity between those who relate to her work and those who don't. One Hundred Demons is also highly recommended. She is the #1 Groover!
posted by ooga_booga at 12:11 AM on March 3, 2008
posted by ooga_booga at 12:11 AM on March 3, 2008
Cruddy is my all time favorite book ever. Every time I tell someone about it I end up forcibly lending it to them. And everytime I lend it out I end up jonesing for it so bad while its gone that I read through it again as soon as they give it back.
posted by subtle_squid at 8:31 AM on March 3, 2008
posted by subtle_squid at 8:31 AM on March 3, 2008
That said, I never really got in to her comics.
Because of this thread I guess I'll have to read One Hundred Demons.
posted by subtle_squid at 8:37 AM on March 3, 2008
Because of this thread I guess I'll have to read One Hundred Demons.
posted by subtle_squid at 8:37 AM on March 3, 2008
Lynda Barry!
I know this will sound cryptic and maybe it's lame of me to brag about but my boyfriend is a writer who is pals with Linda Barry and he keeps teasing me that if we could make it to Wisconsin (i think?) that she would definately love to have us over. I would officially die. And then there's Arthur Bradford (Catface, oh god!). And Geroge Saunders, but only kind of. And then there's more which would be totally uncool of me to say online. I think it has to do with Iowa or California or just being a contemporary writer perhaps. It will be impossible to leave this relationship for these reasons alone. And there are more. It makes my heart ache. I mean, I just imagine Linda giving me advice on how to make my head look normal, or the best things to fake-smoke with.
You know, I thought long and hard about whether or not to leave this braggy post and ultimately I'm not going to feel bad about it; I mean where else but MetaFilter am I ever going to be able to say "Lynda Barry is having me over" and anyone know who I'm talking about or even give a shit? God, I would be really embarassed if my boyfriend thought I was bragging about something I really have nothing to do with on a community weblog. I mean, is that not the definition of uncool?
posted by thebellafonte at 8:46 AM on March 3, 2008 [2 favorites]
I know this will sound cryptic and maybe it's lame of me to brag about but my boyfriend is a writer who is pals with Linda Barry and he keeps teasing me that if we could make it to Wisconsin (i think?) that she would definately love to have us over. I would officially die. And then there's Arthur Bradford (Catface, oh god!). And Geroge Saunders, but only kind of. And then there's more which would be totally uncool of me to say online. I think it has to do with Iowa or California or just being a contemporary writer perhaps. It will be impossible to leave this relationship for these reasons alone. And there are more. It makes my heart ache. I mean, I just imagine Linda giving me advice on how to make my head look normal, or the best things to fake-smoke with.
You know, I thought long and hard about whether or not to leave this braggy post and ultimately I'm not going to feel bad about it; I mean where else but MetaFilter am I ever going to be able to say "Lynda Barry is having me over" and anyone know who I'm talking about or even give a shit? God, I would be really embarassed if my boyfriend thought I was bragging about something I really have nothing to do with on a community weblog. I mean, is that not the definition of uncool?
posted by thebellafonte at 8:46 AM on March 3, 2008 [2 favorites]
« Older So, where are you from? | Your Help Needed Reviewing JFK Related Documents Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by iamabot at 10:52 PM on March 1, 2008