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Holiday Meat
Holiday Meat is the winner of the 2015 Quarterly West novella contest. It’s about a guy named Paul. Paul likes to sigh. He does other weird stuff like work in a cubicle.
131 pages, Paperback
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About the author
Mark Baumer
96 books15 followersMark Baumer was an award-winning poet and an environmental activist who trekked barefoot across the country to raise awareness about climate change.
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July 17, 2024This book doesn't have any reviews, so I'm going to change that. I have to leave for work in ten minutes and my shoes aren't even on, so this needs to be quick. "Holiday Meat" is a whimsical, gooft and sad novella, written in vignettes of prose poetry. It centers on a guy named Paul who lives in the suburbs, eats meat and works a series of jobs, all while somewhat pining for a family.
This novella was recommended to me by Dave K, who thought I should read it, and I'm glad he did. I then Googled the author's name, "Mark Baumer," and found an essay about him written by another friend and author, Joe Young.
I had absorbed a little bit about Mark Baumer during his life, but never met him or read anything by him. I found his story kind of fascinating, as well as his tragic, untimely death, which I won't go into here because it doesn't seem appropriate. Or maybe it is? I don't know. It's early y'all. Google it yourselves.
But I couldn't help thinking about the mind that would produce a piece like "Holiday Meat" as I read it, and felt grateful that the book existed. I might have liked meeting Mark Baumer. I get the impression that this novella is ultimately a satire of the pointlessness of white, American-male life in the twentieth century, full of pointless jobs and mindless eating routines, and imagination that constantly wanders, but only wanders, never gets anywhere.
It's OOP but available for free online here: https://quarterlywest.press//wp-conte...
I have to go to work now. Here is an excerpt of the book if you're curious:
Only one blue shirt existed in the world. Paul
felt a little nauseous. A year passed. An uncle
asked Paul what he was doing with his life. Paul
pointed at his plate of food and then arranged
it in an effort to answer his uncle’s question. Six
years passed. In the spring Paul rested his head
on a pillow and hoped maybe Nancy would
send him an individual email at work instead
of cc‘ing the whole office.
This novella was recommended to me by Dave K, who thought I should read it, and I'm glad he did. I then Googled the author's name, "Mark Baumer," and found an essay about him written by another friend and author, Joe Young.
I had absorbed a little bit about Mark Baumer during his life, but never met him or read anything by him. I found his story kind of fascinating, as well as his tragic, untimely death, which I won't go into here because it doesn't seem appropriate. Or maybe it is? I don't know. It's early y'all. Google it yourselves.
But I couldn't help thinking about the mind that would produce a piece like "Holiday Meat" as I read it, and felt grateful that the book existed. I might have liked meeting Mark Baumer. I get the impression that this novella is ultimately a satire of the pointlessness of white, American-male life in the twentieth century, full of pointless jobs and mindless eating routines, and imagination that constantly wanders, but only wanders, never gets anywhere.
It's OOP but available for free online here: https://quarterlywest.press//wp-conte...
I have to go to work now. Here is an excerpt of the book if you're curious:
Only one blue shirt existed in the world. Paul
felt a little nauseous. A year passed. An uncle
asked Paul what he was doing with his life. Paul
pointed at his plate of food and then arranged
it in an effort to answer his uncle’s question. Six
years passed. In the spring Paul rested his head
on a pillow and hoped maybe Nancy would
send him an individual email at work instead
of cc‘ing the whole office.
Displaying 1 of 1 review