Il gomito di Dorothy Parker

by Kim Addonizio (curator), Cheryl Dumensil (curator), Rick Moody

Un tempo relegati alle braccia di marinai e motociclisti, i tatuaggi e la loro arte sono ormai parte del costume quotidiano, accettati e mostrati senza più imbarazzi. Dai polsi di star e starlettes televisive e cinematografiche alle spalle di casalinghe in via di emancipazione, dai bicipiti insospettabili di bancari ai polpacci di sportivi celebri, i tatuaggi si affacciano ovunque, a tradurre la personalità del loro vettore e portare messaggi chiari o molto oscuri. Negli anni molti scrittori hanno voluto confrontare la loro penna con l'ago del tatuatore e scrivere pagine colorate sull'argomento, e le curatrici di questa raccolta hanno deciso di esplorare questo grande patrimonio di racconti, poesie e diari.

Genres: Short Stories, Poetry, Essays, Fiction, Art, Book Club, Anthologies

310 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2002

About the author

Author of several poetry collections including Tell Me, a National Book Award Finalist. My Black Angel is a book of blues poems with woodcuts by Charles D. Jones, from SFA Press. The Palace of Illusions is a story collection from Counterpoint/Soft Skull. A New & Selected, Wild Nights, is out in the UK from Bloodaxe Books.

2016 publications: Mortal Trash, new poems, from W.W. Norton, awarded the Paterson Poetry Prize. A memoir, Bukowski in a Sundress: Confessions from a Writing Life, from Penguin.

Two instructional books on writing poetry: The Poet's Companion (with Dorianne Laux), and Ordinary Genius: A Guide for the Poet Within.

First novel, Little Beauties, was published by Simon & Schuster and chosen as "Best Book of the Month" by Book of the Month Club. My Dreams Out in the Street, second novel, released by Simon & Schuster in 2007.

A new word/music CD, "My Black Angel, "is a collaboration with several musicians and contains all the poems in the book of that name. That and an earlier word/music CD with poet Susan Browne, "Swearing, Smoking, Drinking, & Kissing," available from cdbaby.com. There's an earlier book of stories, In the Box Called Pleasure (FC2); and the anthology Dorothy Parker's Elbow: Tattoos on Writers, Writers on Tattoos,, co-edited with Cheryl Dumesnil.

I teach poetry workshops at conferences and online through my web site. I also play blues harmonica, and I'm learning jazz flute. Music is a good place to focus when I'm in a writing slump.

Reviews

[Phil · Rating 2 out of 5]

"This book didn't change my feelings about tattoos, but it gave me more insight into what they might mean to people in various circumstances. On the plus side, stories by Melville, Kafka, Flannery O'Connor, and Sylvia Plath give the book literary credibility. On the minus side, a lot of self-absorbed writers hoping to gain recognition as new talent seem to be struggling to give their identity an anchor through their tattoos. The book publishes pieces that seem like unrevised first drafts. So altogether, four or five pieces in the book were worth reading but I wouldn't recommend much of the rest of it."

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked some of the poems and short stories in this book. I did have a hard time finishing it, I just wanted to be done with the reading of it. But that might have been from starting before going to Vietnam and finishing it after returning with a 3 week abandonment in the middle. I have tattoos, I liked reading about others with tattoos. It's an interesting concept to arrange a collection around. Although a lot of the longest stuff is in the middle,which when you're reading straight through gets tedious.

[Heather Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice concept. Some stories and poems are better than others. The only thought that comes to mind, is if you were going to put any literary quote on your body in ink forever, what would it be? This leads to some deep discussions about memorable quotes and if they speak for your personality sufficiently...

[katie clancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you like short stories, personal narratives etc. and you like tattoos and the cultures whom have sprouted up around the art or vice versa...you should really pick this up. it is a great book to keep in your purse or man bag or back pack, for a quick read while waiting for whatever.

[hh · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is seriously awesome! fiction, short essays, poetry. i'm bummed that i took it out of the library because i know i'm going to have to buy it. a total keeper, everything in this anthology sings.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this compilation of different poems, essays, and fiction excerpts about tattoos. There's nothing life-changing in this book, but it did make me appreciate the art of tattooing even more than I already did. I'm passing this on to my friend who also loves essay compilations.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I re-read this on a slow day waiting for jury duty selection, and remembered again how much I loved it.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent collection of stories from some of my favorite writers on a very interesting topic.

[Valiant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short stories by great women. A must read

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm too freckled and indecisive to get a tattoo but I'm still fascinated by the thought of them.

[sisterimapoet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been dipping into this for years. A mixed bag. Some good, some a bit lacking. The Elizabeth McCracken stood out enough for me to look into more of her writing.

[Tami Garrard · Rating 3 out of 5]

The poem by Kim Addonizio about tracing the outlines of her lover's tattoos, and the loss that ensues, is worth the entire collection. I cry each time I read it.

[Liz Derrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both incredibly eclectic and thoroughly engaging.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collections of short stories and poems with the central theme of tattoos.

Love it...