Oppositional postmodernist literature is associated with the Beat movement and came about after the terrible, unforeseen destruction of World War II. While the modernists were positive about the human … [Read more...]
The Jack Kerouac Upper Peninsula Diary by t. kilgore splake, reviewed
The Jack Kerouac Upper Peninsula Diary / t. kilgore splake / Angst Publications / PO Box 508, Calumet, MI 49913-0508 / 1998 The author provided Empty Mirror with a review copy. “Happiness … [Read more...]
The Beat Generation vs. “Beatniks”
"Beatnik" is sometimes - incorrectly - used to describe to the Beat Generation writers and artists. We're going to straighten out the confusion for you! Here's an explanation of who the Beats were, … [Read more...]
Ginsberg’s Refrigerator
In Allen’s tenement flat at 170 East 2nd Street, even the refrigerator is an outlet of poetry. The picture in black and white shows a handle pointing north. On the off-white surface a picture of … [Read more...]
Book Event July 26 & 27, 2013 – American Hipster: The Life of Herbert Huncke
Hilary Holladay, author of the newly-released biography, American Hipster: The Life of Herbert Huncke will be giving a reading, question-and-answer session and booksigning in San Francisco on July … [Read more...]
3 Poems by Ryan Ritchie
FOR JACK nothing any wordsmith can do with a keyboard matches the beauty that leaps from the subconscious mind of the jazz musician. we sit and think, type, sit and think some more, never … [Read more...]
Book Review – Son of Kerouac, Woodstock and God: A Memoir by James Crockett
Son of Kerouac, Woodstock and God / James Crockett / 978-148125581 / 261 pages Empty Mirror received a review copy of this book. As a young man about to embark upon a summer-long hitchhiking … [Read more...]
In honor of ruth weiss on her 85th birthday
The following is from: “ruth weiss and the American Beat movement of the ‘50s and 60’s” by Horst Spandler, published in: ruth weiss, no dancing aloud – lautes tanzen nicht erlaubt. edition exil, … [Read more...]
Bruce Hodder’s Ten Favourite Books
1. In Watermelon Sugar – Richard Brautigan 2. Big Sur – Jack Kerouac 3. Desert Solitaire – Edward Abbey 4. Ulysses – James Joyce 5. The Narrow Road to the Deep North – Matsuo Basho 6. … [Read more...]
Becoming Jill Kerouac
It all started with the word. Not THAT word. But a word — or a string of words, rather — that struck me: There are no Jack Kerouacs or Holden Caulfields for girls. Literary girls don’t take … [Read more...]
Michael McClure will appear at the 1st Annual JAZZ POETRY FESTIVAL – San Francisco June 8, 2013
1st ANNUAL SAN FRANCISCO JAZZ POETRY FESTIVAL Saturday, JUNE 8 2 shows, 7:30 & 9:00 AL YOUNG accompanied with bass MICHAEL McCLURE with GEORGE BROOKS on sax SFJAZZ Laureate ISHMAEL REED … [Read more...]
Review – Alleycats and Beatsters: The Hip, the Gone, and the Way Gone
Alleycats and Beatsters, a collection of essays by British writer Kenton Crowther, explores what it means to be Beat, the nature of hipness, and the poets, writers and hipsters who orbited the Beats, … [Read more...]
A William S. Burroughs top ten from Jed B. with his comments
comment: So you have read Naked Lunch and Junkie and maybe even paged though the Nova Trilogy of Soft Machine, The Ticket That Exploded and Nova Express, you think you know William Burroughs. Well … [Read more...]
Empty Phantoms: Interviews and Encounters with Jack Kerouac is reissued
In 2005, Thunder's Mouth Press published my collection of interviews with Jack Kerouac. It was titled Empty Phantoms: Interviews and Encounters with Jack Kerouac. Not long afterwards, the famed … [Read more...]
Three pieces for Beat poets
1 For Eileen Myles (New Generation Beat) He licked his lips but not at me. I watched his eyes walk by, glazedly, hanging their thumbs on their belt loops oh so casual. We had only just … [Read more...]
Review – Anywhere Road: Retracing Jack Kerouac, by Joerg Haeske
"What's your road, man?—holyboy road, madman road, rainbow road, guppy road, any road. It's an anywhere road for anybody anyhow." - Jack Kerouac, On the Road For the last several years, on … [Read more...]
The Best Websites to Buy Collectible and First Edition Books
So, what's the best way to find books online? There are thousands of large bookselling sites, and individual booksellers, and Google searches don't always work well for turning up the results you … [Read more...]
Review – Free Beer: Kicks and Truth with Jack Kerouac by Cliff Anderson
Free Beer: Kicks & Truth with Jack Kerouac, and other strong drinks is a collection of twelve stories by Cliff Anderson. Also included is Kerouac scholar Rod Anstee's 1990 interview with Anderson, … [Read more...]
Book review: Beatitude, a novel by Larry Closs
Beatitude by Larry Closs / Rebel Satori Press / 2011 / 978-1608640294 / 272 pages Empty Mirror received a copy of Beatitude from the author, with no obligation. Larry Closs' debut novel focuses … [Read more...]
Kerouac and An American Marriage
an excerpt from a work-in-progress) In January 1945, Jack Kerouac set out to write his Great American Novel. His newly-drafted notes embraced the activities of the last four years and scaffolded … [Read more...]