This writer was nominated by Your Pal, the Rake for the list. Lennon has published four novels, The Light of the Falling Stars, The Funnies, On the Night Plain, and Mailman, and a collection of stories. It's this collection of stories, Pieces for the Left Hand, that the Rake singles out for praise. YPTR describes Lennon as "not a prose poet, exactly, but a guy with great skill at miniature narrative." The collection consists of 100 short shorts, its title an echo of Ravel's Concerto for the Left Hand. Indeed, Lennon is also a musician and recorded a CD of 100 short songs as a companion piece to the collection. Fascinating stuff, reminding one of a cross between the B-52s and the end of They Might Be Giants' Apollo 18.
More about J. Robert Lennon
+ An excellent review of Pieces at nthposition
+ Lennon's website and his briefly run, but-still-worth-a-read blog
+ The CD that is designed to accompany Pieces (tracks can be streamed here, as well)
+ Lennon reads "The Accursed Items" in Act V of This American Life (at about 51:30--you've got to hear this)
Comments