On Sunday I saw author Daniel Handler have a conversation with the Decemberists' Colin Meloy at Powell's to promote Daniel's quirky new novel for adults Adverbs dealing with the desperation that goes hand in hand with love. I took photos and recorded it, which follows below.
(INSANELY LONG) FOREWORD:
Sitting in Polly's flat in Glasgow with a group who were visiting from Munich for the weekend, I settled down to watch Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events without any knowledge of what it was about other than that it was a children's film. Imagine my surprise.
I sat there, staring at the screen in confusion, while the Germans both watched the action and read the English subtitles in a better attempt to understand what was going on.
This was a kids film?
He locks the three children in a car on train tracks with a train approaching in an attempt to kill them. He tries to kill their aunt and writes a fake suicide letter so that they'll believe she committed suicide rather than suspect him. And then they have to watch as she's eaten alive, but can do nothing to help her. And then when he realizes it's too hard to kill them, he forces the 14 year old to marry him to get their money.
And this is for kids?
We kind of sat there in shock once it finished.
Then this past summer I got serious about writing my children's book The Legend of Laurence Swindon. I went to the library to check out books and came across The Unauthorized Autobiography of Lemony Snicket. And again, I couldn't believe it was for kids, but in a much different way. Inside of the run on sentences was a humor so subtle and off-kilter I was sure it would go over the heads of the kids reading it and that was the best part. It was laugh out loud funny for the audacity of the humor! Seriously - it almost seems as though it was written for adults. I instantly recommended it to my mom and I'm recommending it here - you wouldn't think it'd be so appealing, but seriously - it will surprise you!
About a year and a half from my original encounter later it was time for the release of the final book in the series #13 titled The End on the very appropriate September Friday the 13th 2006. Since I had never gone to see the mania that accompanies the release of Harry Potter, I went to the party Powell's was throwing at 2pm. At 20, I was the oldest in attendance. The next oldest was a boy who was maybe 13 and that could be a stretch. Yeah. . . this is my life.
And it was so much fun! Maybe too much fun as I got swept up in the atmosphere of it all and ended up spending $10 that I really didn't have on the book.
There was a cake walk, parsley soda, treats from the Salmonella Cafe, stickers, and mask coloring.
So I then decided to go to the event Barnes and Noble was throwing later that night at 7pm. I ran into a lot of the kids that were at the Powell's party earlier. And again, yeah. . . this is my life. . .
B&N's wasn't as spectacular, but still a worthy distraction with a scavenger hunt and rice crispies treats.
So I read the book and I'm so glad I did. It mirrored a lot of what I was going through in my life right then. So then I NEEDED to see him when he came on his tour only I couldn't get to Seattle where the nearest reading was occurring. My mom tried to make me feel better by sending me a link to an article detailing that Lemony Snicket never showed and that Daniel Handler read in his place alongside a performance from Magnetic Fields. But that's the thing - Lemony Snicket would of course never show, for he does not exist. Lemony Snicket is Daniel Handler.
I love Daniel Handler. I love that he always finds ways to collaborate with musicians. The last tour he did was with the exceedingly prolific Domino Recording artist Magnetic Fields. He also participated in a benefit for Rouge Wave.
So when I saw he was coming to promote his latest adult novel and would be joined by Colin Meloy, I was as good as there.
THE PLOT:
The first chapter is insanely funny in an offbeat way. It totally sold me on the book.
If you hear faint swishing on the recording, it's the people that walked by periodically.
Listen: Daniel Handler reads the first chapter of his novel Adverbs entitled Immediately (MP3) (13:18)
What's the worst Decemberists song ever written? Well Colin had a pretty good idea so he announced at a show that he was about to play the worst song he's ever written. That's when the audience in attendance that night took it upon themselves unprompted to shout out their guesses what it could be. Can you imagine how humiliating that would be? And funny?
More ancedotes like this float on through out their conversation.
I love how un-PC Daniel is. You will too. No topic is left untouched - from terrorism, to dreaming of killing another well known author who recently died, to Daniel's Portland and it's laugh out loud funny, or at least snicker-out loud :)
Listen: Daniel Handler and Colin Meloy conversing (MP3) (24:44)
How did Daniel pick the name Lemony Snicket? Even if you don't think it'd be of interest, trust me -- it is! He reveals it's origin in the first few minutes of this segment. It involves letters of outrage to editors of neighborhood newspapers, but specifically picking the most harmless story. Who wants to form a club and do the same thing?!
And remember the shred-off the Decemberists had with my boyfriend Stephen Colbert (who I saw in New York!)? Well Colin reveals a lot about what went on behind the scenes.
Listen: The audience inquisition of Daniel Handler and Colin Meloy (MP3) (14:08)
Then they signed things. Colin was presented with a pack of hand-made Decemberists cards, so a card playing break/photo-op was taken:
Here is Daniel asking among another question:
"Is this your husband?"
To an eight year old girl and her 50+ year old father.
"No - it's my dad!"
"You married your father? That's gross."
My alliterated inscription!
He didn't "want to be seen endorsing" my personality, hence the word "allegedly", but he could "tell" I was neurotic.
And the jacket art for Adverbs is by Dan Clowes!!! In related/unrelated, Nick Swardson who played my favorite character in Dan Clowes' Art School Confidential is currently on tour. I'm hoping to see him at the Crystal Ballroom on June 16th.
AFTERWORD:
So basically I now have the intention to harass Colin Meloy into participating in a new photography project I have dreamed up with him in mind. His use of his hands as he speaks is notable, so I'm thinking of doing a sign language chart of certain words in Decemberists songs and using him as the model. If I ever had a reason to go to Edgefield, this is it. . . And no, there is absolutely no point to the project - which has become the point itself.
'The Landlord's Daughter' The Decemberists MP3
Hey there, I loved this post and was wondering if I could snag a couple of the pictures! I was the girl who gave Colin the playing cards and my picture of the staged game between him and Daniel turned out horribly!! Thank you so much for posting all of this!
Posted by: Emly | May 22, 2007 at 11:09 PM