House Band Reading Series – Behind a written scene: “Loeb.”
December 17th, 2009 by Brendan McNally
With special guests Sandra Ridley and David O’Meara.
The December House Band will feature Dj Eric Komsomol, Amanda Abdelhadi, and myself.
And yes, I know it’s tonight. But better late than never. Besides which, my stapler broke so it has taken me a little bit longer to do things like, oh I don’t know, staple Chapter 5 together for the launch.
And now, much ado about nothing.
The “Loeb” scene (video below) was presented at the May edition of the House Band Reading Series, which featured the launch of Chapter 2.
Even though this isn’t a folk song, here is some set up for the video. I have been asked if my novel is “true,” to which I have replied, “It’s completely true. As it relates to itself.”
Which is just to say that fact informs the fiction contained in Up the Ottawa, without despair.
Yes, there is a place called Ottawa. No it’s not Chaparral Pro Regular font, 8.75 point
Having said that, I’ll just paraphrase a short conversation I had with someone after I wrote this particular scene.
Them: How’s the writing coming along, Shakespeare? [Note, I think they were being sarcastic with that comparison]
Me: Good. I just finished a scene where the main characters drop acid and try to shoplift groceries from the Loeb in Vanier.
Them: Wasn’t it the IGA in Hunt Club, Poindexter? [Note, again with my suspicions about sarcasm.]
Me: Ummm, I just wrote it and I’m pretty sure I set it in Vanier.
Them: No, Jackass [no sarcasm there, I believe]. Back in the day. Didn’t we drop acid and shoplift groceries from the IGA in Hunt Club?
Me: [after a pause] Oh yeah.
*****
Which is just to say that, apparently, the acid flashback I had took a literary form.
Having said that, “Loeb” is a work of fiction and any similarities between it and any persons, typing or not, is entirely conincidental.
Like, totally coincidental, Dude.
Brendan McNally Blogs : http://uptheottawa.blogspot.com/2009/12/i-aint-ever-pulling-grocery-heist-on.html
Tags: Brendan McNally, Literature, poetry, Raw Sugar Cafe
