My favorite quote of his: From "Dalva" “Most women have intimations of a higher fidelity to the spirit and to a love beyond human weakness and imperfection.”
"What you get in life is what you organize for yourself every day." God, how true that is. Harrison was a true artist. It's the same thing Patti Smith has, that poetic pull to create something bigger than themselves. Harrison's drinking was part of him. It may have shortened his life, but the way he approached it may have also enriched it. May there be no judgment in one man's choices.
Thanks for this. It reminded me how much I loved Harrison in my college years. He was an unlikely literary hero for me at the time, a young gay English major; he was clearly a man's man. But he had a sensitive soul, for sure. And his sentences were always spare and perfect. I'm going to check out his memoir now and maybe re-read a novel or two.
"I'm tired of irony." Seems like there is far too much of that now. The "grit," "love," and "death" we encounter in ourselves and others - those keep us honest. Living genuinely. Overexposure to irony makes for a lot of bitterness. Keep it. As Leif Enger said in his latest novel, "I cheerfully refuse."
Drinkers know the booze can take you down paths you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy but sometimes it drops you in a clearing where you can get a bit of relief. It can be much like writing maybe that’s why the two are entwined. For some drinkers or writers who drink, life can be death and death can be life, I guess in the end it’s what you can handle.
I feel the same way about that photo. I came across it many years ago standing in a college library thumbing through a biography on Faulkner. I was writing a paper on him. It seemed to me to be disrespectful to have included that picture.
Kinda hate to say it but this article kinda saved my life a little bit "We don’t have much freedom in this life and it is self-cruelty to lose a piece of what we have because we are unable to control our craving…" broke as fuck just now but I will pour you a coffee when I can. ❤️💪👍
Thank you for posting this. All the more resonant on day two of a hangover from a wonderful night celebrating and embracing life, the kind of night you only get maybe a few times each year if lucky—scarce like a pricey and powerful seasoning.
My favorite quote of his: From "Dalva" “Most women have intimations of a higher fidelity to the spirit and to a love beyond human weakness and imperfection.”
Thank you Jim - you throttled the awkward and unconscious body of American life and shook us, screaming “Live, damn you!”
"What you get in life is what you organize for yourself every day." God, how true that is. Harrison was a true artist. It's the same thing Patti Smith has, that poetic pull to create something bigger than themselves. Harrison's drinking was part of him. It may have shortened his life, but the way he approached it may have also enriched it. May there be no judgment in one man's choices.
Well said.
Thanks for the short elegy on Jim's birthday.
"Verse in itself moves us away from the personal
and toward the eternal verities."
Jim sits today on his birthday drinking a bottle of
Côtes du Rhône among the eternal verities.
“I wish I’d never seen a certain photo of Faulkner…”
Jim was one of the greats and Patagonia is a good place to die. Some people do it right without even trying.
He’s truly my favorite all time writer. A man who loved, horses, dogs, women, and good food in no particular order.
Thanks for this. It reminded me how much I loved Harrison in my college years. He was an unlikely literary hero for me at the time, a young gay English major; he was clearly a man's man. But he had a sensitive soul, for sure. And his sentences were always spare and perfect. I'm going to check out his memoir now and maybe re-read a novel or two.
"I'm tired of irony." Seems like there is far too much of that now. The "grit," "love," and "death" we encounter in ourselves and others - those keep us honest. Living genuinely. Overexposure to irony makes for a lot of bitterness. Keep it. As Leif Enger said in his latest novel, "I cheerfully refuse."
Don't know who said it: "All things in moderation, including moderation."
Altered states, an unfolding or flowering of emotions, I think that's why I enjoy alcohol.
Thank you for this. Will read the memoir :)
T’was Oscar Wilde.
Drinkers know the booze can take you down paths you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy but sometimes it drops you in a clearing where you can get a bit of relief. It can be much like writing maybe that’s why the two are entwined. For some drinkers or writers who drink, life can be death and death can be life, I guess in the end it’s what you can handle.
drinking is like thinking, it is often over done....imo - but it certainly enhanced the creation of some great literature. hb jim harrison
I feel the same way about that photo. I came across it many years ago standing in a college library thumbing through a biography on Faulkner. I was writing a paper on him. It seemed to me to be disrespectful to have included that picture.
One of my favourite writers, drinkers and chefs. A man lit by fireflies
Kinda hate to say it but this article kinda saved my life a little bit "We don’t have much freedom in this life and it is self-cruelty to lose a piece of what we have because we are unable to control our craving…" broke as fuck just now but I will pour you a coffee when I can. ❤️💪👍
Thank you for posting this. All the more resonant on day two of a hangover from a wonderful night celebrating and embracing life, the kind of night you only get maybe a few times each year if lucky—scarce like a pricey and powerful seasoning.