We Loved the World But Could Not Stay

Gary Lippman

Description

“I write stories that are only one sentence long,” I explain to you as I plant this book like a time-bomb in your public library, “because imperfection is easier to tolerate in small doses.”

With unparalleled wit and wisdom, Gary Lippman’s We Loved the World But Could Not Stay is a collection of intricately constructed single-sentence stories that chronicles the outrageous and the everyday with insight and empathy, all while reimagining and reorganizing the very concept of the story and the basic building blocks of our language.

Sujets

• Love
• Love (disambiguation)
• Fiction
• Short Stories

Informations

• Publié par: Rare Bird Books
• Date de parution: 12 juillet 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781644283394
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

THE INGREDIENTS IN THIS BOOK INCLUDE:

PASTRAMI QUEENS
TWO-HEADED COWS
A DRUG CALLED “PLOTZ”
TOILET MUSEUMS
WEREWOLF HAIRSTYLISTS
COLONEL SANDERS
VIOLENT BAR MITZVAHS
LION ALLERGIES
THE RIVER STYX
SUPERHEROINE WEAPONRY
KABBALAH-SAVVY ROCK STARS
LUCIFER ON A BEACH
GHOSTLY GRAFFITI
KIDNAP INSURANCE
JESUS DOING LAUNDRY
A BUENOS AIRES SHOOTOUT
OBSESSIVE TWINS
DILLINGER REINCARNATED
MILLION-DOLLAR BILLS
BAD LUCK WITH SAMOYEDS
ETHIOPIAN NAZI HUNTERS
A HOUSE MADE OF PASTA
BELLY BUTTON EXPERIMENTS
DUCHAMP’S SUITCASE
THE LIVES OF PIRATES
SOAP NOSTALGIA
ACTUARY SIDEKICKS
THE AMISH IN LAS VEGAS
VENGEFUL ELEPHANTS
YOGI BERRA
TERRORISTS IN DRAG
BULLFIGHT COMEUPPANCE
ALCHEMISTS’ LAUGHTER
GORILLAS IN TAXICABS
REVERSE VOYEURISM
UNAVENGED COUSIN-KILLERS
WOMEN NAMED “ETHEL”
THE WORD “FUCK”
TIME-TRAVELING CONQUISTADORS
A UNIQUE AVALANCHE RESCUE TECHNIQUE
THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY DRUNK TANK
A CULT CALLED “GASTROLOGOS”
A SEX WORKER CALLED “GRANDMA”
and
PEARL BAILEY SINGING “SEVENTY-SIX TROMBONES”






this is a genuine rare bird book
Rare Bird Books 6044 North Figueroa Street Los Angeles, CA 90042 rarebirdbooks.com
Copyright © 2022 by Gary Lippman
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever, including but not limited to print, audio, and electronic. For more information, address: Rare Bird Books Subsidiary Rights Department 6044 North Figueroa Street Los Angeles, CA 90042
Set in Warnock
epub isbn : 9781644283394
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available upon request.


For Verka,
For my three guys,
Billy, Buddy, and Gabou,
and
For Ettie Pearl, The HQ,
with love and DB



Out with the truckers and the kickers and the cowboy angels
And a good saloon in every single town
Oh, but I remembered something you once told me
And I’ll be damned if it did not come true
Twenty thousand roads I went down, down, down
And they all led me straight back home to you.
—Gram Parsons and Tom S. Brown, “The Return of the Grievous Angel”
since feeling is first
who pays any attention
to the syntax of things
will never wholly kiss you;
wholly to be a fool
while Spring is in the world
my blood approves,
and kisses are a better fate
than wisdom
—ee cummings
“since feeling is first”
I wish I could just say everything in one word. I hate all the things that can happen between the beginning of a sentence and the end.
—Leonard Cohen


Contents
MOONBURN
WHOLE LOTTA PASTA GOIN’ ON
ROOM 48 IN THE HEART OF AUTUMN
FEET
I’M YOUNG BUT YOU LOOK ME OLD
WHAT THE WORD “FUCK” MEANS
I’LL FLY AWAY
WE THOUGHT WE LOST YOU…WELCOME BACK
MY RESUME
DOJO LOGIC
DOJO LOGIC: THE SEQUEL
PAVANE FOR A DEAD JEWISH PRINCESS
CATCH OUR SOULS
WHO IS SHERRY DILLINGER AND WHAT IS SHE DOING IN AN ALLEY NEAR CHICAGO’S BIOGRAPH THEATER?
THE DARKNESS AROUND US IS DEEP
WHO LOVES YA, BABY?
DEREK COMES ALIVE
DEREK COMES ALIVE: THE SEQUEL
“IT’S ALL A JOKE”
VOICI LES CLES: A TRIPLE PLAY
A CUSTODY BATTLE ACCOMPANIED BY THE MUSIC OF BURT BACHARACH AND HAL DAVID
EDEN OR BUST
I’M GOING TO HELL FOR THIS ONE
THE NERVE OF LIFE TO CRASH OUR PARTY
NAP ANYA, AHOY!
SHORTIES: A PU PU PLATTER WITH GUMBO SOUFFLE
FROM KETHER TO MALKUTH
THE HAWK MUST SWOOP
RUN, VERNITA, RUN
THE RIVER GIRL
LICKING HONEY FROM A THORN
CREATURE FEATURE
UNDER ENCHANTMENT
MILLBURN
BE GROOVY OR LEAVE
“I’M HERE TO HELP,” SAYS LORNA LIEBMILCH
SWEET AS APPLE CIDER
FREAK-OUTS, SHAKE-UPS, AND LETDOWNS
SHOUT OUT OVER THE WATER: “I WON’T BE HERE LONG”
SCROOGE SCHOOL
PALE RED
TABASCO SAUCE, WEAPONIZED
THINKING OF RICHARD BRAUTIGANAND OTHER NICE THINGS
IN WHICH THE READER IS INVITED TO DISCOVER A CERTAIN GAME
THEY CALL HER “CANDY THUNDER”
WANDERING STAR
LIFE IS A DRUG THAT STOPS WORKING
HISTORY’S DEFUNCT PROFESSIONS: #4382
LET’S GO THUNDERING
GOOFY
AN ASS-PINCHER IN ISTANBUL
NOSE DEEP
MEMORIES OF COLONEL SANDERS
WOULD YOU HIRE THIS PERSON?
WOULD YOU HIRE THIS PERSON?: THE SEQUEL
CURTAINS
IMPROVED BY VERKA
APPROVED BY GABOU
HERE AT THE SHRINER FAIR
THIS BABALAWO’S FOR HIRE
THREE VERSIONS OF AHASUERUS
LOLLIPOPS FOR EVERYONE
THIS DREAM IS SHORT BUT THIS DREAM IS HAPPY
HAVE YE NO DREDE (STORY VIA AL)
AND NOW, A VALUABLE TIP FOR THE NEWLY DEAD…
ROCK ’N’ ROLL HERNIA (1)
WOLF SETS THE SCENE
COME, JOSEPHINE, IN MY SWINGING MACHINE
SPARKS FLY UPWARD
WHAT THE DWARF KING SAID
K-K-K-K-K-K-K-K
STRAWBERRY (1) (VIVA BARBARA P.)
HOLD YOUR MUD: A TRIPLE PLAY
THE TORTURE RARELY STOPS
A BAR MITZVAH WITH MUSCLE
SO THIS IS THE FOREST OF ARDEN!
WHAT THE OLD ONES HAVE IN MIND
OLFACTORY SORROW
STEVE THE DRUID SURFER REPEALING THE LAWS OF TIME
VOYEURISM, REVERSED
HERE’S ONE FOR THE MOTORHEADS
STRAWBERRY (2)
BABYLON, DC (VIVA LARRY FRANKEL)
MISREADINGS
ENJOY ME WHILE I LAST
GOT “CARBO-HIGH-DRATES” IF YOU WANT ’EM
GOT KIDNAP INSURANCE IF YOU WANT IT
A LOCKED SAFE FULL OF AUTUMN LEAVES
LEGS
(LET’S HAVE A) GENE POOL PARTY
BUY ME SOME STARDUST
TEARS ARE ROUND, THE SEA IS DEEP, ROLL THEM OVERBOARD AND SLEEP
FIND THE LEVEE, BURN IT DOWN
HALLELUJAH, I’M READY TO GO
CLEAR RECEPTION
THE JACK STORY
MY WEAKNESS IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS (1)
THE AMERICAN MYSTERY DEEPENS
INCLINED TO BOOGIE
SYNAGOGUE TIME TRAVEL
THE WHEEL HAS TURNED AND I AM HERE
THE BALLAD OF COCO AND CALVIN
THE HEART OF A CHAMPION
STEAM
LESSONS FROM THE DRUNK TANK
ROSES TO DEADEN THE CLODS AS THEY FALL
ONE COLD VIBE WON’T STOP THIS HERE BOOGIE
LIFTOFF WITH AYSHEA
STORY COMPOSED OUTSIDE THE RUINS OF THE NEVELE HOTEL
THE WHAMMY, CLEVELAND STYLE
CHOCOLATE (1)
WHIRL IS KING
NATHAN RIGOLETTI HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE!
FULL CHICKEN REALNESS
HOOK-MOON
SHORTIES: A SALMAGUNDI WITH HURRICANE DROPS
LATE FLOWERING
POWER: LESSON 18
THE CLAW OF THE SEA-PUSS WILL GET US ALL IN THE END
FREAKY SUCKAGE
THE CONJURED WORLD
A PIRATE’S LIFE FOR ASHER
ONCE, TWICE, THREE TIMES A LYCANTHROPE
THIS STORY IS A MACHINE FOR EXORCISING A GHOST
GUNPOWDER ON HIS BREATH
BE MY BRENDA 8
SAID THE WOMAN WITH CROPPED GRAY HAIR
CAKE-WALKING MONOZYGOTE FROM HOME
BEWARE THE GOLEM
THE MUSA CALLIOPE
THE TIME WE LEARN IS NOW
ON THE ORAL INGESTION OF DOVE SOAP
PRESIDENT CARLYLE, MARKED FOR DEATH
ANOTHER DAY IN THE LIFE OF A FOOL: A DOUBLE PLAY
WHICH GAME IS AFOOT? (OR, THE CASE OF THE RETIRED HOMICIDE DETECTIVE)
ENCORE
WHEN WISHING STILL HELPED…
THANATOS TRUMPING EROS
WHAT FOOLS WE WERE TO SIGN UP FOR TIME
BACHELORETTE
IF YOU HAVE GHOSTS, THEN YOU HAVE EVERYTHING
THERE’S A LAW, THERE’S AN ARM, THERE’S A HAND
HAUNT ME OUT: A TRIPLE PLAY
POWDER BLUE
CRIME SOLVERS: HELSINKI
EL PRECIOSO MASTURBADOR
BUY YOURSELF SOME FREAK-OUT INSURANCE
GET ME TO GOLGOTHA ON TIME
GOING MAD TOGETHER
A BUMBLEBEE ON YOM KIPPUR
BLOW ME DOWN
EVERYTHING TRIES TO BE ROUND
THE WALL UP
WHATEVER SHE BRINGS, WE SING
OUT, DEMONS, OUT!
WAKE UP, YOU
ROCK ’N’ ROLL HERNIA (2)
EIGHT LADIES FROM THE LATE EIGHTIES
WHO PUT THE BENZEDRINE IN GARY LIPPMAN’S OVALTINE?
ANOTHER VERSION OF AHASUERUS
ULTIMA THULE, DO YER STUFF!
A CLOWN ISN’T FUNNY IN THE MOONLIGHT
THIS STORYTELLER’S BEGINNING
TOO MUCH PORK FOR JUST ONE FORK
LULU LORE: A TRIPLE PLAY
THE HUMAN PREDICAMENT, ILLUSTRATED
KICK
PRETTY MUCH NOT YOUR STANDARD SADDLE SORE
DRESS SEXY AT MY FUNERAL
NUTS FOR MAUGHAM
O, WHAT A BLOODY MANICHEAN MESS…
CATCH
CHATTY
IF THE WORLD WAS PERFECT, IT WOULDN’T BE
BU LOI
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AUNT MINNIE!
CHRISTMAS ON EARTH EVERY DAY
WATCH US VANISH
DOG IN FOG
SMASHED FULL OF WONDER
ONE BABY TO ANOTHER SAYS…
I’M FOREVER BLOWING BUBBLES
THE WHAMMY, AZTEC STYLE
SHORTIES: A SMORGASBORD WITH ZOMBIE BUTTER
TRAPDOOR TO HADES
ME AND MY MEDUSA
CUPID: THE MOTHERFUCKER
ONCE A FATHER, ONCE A SON
TERRI MAE HAD BAD LUCK WITH SAMOYEDS
THE SPY WHO LIKED TO MIX RED WINE WITH COCA-COLA
SHOCKER
IN ESTHER THERE IS NO EAST OR WEST
MOVING MERCURY AROUND
MURDER IN MY HEART FOR BOSCO HUTCHINS
MY WEAKNESS IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS (2)
BIBLIOMANIAS
IN A PERHAPS MORE FERLINGHETTIAN WORLD
“HIGH-BACKED WOLF,” “LIMBER LANCE,” “LEFT-HAND SHOOTER,” “WOODEN LEG,” “BRIGHT SUN MAKER,” “ROMAN NOSE,” “COYOTE DROPPINGS,” “BLACK MOON,” “BAD FACE,” “PLENTY COUPS,” “DRY THROAT,” “SIX FEATHERS,” “BLOODY KNIFE,” “CROW KING,” “CUT BELLY,” “BIG PRISONER,” “LOOKING GLASS,” “SHAVE HEAD,” “SKY CHIEF,” “THUNDER MAN,” “ONE BRAID,” “STIFF NECK,” “FIAT WAR CLUB,” “KIT FOX,” “HUSH-HUSH-CUTE,” AND “TIMBERED MOUNTAIN”
TOWER OF REUBEN
LIQUORED UP AND LACQUERED DOWN
DOES ALFRED E. NEUMAN HAVE A BROTHER?
CHOCOLATE (2)
TAKE A WHIFF ON ME
THE TALE OF THE ARCHER’S WIFE
QUETZALCOATL’S CHOICE
WAY OUT WEST: A DOUBLE PLAY
ANOTHER FLASHING CHANCE AT BLISS
A NON-GOLFER READS GOLF MAGAZINE
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, UNCLE NORBERT!
TRITON’S CHOICE
A HEART WITH EXTRA MUSCLE