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January 13, 1999
New ones Monday through Friday

Reader mail:

Volume 23

You are what you read

Dear simpleton, Great zine, I lap it up man, but I'm not happy about this back issue, this 19981109.html. Pick on yourselves for a change with your snidery, huh? Basketcase. Tony, radge@cyberdude.com

Dear Basketcase, For once, it seemed I had chosen a topic - college students who actually study basket weaving - which would offend nobody. But as always, life has a few surprises in store. Who knows, maybe basket weavers aren't the peaceful souls I had imagined, but budding firebrands embittered by their thankless labor. Perhaps they're secretly seething at a world that refuses to acknowledge their artistry... Who knows what bile lurks in the heart of even the humblest artisans? All you weavers of baskets - be you Yurok, Pima or Navajo - know that somebody knows and appreciates your labors. Sincerely, Tim

Detailed Coverage

Dear simpleton: Excellent Simp today. I wanted to offer an alternative explanation for the trend you so accurately pointed out in African American romance fiction (my observation not supported by any particular research, just having ridden the NYC subways at rush hour for several years). Was Terry McMillan's Waiting to Exhale the prototype for this sort of cover design? At least it was after that book came out that I started noticing the same pattern in these other books' covers, the message of which I always saw as being, "This book is basically Waiting to Exhale." (BTW, I'd be curious whether the McMillan covers you showed are from editions before or after Waiting ... ) Anyway, sharply observed piece. James Poniewozik Do Right Man jpon@interport.net

Dear James, It's thanks to the keen observational skills you show in this letter that the Poniewozik name is known for one top-notch article after another in Salon. As it turns out you're quite right. Both books are post-Exhale reprints. The original publication date for Mama is 1991; for Disappearing Acts, 1990. Waiting to Exhale originally appeared in 1992. To get an idea of how Ms. McMillan's publishers evolved their style of packaging her widely-appealing books, take a look at earlier covers for both Mama and Disappearing Acts, neither of which fit into the pseudo Bill Traylor mode that has come to signal works by Terry McMillan, or by others in the McMillan style. My recollection was that the original cover of Waiting to Exhale was a more abstract thing than the silhouette stuff you see regularly now. But having just looked at the original hardback, I see that it was solidly within the style. Unless someone can find an earlier prototype, it appears the works of Terry McMillan blazed the trail for this convenient book packaging style. You can see these books (and purchase it, with a percentage of the proceeds going to Calzone) by clicking on the links provided. Speaking of which, our participation in amazon.com's "associates" program has brought Calzone Ventures its first revenues - 88 cents in referral fees from two books. This officially marks simpleton's transition from a vanity site to a money-losing venture, and I'm honored to share the news with you. yr pal, Tim

Minstrel of the Dawn

Dear simpleton, As a Canadian born man living in the US since age 5, I often wondered about my attraction to GL and his work. It has always been oddly comforting to me and I can honestly say he is the only artist that I idolize. It was my great pleaseure to meet him last May outside of Massey Hall. He seemed genuinely pleased that someone would wait 2 hours just to shake hands and get a photo. So often these things do badly. Idolize someone from afar for 25 yrs, finally meet them and get treated like dirt. So it was with much trepidation that I waited that May night. Alas, it turned out well and I have another great chapter in my Lightfoot hobby. Long may he sing and long may he play--if he is still out there at 80, I will be in the audience! Hail Gord! Sincerely, HCC321@aol.com

Dear HCC321, The author thanks you, simpleton thanks you, and we're sure, Gord thanks you. Sincerely, Tim

Dear simpleton, This is a nice article. Unfortunately I live across the border and two states south in Indiana. It is because of "your" Lightfoot that I have become so interested in Canadian history. It is because of "our" Lightfoot that I go about my buisness the way I do. I can't find the proper words to describe the emotions that he stirs in me when I listen to his music. All of his music does to me as only one other recording has ever been able to do. And that album was and is "Days of the Future Passed" by the Moody Blues" As a U.S. citizen I envy Canada it's pride and joy. But had he been here he may have never found the beauty that is his alone, that beauty is his powerful words and melody. thanks for reading Bart A. Dailey spock2@gte.net

Dear Bart, Can't concur with you on the Moody Blues, but we appreciate your enthusiasm, your Hoosier integrity, and most of all your love of Gord. Sincerely, Tim

Dear simpleton, I didn't know your site on the web existed until today. I would like to thank you for the wonderful tribute to Gordon Lightfoot. I was moved to tears. It was so nice to hear him praised in this manner. I am not Canadian. I do not live in a state that borders Canada. But I love Gordon Lightfoot. I love his songs and I love and admire him as a person. I have been privileged to meet and talk to him twice and found him to be a very nice and gracious man. His songs speak for themselves and do not need my comments. Most people in my area don't even know of him at all, or if they once knew of him, they think he has passed on long ago. I find this unacceptable and have done my best to correct the situation! Again, thank you for sharing the tribute with me. Shirley Hoggard Oklahoma City, Oklahoma USA Oksky@aol.com

Dear Shirley, Thanks. Don't be so downtrodden about Gord's relative obscurity. You know that when a rarefied taste catches on, and the riff-raff start listening to him with no more attention than they'd give to Jewel, the results can often be even more disastrous. Ulysses wasn't a bestseller either. Let Gord's genius blaze for the Chosen fans. Sincerely, Tim

Send word to simpleton Previously in simpleton: January 12, 1998: A memo Marketing advice from Dick Miracle January 11, 1998: In search of lost time What we did for vacation January 8, 1998: Propecious occasion Hairloss and pregnancy - the facts January 6, 1998: One Fein Day Our Presidential endorsement January 1, 1998: Bug-free zone Our 2000 Solution December 20, 1998: Detailed coverage Katz and the art of literary packaging A century of simpletons in the simpleton archive. Find an almost-total listing of Tim's outside works in The Compleat Simpleton. Wankers of Arabia New readers are invited to join the simpleton mailing list announcement of new features and attractions, along with value-added commentary from the simpleton staff, which is not available in stores! To get on the simpletonians mailing list: 1) Send email to majordomo@freedonia.com 2) Write the following message (and nothing else) in the body of your email: subscribe simpletonians 3) Press "Send" on your email. Now you are subscribed to the simpletonians mailing list. If you have trouble following these instructions, email me and I'll add you to the list. Tomorrow: An investigation http://www.simpleton.com