William McKeen’s Mile Marker Zero

Posted by Marty on October 1, 2011
Posted in: Book Stuff, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

If my Geography is correct Mile Marker Zero in Key West Florida marks the southernmost point of the United States. Next stop Cuba.. Key West also happens to be the place where some of the finest writers in literary history chose to bivouac themselves in a quest for peace, inspiration, good times, or maybe all of the above.

I began reading Mile Marker Zero with the Hunter S. Thompson connection in mind. That idea quickly dissolved within a few pages. It would be a shame to neglect the other artists that this book envelops.

For me it is difficult to write about this book without sounding trite. After all it does “star” most of my favorite writers. Among them HST (obviously) Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, (I’m remembering with laughter a story in the book about an eyebrow pencil and a excellently defused situation) and  Hemingway. Even Blackbeard shows his face. Thompson’s appearance in the book is far from scant. McKeen told me  Hunter arrived late on the scene, but he gets a full chapter — about half of which is adapted from Outlaw [Journalist]. He shows up in a few other places near the end of the book. Several new anecdotes, including a story from his funeral. For me a reason in itself to buy this book.

One of the things that struck me about this book was the amount of writers, preformers and artists covered in it. Tackling a book, covering so many (20+), centered around one area? I’d have thought it difficult to keep clutter at bay. Obviously McKeen didn’t have that problem here, no surprise given his talent for informing and putting these things together. They came to party and stayed to heal. Some just came to heal, some just came to party. Some benefited and some suffered. One thing is for sure. We the receivers of their work are the winners and McKeen brought this home for me.

I mentioned in my write-up Margaret Harrell’s Keep This Quiet that I love learning something new when reading a book. I’ve learned a lot with this one. It’s entertaining too. McKeen’s turn of phrase is relaxing and drawing. He has done his homework and it shows. This is a readers book, I reckon you’ll be hard-pushed to find a seasoned reader who won’t like it. It’s hard to believe this small two-by-four-mile piece of land has done so much in helping to churn out some of the finest works we read, reread  and will read for some time to come.

I could go on and on about this. It covers so much. Suffice to say McKeen nailed it. If you have any respect yourself as a reader, you’ll buy it.

Get it here, here and here from October 4. Dont forget Margaret Harrell’s Keep This Quiet is out now.

Keep This Quiet? Not Likely. Margaret Harrell’s “Keep This Quiet” is A Feast for the Gonzo Soul.

Posted by Marty on September 24, 2011
Posted in: Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

There are folks who enjoy reading Hunter Thompson’s work and are happy to leave it there. Then there are those who want more. More being a need to know as much about Hunter’s process as possible, the nitty-gritty, who helped him?  Who influenced him? Call them freaks if that’s your pleasure, Gonzo freaks. I’m one. We are out there. Unashamedly. And we love to see new HST-related stuff.

Margaret A. Harrell showed up to tell me about her new book Keep This Quiet: My Relationship with Hunter S. Thompson, Milton Klonsky, and Jan Mensaert. Due for release 15th October.This is no ordinary book about or including Thompson. It’s a memoir detailing personal relationships with three authors, the main focus being on Hunter. I’m going to focus on the HST part but must stress that this book, as a memoir is quite deep and holds the door open for the reader. While Hunter is a huge selling point, the book has the legs to stand alone.

Margaret worked with Hunter as his copy editor (for Random House) on none other than Hell’s Angels, his first book. According to Hunter she was the best copy editor he’d ever worked with. The Gonzo freaks among us will remember her getting hefty mentions in Fear and Loathing in America. I’d (needlessly) be inclined to ask myself where does one go from there? Lots of places as it turns out. Harrell clearly had an impact on Hunter, and witnessed the unfolding of the Gonzo legacy. What gives this book more pull is that until now Harrell has never published a word about Hunter. She says The two other males in this book, I’ve written about in the past but not Hunter. Never Hunter. I write this book, triggered by his death.

And so she wrote. Looking at the picture of Margaret on the back cover and the few inside she strikes me as being an innocent sort. Butter wouldn’t melt for want of a better phrase. Their relationship firstly developed by letter and phone. Yes, on their first face-to-face meeting it would seem she was nervous but as things progressed we learn that she has indeed a reinforced spine, and ample psychological finesse, both of which I believe must have been most important when dealing with Hunter S. Thompson, at the same time I must not belittle the mutual care and respect that developed between them. And there I shall leave that subject. It must be read to be appreciated.

As well as tales from William Kennedy, David Pierce and others we are treated to correspondence from Oscar Acosta, and letters from Hunter we’ve never seen before. The well known Blue Indigo snake story is clarified. Margaret was one of the first to read the Rum Diary. There are loads of HST tidbits and stuff I’d never have thought would be in this book. It would be hard to keep going without giving anything away. So you must buy it to know more.

I remember saying to William McKeen a couple of years ago that I’d be happy if we were done with stuff written about HST for the reason that I felt the subject had been beaten to death. He disagreed and was right. I’m glad this came along. Its all new and a valuable addition to my collection and strangely enough it makes a great companion to McKeen’s Outlaw Journalist.

It has been a while since I have learned new stuff about Hunter Thompson. I feel refreshed. It was a pleasure to read and it was an honor for me to be among the first to read it. Highly recommended.

Margaret’s site is here and you can buy the book here, and here. For discount copies email orders@hunterthompsonnewbook.com

Next week William McKeen’s Mile Marker Zero!

Thomas W. Benton Artist/Activist by Daniel J. Watkins

Posted by Marty on September 13, 2011
Posted in: Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , .

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Daniel Watkins got in touch the other day regarding a book he recently published about Tom Benton and his artwork. Hopefully in a week or so when I receive a copy I’ll do write-up on it. For now you can see a review by Totally Gonzo’s Rory here. Looks like a great book. The slideshow above are Benton’s Aspen Wall Posters kindly supplied by Daniel last year.

For more on the book you can hit Daniel’s site here and his blog here. For a brief bio (supplied by Daniel) on Benton click here. The Thomas W. Benton site is here.  He was a great artist and left a great legacy to the art world and the Gonzo world. More when I get the book.

Nearly forgot… Buy the book here. Most important..

For all Your Rum Diary movie news.

Posted by Marty on September 8, 2011
Posted in: Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , .

I know I’m beating this to death but it must be done. For any, and all up to date Rum Diary movie news please see Rory’s Totally Gonzo. He has had his bony, wiry fingers on the Rum Diary movie pulse from day one. Judging by a few emails I’ve been getting some folks think Rory and I are in competition. Not so. It is all about keeping the Gonzo freight train moving and Keeping Hunter’s memory vigorous and interesting. This movie will generate a load of new Hunter Thompson fans, more readers of his books, and renewed interest from fans of old. For me this competition nonsense has no place here. There are important times afoot in the Gonzo world. Best if we got on with it.

Marty.

Keep This Quiet! By Margaret A. Harrell.

Posted by Marty on August 29, 2011
Posted in: Book Stuff. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

As usual it’s either a feast or a famine when it comes to Hunter Thompson-related books or releases of any sort, The Rum Diary movie being at the top of the list at the moment. I am looking forward to The Rum Diary movie but I’m a book-man at heart and anything new in print involving, or about Hunter is a biggie for me.

William McKeen’s Mile Marker Zero is one release with a healthy chunk of HST. It is due for release in October I believe, and is one book I’ll be recommending wholeheartedly. The review is due here soon. (I’m a bit behind with my work here. I’ll be back on top of things soon.)

Now on to Margaret A. Harrell’s Keep This Quiet: My Relationship with Hunter, S Thompson, Milton Klonsky, and Jan Mensaert. 

From Margaret’s site.. Here.

” In addition to providing a missing chapter in the life of Hunter, just before he became the father of gonzo journalism, Keep This Quiet also saves from the wreckage and trash bin of time a missing chapter in the life of two other outlaw writers: New York City poet genius Milton Klonsky and flamboyant Belgian poet Jan Mensaert. As a copy editor, then assistant editor to Jim Silberman at Random House in the late ’60s, I had a personal and professional relationship with Hunter, receiving hilarious and tormented correspondence. Now, for the first time, I reveal stories, memories, and previously unpublished letters by Hunter, with permission of the Estate of Hunter S. Thompson.”

To have had a large part in the process of the publishing of Thompson’s Hell’s Angels must have been a huge thing. To have dealt with him during these times must have been fascinating. I’m looking forward to reading it and spreading the word. For now click here for Margaret’s site. There’s plenty there to keep your appetites moist.

Plenty to keep us going for the moment.

Cheers.

A Few Updates

Posted by Marty on August 13, 2011
Posted in: Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , .

Just a few things. With The Rum Diary movie release date getting ever-closer, things in the Hunter S. Thompson world will be hotting up. For any Rum Diary movie updates head over to Rory’s Totally Gonzo for all up-to- date information.

A site that entered my crosshairs is Nick Storm’s Storm Generation Films, with plenty of Hunter Thompson stuff, and a great project Called Outlaw Poet: A Documentary on Ron Whitehead which is currently in funding. So click the links for more info….

Next is William McKeen’s Mile Marker Zero. Set for release in October. I’ll be starting it on Monday and will give my thoughts here when finished. It promises not to disappoint. Click the link for order details.

An Account of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson’s Australian Tour, 1976

Posted by Marty on August 5, 2011
Posted in: Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , .

Mandraxed Wombats and the Monster in Room 450 is just one chapter in the great book A Dozen Dopey Yarns: Tales From the Pot Prohibition by J.J. McRoach, otherwise known as Peter O. Many thanks to him for his permission to show it here. Also many thanks to John, AKA Savagehenry101 for sending the book.

I’m really not sure if everyone will be able to see these scans clearly enough to read. If not I’ll have to rethink the methods. Maybe transcribe.. Let me know please… There are 47 pages.. That’s a lot for a two-fingered typist like me.. If necessary I’ll do it.. For now, starting top left and working left to right click on each image to enlarge.

HST Books on Facebook

Posted by Marty on August 4, 2011
Posted in: Uncategorized. Tagged: .

After much thought I’ve decided to give Facebook a try. So do the right thing and add me, or friend me, or like me.. Whatever Facebookers do please do it… Thanks   https://www.facebook.com/HSTBooks I’ll be posting little doodahs and thingamabobs regularly. It’d be worth a look..

Marty.