Comments on: “Freedom?”: Richard Brautigan’s first wife, VIRGINIA ASTE, speaks in a new interview http://www.arthurmag.com/2009/12/25/virginia-aste/ Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:21:30 +0000 hourly 1 By: The Girl With the Cake: Thirty Years Later | Kevin Sampsell http://www.arthurmag.com/2009/12/25/virginia-aste/comment-page-1/#comment-182069 The Girl With the Cake: Thirty Years Later | Kevin Sampsell Fri, 23 Sep 2011 07:18:45 +0000 http://www.arthurmag.com/?p=10866#comment-182069 [...] interesting story about a woman in Brautigan’s life (his first wife!) was published a couple of years ago by Arthur (introduced by my good friend, Mike [...] [...] interesting story about a woman in Brautigan’s life (his first wife!) was published a couple of years ago by Arthur (introduced by my good friend, Mike [...]

]]> By: Chris Till http://www.arthurmag.com/2009/12/25/virginia-aste/comment-page-1/#comment-181990 Chris Till Thu, 21 Jul 2011 05:15:04 +0000 http://www.arthurmag.com/?p=10866#comment-181990 This is a valuable little interview. Concerning his family, I've read the book that his daughter Ianthe wrote about him... I enjoy Brautigan's work on Mad River's second album, "Love's Not the Way to Treat a Friend." There must be more video of Brautigan somewhere; youtube only has two snippets totalling about 30 seconds. Thanks for posting this interview. This is a valuable little interview. Concerning his family, I’ve read the book that his daughter Ianthe wrote about him… I enjoy Brautigan’s work on Mad River’s second album, “Love’s Not the Way to Treat a Friend.” There must be more video of Brautigan somewhere; youtube only has two snippets totalling about 30 seconds. Thanks for posting this interview.

]]> By: Shannon Torrence http://www.arthurmag.com/2009/12/25/virginia-aste/comment-page-1/#comment-181600 Shannon Torrence Fri, 06 May 2011 13:12:51 +0000 http://www.arthurmag.com/?p=10866#comment-181600 I adore Richard Brautigan for his original approach to literary expression. I have read and reread his work. GENIUS. Sad, that he was so sad. So I'm sight casting to what lies beneath the surface, as inspired! I adore Richard Brautigan for his original approach to literary expression. I have read and reread his work. GENIUS. Sad, that he was so sad. So I’m sight casting to what lies beneath the surface, as inspired!

]]> By: Carl Bouk http://www.arthurmag.com/2009/12/25/virginia-aste/comment-page-1/#comment-180058 Carl Bouk Sat, 18 Dec 2010 15:13:22 +0000 http://www.arthurmag.com/?p=10866#comment-180058 I have a cousin Ron who is a tall life long Montanan. When I got drafted in '69, was rejected. We met in Colorado, Ron from Montana and Me from Calif/Az. he was 16 and had not even heard of RB. We spent 2 weeks of getting stoned and sort of camping fishing and getting to know RB. I Mention Ron's height because at 1st glance he looks like a son or brother of RB. i just came across a copy of "an unfortunate women" Damit I miss being a hippie wanna be. I have a cousin Ron who is a tall life long Montanan. When I got drafted in ’69, was rejected. We met in Colorado, Ron from Montana and Me from Calif/Az. he was 16 and had not even heard of RB. We spent 2 weeks of getting stoned and sort of camping fishing and getting to know RB. I Mention Ron’s height because at 1st glance he looks like a son or brother of RB. i just came across a copy of “an unfortunate women” Damit I miss being a hippie wanna be.

]]> By: Victoria Mixon http://www.arthurmag.com/2009/12/25/virginia-aste/comment-page-1/#comment-179022 Victoria Mixon Wed, 08 Sep 2010 02:15:10 +0000 http://www.arthurmag.com/?p=10866#comment-179022 I met Virginia in Hawaii in 1994 at the home of my landlady Jackie Kalani, shortly before I left Hawaii for Australia. As I recall, I talked the entire time about Flannery O'Connor and barely let her get a word in edgewise. She called a friend in Bali and told her I was on my way and needed a hostess. She was terribly kind. She asked me if I had sent a copy of my manuscript home for safekeeping while I traveled, and when I was flip about it she fixed me with a steely eye and said, "You did say you were a writer, didn't you?" I have never forgotten how seriously she took a writer's work. I would like very much to get in touch with her again. Would you please let her know? She can reach me through my website. Thank you, Victoria I met Virginia in Hawaii in 1994 at the home of my landlady Jackie Kalani, shortly before I left Hawaii for Australia. As I recall, I talked the entire time about Flannery O’Connor and barely let her get a word in edgewise. She called a friend in Bali and told her I was on my way and needed a hostess. She was terribly kind.

She asked me if I had sent a copy of my manuscript home for safekeeping while I traveled, and when I was flip about it she fixed me with a steely eye and said, “You did say you were a writer, didn’t you?”

I have never forgotten how seriously she took a writer’s work.

I would like very much to get in touch with her again. Would you please let her know? She can reach me through my website.

Thank you,
Victoria

]]> By: Marty http://www.arthurmag.com/2009/12/25/virginia-aste/comment-page-1/#comment-178999 Marty Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:08:04 +0000 http://www.arthurmag.com/?p=10866#comment-178999 Lawrence Ferlinghetti thought Brautigan's writing was naiive and childish. I totally disagree. I think Richard Brautigan had a deep sympathy and understanding of the human condition, and his emphasis on humor springs from a wisdom that we may as well have a laugh, because in the end, we're all in the same predicament. I only wish he had not been abandoned by those dear to him, and he could have pulled it together enough to keep on. I suppose that he pushed those folks away, which is sad. As a young man, I enjoyed all of his poems and stories (Sea Sea Rider inspired me to move to San Francisco), and now as a parent, "Please Plant This Book" brings tears of joy to my eyes. Richard Brautigan is an American treasure, and deserves all the praise and celebration he gets. Lawrence Ferlinghetti thought Brautigan’s writing was naiive and childish. I totally disagree. I think Richard Brautigan had a deep sympathy and understanding of the human condition, and his emphasis on humor springs from a wisdom that we may as well have a laugh, because in the end, we’re all in the same predicament.

I only wish he had not been abandoned by those dear to him, and he could have pulled it together enough to keep on. I suppose that he pushed those folks away, which is sad.

As a young man, I enjoyed all of his poems and stories (Sea Sea Rider inspired me to move to San Francisco), and now as a parent, “Please Plant This Book” brings tears of joy to my eyes. Richard Brautigan is an American treasure, and deserves all the praise and celebration he gets.

]]> By: Corey Mesler http://www.arthurmag.com/2009/12/25/virginia-aste/comment-page-1/#comment-177475 Corey Mesler Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:45:20 +0000 http://www.arthurmag.com/?p=10866#comment-177475 Hi I thought you might be interested in this video my friend Rebecca Tickle did to accompany my reading the opening chapters to my forthcoming novel, Following Richard Brautigan. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty-5qH1FHj0 best, Corey Mesler Hi
I thought you might be interested in this video my friend Rebecca Tickle did to accompany my reading the opening chapters to my forthcoming novel, Following Richard Brautigan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ty-5qH1FHj0

best,
Corey Mesler

]]> By: maxwell edison http://www.arthurmag.com/2009/12/25/virginia-aste/comment-page-1/#comment-177443 maxwell edison Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:13:12 +0000 http://www.arthurmag.com/?p=10866#comment-177443 how totally cozmic!! as it turns out, mariner books has just this month released trout fishing in america with an introduction by billy collins. but perhaps virginia could have written the introduction, had she a mind to. that would be something... how totally cozmic!! as it turns out, mariner books has just this month released trout fishing in america with an introduction by billy collins. but perhaps virginia could have written the introduction, had she a mind to. that would be something…

]]> By: slowdncr http://www.arthurmag.com/2009/12/25/virginia-aste/comment-page-1/#comment-177438 slowdncr Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:52:00 +0000 http://www.arthurmag.com/?p=10866#comment-177438 Thanks for adding insight and detail into the travels and relationships of this most important of western US writers. It seems that I have been a fan of RB since I could understand, and I will remain such until I cease to understand. Thanks for adding insight and detail into the travels and relationships of this most important of western US writers. It seems that I have been a fan of RB since I could understand, and I will remain such until I cease to understand.

]]> By: dan fokine http://www.arthurmag.com/2009/12/25/virginia-aste/comment-page-1/#comment-177358 dan fokine Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:46:02 +0000 http://www.arthurmag.com/?p=10866#comment-177358 I appreciate this interview alot. My dad had a bunch of his books and i've really enjoyed them. One of his poems was read at my wedding this year. I've always wondered about who those beautiful women were with him on some of the covers of his books. I appreciate this interview alot. My dad had a bunch of his books and i’ve really enjoyed them. One of his poems was read at my wedding this year. I’ve always wondered about who those beautiful women were with him on some of the covers of his books.

]]> By: hovaard http://www.arthurmag.com/2009/12/25/virginia-aste/comment-page-1/#comment-177183 hovaard Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:53:08 +0000 http://www.arthurmag.com/?p=10866#comment-177183 as far as i am concerned, richard brautigan was one of the true geniuses who came out of this period. he was and remains my favorite poet. to say that he writes haikus would not be correct because they are so american, but i know no other who can put so much into so few phrases, and make me belly laugh out loud while doing it. as far as i am concerned, richard brautigan was one of the true geniuses who came out of this period. he was and remains my favorite poet. to say that he writes haikus would not be correct because they are so american, but i know no other who can put so much into so few phrases, and make me belly laugh out loud while doing it.

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