sotos

[online prowler]

A new Sotos is now available for pre-order for $25 via 9BB;

http://www.ninebandedbooks.com/desistance/

"In this prismatic and obliquely appreciative study of Antoine D'Agata's photography, Peter Sotos arraigns the fraught vocabulary of gallery apologists — and of D'Agata himself — to locate a "finer definition of pornography" beneath the exigent demands of desire, transgression, and art."

I ordered this one because I'm doing my best to grab a hold of all of Sotos's works, but I wonder what I'm gonna think of it. I didn't much care for Mine, although after reading some of you guys' opinions of it in this thread I might give it another go. My favorite to this day still remains Comfort And Critique, because I find it the most straight-forward, clear and to the point while at the same time being so raw, uncompromising and brilliant.

BTW, if anyone is selling Home and does not care to ship internationally, I'm interest.

Regarding HOME ...

I know Canadian imprint TOTAL BLACK have one copy left. Not sure if it is in stock now, but send them an email.

[simulacrum]

A new Sotos is now available for pre-order for $25 via 9BB;

http://www.ninebandedbooks.com/desistance/

"In this prismatic and obliquely appreciative study of Antoine D'Agata's photography, Peter Sotos arraigns the fraught vocabulary of gallery apologists — and of D'Agata himself — to locate a "finer definition of pornography" beneath the exigent demands of desire, transgression, and art."

I ordered this one because I'm doing my best to grab a hold of all of Sotos's works, but I wonder what I'm gonna think of it. I didn't much care for Mine, although after reading some of you guys' opinions of it in this thread I might give it another go. My favorite to this day still remains Comfort And Critique, because I find it the most straight-forward, clear and to the point while at the same time being so raw, uncompromising and brilliant.

BTW, if anyone is selling Home and does not care to ship internationally, I'm interest.

I agree with everything in this post 100%. Mine was the least favorite of his I've read, but I enjoyed it more on a subsequent read/

Also, thanks endors for posting the link. Ordered.

[Andrew McIntosh]

Gods - couldn't listen to it after the bollocks introduction and the wanky banter.

[simulacrum]

Those dudes only restated my questions and concerns regarding the book. Mine is too fucking hard to follow, and the fact that two men who were previously unacquainted with Sotos, and were acquainted following a single book and Google search, understand as much, or as little, as I did of Mine is disconcerting.
At least the podcast wasn't an alarmist escapade or a discussion solely of how shocking or transgressive the book is. I appreciated that.

Also, this podcast reminds me of how many times I've fought with my girlfriend over my interest in Sotos. To her, Sotos is only a sensationalist and offers absolutely no insight into anything besides merely presenting a shocking veneer - "Look: Rape! Pedophilia! Murder! Aren't I shocking?!" Without offering anything of substance. I've come to understand this as the general uninformed consensus among those who prefer to live without recognizing that there is a pathology behind the pedophile's mania.

[HongKongGoolagong]

This was a thoughtful and honest discussion of the book - thanks for the link John and please reserve me a Desistance.

[tiny_tove]

Just found this link to a podcast of a review/discussion of Peter Sotos' Mine - just giving it a listen now: http://bookfightpod.com/2014/06/09/episode-62-peter-sotos-mine/

Also, I've ordered a bunch of copies of Desistance for Europe/UK customers who were put off paying $45 - it'll still be somewhat pricey but cheaper than ordering one copy from 9BB. Will add the relevant info when I get them.

how much would be desistance with shipment to Italy?
thanks

[Jordan]

Shipping was $20 to CANADA. Fuck.

[simulacrum]

Man, is it just me or does Sotos become more of a bore in each following book? I was intrigued by the persona of D'Agata and enjoyed the interviews contained in Desistance, but, after pasting a number of Q & A's with the guy, Sotos goes on to lead us by the cock and balls once again through the same darkened quarters, down the same scummy alleyways, through the same faggot joints that we've been through dozens of times. We even meet up once more with our old pals Dylan and Shasta Groene and their captor Jet from "Home."
And Sotos just rambles and rambles and rambles, prattling on about this and that; this cock, that faggot, this paedo, that child, this nigger, that street trash.

[Baglady]

Well, that's his way I guess? From what I've gathered in interviews, it's his way of doing it; repeating the same thoughts again and again, only changing the structure slightly. Being a bore for the potential reader doesn't seem to be a problem for him. But I definitely agree with you.

[Jordan]

About the repetitiveness, I think his examinations of obsessions and compulsive needs are becoming finer and finer grained, creating an exhaustive, richly connected model out of what little there is there in the first place. I can understand if one gets tired of this sort of ever increasing complexity within the same old material, time and time again, but it's really the only map one can expect from the territory, and it can only be shown in more or less detail, or with certain features highlighted; even enthusiasts of the most mainstream of pornography go through a similar branching into ever finer features (blue fishnet stockings MMF) of what is really just shallow fucking. You can't really expect the guy to try to dream up some new topic or theme to explore just for the sake of writing a new book, he simply follows what he's drawn to and tries to fill in the pieces that to him seem to fit.

FANZINE: Sara Payne is presented as repetition. You also talk of your own repetitions: "Stop repeating yourself. Stop masturbating onto just photos and pretending it's better than what the rest of the slime don't even do," "I'm not that hard to figure out. Especially when I'm repeating myself." Can you imagine ever writing different sorts of books than the ones you have and are writing?

PS: I don't write just to have a book with my name on it. I write because I'm compelled by the intensity, as well as the lack, in the material at hand. I think there's a huge difference in the way I write now and what I'm better known for writing, but I see absolutely no reason to look for a subject to write about or find something I can somehow turn into a book or whatnot. I don't look for new projects or ways to impress or surprise others. I'm not interested in craft. If I'm told I write well, I know that it comes from a passion with the subject. The subject propels the writing and the constant thought. I don't have a need to create something. I have a need to create this.

I missed out on Home. My copy of Desistance hasn't come in yet, but I was wondering, how is the book in terms of layout, design, etc.? I really disliked the layout of Mine, the 9BB edition, anyway. I found the font and the spacing kind of jarring to read. The Mikita Brottman book from 9BB was even worse, though some other 9BB books have great design.

[Jordan]

Thanks for the info! I'm hoping my copy arrives this week, preferably tomorrow so I can read it on the way to the Brighter Death Now show in Montreal on Wednesday.

[C601]

Thanks for the info! I'm hoping my copy arrives this week, preferably tomorrow so I can read it on the way to the Brighter Death Now show in Montreal on Wednesday.

How goth, smokes cloves while you're at it

[Jordan]

Thanks for the info! I'm hoping my copy arrives this week, preferably tomorrow so I can read it on the way to the Brighter Death Now show in Montreal on Wednesday.

How goth, smokes cloves while you're at it

Unfortunately I don't think I'll be able to smoke in the car.

[cantle]

Happy to say my copy of Desistance arrived this morning- will give it a read through tonight I think.

[boorman]

Has anyone else finished Desistance yet?  Any opinions?  Eager to hear - my copy has not arrived yet.

Also - there is a very good and long interview with Sotos about Pure Filth available on the Quimbys podcast.