Reading this felt like falling through a trapdoor lined with nerve endings. Whatever this was—eulogy, exorcism, communion—it caught something slippery I didn’t know I’d been chasing. The “opposite opposite” phrasing hit like gospel, and that final image of Jesus flipping book-laden tables in the nude? I’ll be unpacking that one for a while. Thank you for turning language into blood and letting us touch it.
"I'm thinking of Jesus knocking over the lenders’ tables, but on all the tables are all the books published since the last sentence of Attila earned its period." That’s a fine tribute. Looks like I've got some reading to do.
writing into a desperate need to say what can be said in no other way, place, and time—we don't see it much. it's rare to stake everything on the form we claim to love. bless Coll.
Reading Attila has been like eating homemade ice cream or drinking tea with honey, and this essay has me feeling similarly. Hope Open Letter can publish the rest of Coll’s work!
Vitam venturi saeculi having less plot than Attila sounds very appealing
This is some of the best writing I've ready all year! Fabulous! Thank you!
that's nice to hear, ty
Reading this felt like falling through a trapdoor lined with nerve endings. Whatever this was—eulogy, exorcism, communion—it caught something slippery I didn’t know I’d been chasing. The “opposite opposite” phrasing hit like gospel, and that final image of Jesus flipping book-laden tables in the nude? I’ll be unpacking that one for a while. Thank you for turning language into blood and letting us touch it.
ty Anton, i appreciate the reflection!
"I'm thinking of Jesus knocking over the lenders’ tables, but on all the tables are all the books published since the last sentence of Attila earned its period." That’s a fine tribute. Looks like I've got some reading to do.
Holy fuck. Exceptionally well done.
ty!
thank you.
writing into a desperate need to say what can be said in no other way, place, and time—we don't see it much. it's rare to stake everything on the form we claim to love. bless Coll.
i got a copy, btw.
the rarest
looking fwd to hearing your thoughts on it!
Reading Attila has been like eating homemade ice cream or drinking tea with honey, and this essay has me feeling similarly. Hope Open Letter can publish the rest of Coll’s work!
Vitam venturi saeculi having less plot than Attila sounds very appealing
i like those food analogies - def hope we get more
Incredible response! I love it!
thank you Chad! and thanks again for being a maverick