Joshua Ferris

2010: Most Watched Videos

December 13, 2010

It’s been nine months since the first ReadRollShow video appeared: a nearly 14-minute, long-form (for us) interview with Joshua Ferris on Vimeo. Topics ranged from Cervantes to coworkers who announce their bowel movements. An auspicious start for the program, no?

Nine months, a healthy gestation. And now: life beyond the womb! Expect lots of changes from ReadRollShow in 2011. All for the good, we swear! In time we think you’ll even trust us without that baby gate at the top of the stairwell.

One note about our year-end rankings: Mr. Ferris likely would have edged out Sam Lipsyte for the #5 spot if only we hadn’t divided the aforementioned long clip into four shorter ones for YouTube; cumulatively, Ferris garnered more than enough views — almost enough to catch Sloane Crosley at #4. So we’re giving him a Most-Watched honorable mention. (Okay, we just like Ferris a lot. We’re not too proud to admit it.) [click to comment]

Joshua Ferris: Four Short Excerpts

March 22, 2010

Four short excerpts from Involuntary Walking; the Joshua Ferris Interview. Because the typical work day allows only so many opportunities for fourteen-minute “breaks.”

Writing at Home Depot

 

Getting Silly in Then We Came to the End

 

On Beckett and Cervantes

 

On Salinger and Early Efforts

 

Involuntary Walking; the Joshua Ferris Interview

March 8, 2010

 

He showed up several hours late, running on the fumes of airport coffee — his original flight from Seattle had been delayed, and then delayed again, and finally canceled. “He could have made it to Portland faster by car,” a friend commented, “and still had time for a nap.” Ah, hindsight.

Or he could have canceled the interview and stolen an hour of sleep before his reading downtown. Who’d have blamed him?

No. Instead, on Super Bowl Sunday, about an hour after kickoff, we sat down to talk about 20th Century American literature, affected (and effective) dialogue, making it happen at the hardware store, and coworkers who announce their bowel movements. Because that’s how Joshua Ferris rolls. [click to comment]