A literary journal published at the University of Washington since 1978, committed to offering an exciting range of work from both new and established artists, and including poetry, fiction, essays and creative nonfiction, interviews and dialogues, theatre and visual arts. Contributors have included such writers as Rita Dove, Czeslaw Milosz, Kathleen Spivack, Al Young and David Wagoner.
The journal continued producing issues into the late 2010s, with the final print edition appearing as a double issue (11:1-2) in spring 2018, featuring contemporary voices in poetry and prose that aligned with its commitment to extended, innovative works. This volume marked the end of regular print publications, amid broader challenges facing university-supported literary outlets following the 2008 recession, including institutional budget constraints that strained funding for non-core academic programs. By 2019, The Seattle Review announced an indefinite hiatus, suspending new submissions and ceasing active operations, with the publication transitioning to an archival status only. The hiatus continues with no new content solicited or released. Past issues are preserved through university libraries and select archives.
As you may recall, and you two too. I suggested you read Saroyan’s book before I even got my hands on it. Less than 48 hours later I got a copy of the book from Western Washington University’s Library via interlibrary loan. I expected that whole process to take a couple weeks, not a couple days.
I also purchased a copy from a rare book store somewhere over there a few time zones east of here via eBay.
As we speak, I’m finishing up the WWU copy and getting it back into their library just as my very own copy is arriving via USPS, finishing up the 2750 mile journey to its new home.
Saroyan worked at various jobs his entire childhood. Orchards, vineyards, selling newspapers, county fairs, working, working, telegram bike messengering for a few years all around Fresno at age 12, 13, 14. He knew he wanted to be a writer early on. He hated school so he quit at 15. But he kept working at various jobs to pay the bills.
In this BR-BH book, Saroyan’s 8-year old son Aram wants and gets a new big big bicycle. In real real life, Aram grows up...
This morning I was fumbling around in piles on the floor that are my “reading lists” looking for the backpack-book du-jour. At the bottom of one pile Ellen Forney was looking up, asking me to have another go at “marbles” her graphic memoir.
As I flipped through it looking for my bookmark to be found around 66.6% completion status, I stumbled upon a sketch on page 106 which was done on some Girlie Press note paper. Just the other other day I was admiring an old Girlie Press Rules ruler. Then that sketch on page 106 let me know: today is the day.
I wasn’t looking for this print. But it found me yesterday on a Silver Cloud route. Now I’ll find it a thrift-store frame around 10” x 14” and gift it.
Mary Mann has a solo show at the UW Botanical Library through April 28.
I’m a Soul Asylum fan circa 1988. I saw them live several times at Grinnell. I enjoy their albums all the way through And the Horse They Rode In On in 1990.
Grave Dancers Union in 1992 was a sad sack except for this track, which I enjoy, especially on April Fools Day. Don’t talk to me about “Runaway Train” or Winona Ryder or Dave Pirner’s role in “Reality Bites” ...
“I was not yet sixteen when I understood a great deal, from having ridden bicycles for so long, about style, speed, grace, purpose, value, form, integrity, health, humor, music, breathing and finally and perhaps best of all the relationship between the beginning and the end.”
–William Saroyan
Published in 1952, Saroyan narrates this memoir as his 44 year old self, reflecting on his time as a bike messenger growing up in Fresno. By age 44 in Beverly Hills, he was well established in the writing world, a Pulitzer prize winner and a father. His young son wants a new bike, and not a little kid bike, a full-on adult bicycle.
In the six hours that have passed since I first started to learn more about his book: I found a few copies online that looked cheap but then with shipping from Belgium or New Zealand they were no-go no-no. I checked at Magnus Books, nope. I requested a copy from the extensive interlibrary loan network established through the UW Library conglomeration. Then I bought my very own copy on eBay from a bookstore in Bethesda, MD.
I haven’t read it yet. But if you’re reading these words...
