I bought “Stink” the first time in the spring of 1996 at the Borders in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. This is odd for two reasons. One, that after searching everywhere in the Twin Cities I found the CD that would complete my Replacements’ collection in Wisconsin. Two, I’m pretty sure the Borders in Eau Claire didn’t [...]

I cried at a poetry reading tonight. I cried. At a poetry reading. It bears repeating because, seriously who actually cries at a poetry reading? I don’t even like poetry, really. It’s anarchy and chaos makes me nervous.
I don’t read poetry very often. I read it a lot in college when I used to [...]

I have no idea why I lifted my ban on “buzz” books to read Ian McEwan’s Atonement this week, especially now that the movie’s out, but I’m really glad that I did.
I spent a good portion of my time while reading Atonement fretting. The book came highly recommended by my writing teacher Dale. Despite an [...]

Okay, I haven’t finished the book yet, but I gotta give some mad props to Jim Walsh for The Replacements: All Over But the Shouting.
You’re probably thinking, “oh, oh, Jodi’s giving mad props to Jim Walsh whom she loooovvvesss. Zzzzzzz.”
No. Seriously. All Over But the Shouting is really fucking good. Which is the highest praise [...]

Writing is kind of a thankless obsession. It’s filled with rejection, self-doubt, and general insanity. When you’re an unpublished fiction-writer, like me, the validation for what you’re doing doesn’t come very often, but when it does, it’s glorious.
A few weeks ago I talked about Really Fucking Good Stories. I was envious of their really [...]

Do you remember that scene in High Fidelity when Rob comes into Championship, limping? Dick and Barry are standing at the counter listening to the tape by Vince and Justin?
“Who is this,” Rob says.
“vince and Justin,” Dick says
“Who?” Rob asks.
“Those little skate fuckers,” Barry says.
“No way,” Rob says.
“Yes way. It’s really . . . It’s [...]