Corona\Samizdat Press

26/06/2023

"Some writing advice to make your blood boil" - Corona\Samizdat Press first official Medium blogpost.

We have handpicked the most discouragingly enticing words of writing wisdom, prickling enough to make you give up writing and, at the same time, love it all the more.

1. Kurt Vonnegut

18/06/2023

Born on 19th June, 1909 - Osamu Dazai

“I am convinced that human life is filled with many pure, happy, serene examples of insincerity, truly splendid of their kind-of people deceiving one another without (strangely enough) any wounds being inflicted, of people who seem unaware even that they are deceiving one another.”

- No Longer Human

02/06/2023

The lovechild of semiotics and good marketing. "America and Cult of the Cactus Boots: A Diagnostic" is the crown jewel in Corona\Samizdat Press' selection and is, by far, the most talked-about title the press has produced.

A book that reads like a board game, Cult of the Cactus Boots observes Orwellian tendencies but with a modern ring to them. Ownership of bold, experimental reads can get you locked up and the only way of delivering such literature happens through an underground web of secretive tunnels. Our main heroes, who happen to be the very authors of the book, are writing and simultaneously letting you know of their patient wait for Rick Harsch's (chief and only editor of Corona\Samizdat Press) book "The Manifold Destiny of Eddie Vegas". In the meantime, a slew of bizarre occurrences take place: an adventure-sport ironing competition; 'lexification' of the world around you, 5-page poems written backwards; and interceptions, known as "transmissions from the great beyond", by which Rick gives decent advice to Philip Freedenberg and Jeff Walton on how to write the book that unfolds right in front of you.

For fans of meta fiction and book art, Cult of the Cactus boots has a new world to offer on every single page.

Check the comment section for more...

25/05/2023

Born on 24th May. Joseph Brodsky.

21/05/2023

Fyodor Dostoyevsky, a huge influence on one of Corona\Samizdat Press' grandest authors, Joao Reis, is lauded as one of the key figures in proto-psychology. His introspective voice resonates through the pages of his books and makes solitudinous thinking not as static as it may first appear.

His presence is very much palpable in Joao's masterpiece "Bedraggling Grandma with Russian Snow", which explores conundrums of language, thought, and ethics through a "Wittgensteinian" lens.

Being longlisted for the Dublin Literary Award in 2022 is only one of its many achievements, as it's perhaps its ability to pack so much into a ridiculously pocketable format that makes it a worthwhile read (especially for the not so philosophically-savvy reader).

Check the comment section for a link to Joao's book...

12/05/2023

Deben Roy’s novel "Fatland" describes one woman’s fight for justice and equity against the rich and the politically powerful. Monica Moitro is a television anchor (“MM” to all her viewers) acutely aware of their oppression of average people, and she is strong and resolute enough to stand up to the most powerful people in the country... read the rest here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60710476-fatland-by-deben-roy

"Fatland" is a novel of sizzling prose and "sit-comish" humour that never fails to further invest the reader in its fusion of noir crime and social commentary. Don't be daunted by the Indian overtones and scenery, as you'll soon find out that the book's theme and setting don't demand any prior knowledge of Indian culture in order to be taken in. Deben Roy does an excellent job of reaching and grabbing the reader through the pages and giving them a good run for their money.

Don't let your TBR suffer, see the comment section for a purchase link...

08/05/2023

“The general public has long been divided into two parts; those who think that science can do anything and those who are afraid it will.”

― Thomas Pynchon, "Mason & Dixon"

Born on this day is the mystifying scribe who has captured the essence of whole epochs and ensnared millions of minds while doing it (and is also a huge influence on Corona\Samizdat authors).

On his 86th birthday, it’s likely that Thomas Pynchon has a list of adjectives and terms he wants critics to avoid using in their descriptions of him and, instead, turn to the meat and bones of his work: metafiction, metahistory, capitalism, entropy, and uncorrected fun.

For over 60 years, Pynchon has put aside his personality to leave room for novels featuring real-life figures in interaction with figments of his parodic, and at times b***y, imagination. In his earlier works (notably “V” and “Vineland”), readers are bound to find glimpses of beat and hippy reps on their misadventures to redefine our common understanding of history, whereas later titles (“Mason and Dixon” and “Against the Day”) revitalise past events to illuminate their long stretch of influence on present-day life.

For books as conceptually (and physically) dense as his, a soc. media post won’t cut it. We just know that the serendipitous alignment of his b-day and the birth of Corona’s FB page won’t be disregarded in his universe.

Happy birthday once again to Thomas Ruggles Pynchon Jr.