Category: Media Featuring Caleb

  • Discussing S. by J.J Abrams and Doug Dorst on the Booked. Podcast

    Booked Logo

    Wow, that blog post title has not one, but two extraneous periods.

    Last night I sat with Robb Olson and Livius Nedin of the Booked. Podcast to chat a bit about the new book S., masterminded by J.J Abrams and written by Doug Dorst. The novel is incredible unique, so rather than rehash the entire discussion I”ll rehash my final thoughts and encourage you to listen to the entire podcast episode.

    An extremely unique book, both in form and execution, which forces the reader to re-imagine the very act of reading not just once, but on every page. This brilliance carries with it the potential for mental exhaustion which might deter many readers looking for something more accessible and casual. It’s not an easy book, especially if you’re a completionist who would feel obligated to follow every narrative thread, to investigate every reference, to explore the book the way an academic might. But if you can ignore much of the hinted-at hidden secrets and tangents, then you stand a much better chance of enjoying the book for what it really is: simply one narrative that acts as a conduit by which two people fall in love.

    Click to listen to the full episode (Episode #183 for ef’s sake! These guys will never quit).

    S. by Doug Dorst and J.J Abrams

  • Sometimes, it feels good to make a person cry.

    Buy Stranger Will

  • The Art of the Domestic Grotesque: An Interview with Caleb J. Ross in the newest issue of Surreal Grotesque

    The Art of the Domestic Grotesque: An Interview with Caleb J. Ross in the newest issue of Surreal Grotesque

    I'm not sure why I received this error message (I could read the issue just fine) but the language seems strangely apropo.
    I’m not sure why I received this error message (I could read the issue just fine) but the language seems strangely apropo.

    I’m honored to have been able to spout off a bit for the newest issue of Surreal Grotesque magazine.

    Here’s a taste:

    Your work doesn’t really resemble a genre in any way, which is nice, although people try to pigeonhole certain writers as being Chuck Palahniuk-esque or in the vein of “urban noir”. If you had to describe your writing style of work to someone who has never read you before, how would you describe your writing?

    I use the term Domestic Grotesque a lot, which basically means family dynamic meets visceral irrationality. The best example I can think of—though this book came out after I coined the term Domestic Grotesque—is Matt Bell’s Cataclysm Baby. A lot of Brian Evenson’s work would also fit. I love the imagery I can get away with when I write the grotesque, and I love the inherent tension when dealing with a family and their inborn troubles.

    I’m not against being compared or pigeonholed. In a way, it’s validating to know that I, as an author, belong to something greater than myself. Wow, that sentence makes me seem like my own anti-hero.

    Head over to the Surreal Grotesque Issuu site to read the rest of the interview. Stick around for an interview with Richard Thomas and work from Chris Deal among others. You won’t be sorry.

  • YouTube for Authors discussed at ePublish Unum. Books and beer are both involved.

    Yesterday I had the delightful pleasure of talking with Evo Terra and Jeff Moriary of ePublish Unum‘s Books and Beer series about my efforts as a “YouTube author” (quotes unnecessary; nobody actually used the term YouTube author during the entire chat).

    We talked about how I (and other authors should probably) use YouTube not as a vehicle for pushing my books onto unwilling buyers, but as a way to showcase my personality. You know, lube the audience into acceptance. I had a ton of fun talking with these guys. After watching my video (below) be sure to check the ePublish Unum site for a ton more great author videos.

  • Insomnia Press for Charactered Pieces: “One of the most moving and diverse pieces of work I’ve read in years”

    Insomnia Press for Charactered Pieces: “One of the most moving and diverse pieces of work I’ve read in years”

    Thanks to Gordon Highland for bringing this Charactered Pieces review to my attention. Generally my ego is a pretty good magnet for the rare praise floating around out there. And of course, super thanks to Dakota Taylor and Insomnia Press for the kind, kind words.

    “Charactered Pieces is on par with…early novels by Chuck Palahniuk. The difference is, Palahniuk sucker punches the reader with his prose and knocks your teeth out, leaving you bleeding and cheering. Caleb is a little more sneaky. Charactered Pieces spikes your drink and has you in someone’s trunk before you even know it…One of the most moving and diverse pieces of work I’ve read in years.”

    Read the full Charactered Pieces review here.

    And if you are so bold, find links to buy Charactered Pieces here.

  • Interviewed at the Books and Booze podcast. I think I validate 50 Shades of Grey as culturally relevant…

    Interviewed at the Books and Booze podcast. I think I validate 50 Shades of Grey as culturally relevant…

    A couple of nights ago I was invited to be the interviewee on an episode of the burgeoning and fun Books and Booze podcast. This, episode 4, has me chatting books with Renee Pickup and Dakota Taylor, sans books or booze in my hands, unfortunately.

    We talk a lot about my books, of course, but we get larger issues such as the implied cultural relevance of books that we (Renee, Dakota, and myself) don’t necessarily assume are good (ahem…50 Shades of Grey…) but must strike a unique chord if they are selling so well. We don’t always have to agree with cultural shifts, I suppose. But we’re all interested, it would seem, in the idea that mass consumption of a product must mean that product has some relevance beyond the aesthetic (but if now, doesn’t wide aesthetic appeal still say something about a culture).

    Anyway, it was tremendous fun. Thanks to both of them for killing an hour with me. Click over this is amazing podcast episode to listen (or use the player above). Better get over there quick, too; Books and Booze only keeps the latest 2 hours of its programming live, meaning in 2 more interviews, my interview will no longer be available!

  • Booked Podcast invites me to talk about Chuck Palahniuk’s Invisible Monsters: Remix

    Booked Podcast invites me to talk about Chuck Palahniuk’s Invisible Monsters: Remix

    The fine fellows at Booked Podcast, Robb Olson and Livius Nedin invited me over to discuss the reissue of Chuck Palahniuk’s Invisible Monsters. Here’s a bit from the episode description:

    Booked reviews Invisible Monsters REMIX by Chuck Palahniuk, with special guest host Caleb J. Ross. It’s more of a book discussion than a review this episode, since this is not technically a new-new book, and there’s a good chance that lots of people listening will have already read it. So we talked a bit about the book, Palahniuk, and (of course) felching. As you do when you talk about Invisible Monsters.

    Click here to listen to the latest Booked Podcast episode, featuring Caleb J. Ross.