This book could be considered just an epic poem and I thought I could get through it quicker but itās basically just a book about everything that this man remembers in his life. Sort of like this site, itās just a list of either super niche human experiences and also vague ones. The whole book goes, āI rememberā¦ā and then a sentence or maybe three will follow. Anything from, āI remember Valentineās Day in school when everyone wore their nicest shoesā or āI remember sunday dinnerā or āI remember whenā¦ā and it will be a specific memory of the writer. It made me really go back and remember things about my life and compare them to the writer but also just remember shit I havenāt thought about in years.
Mar 19, 2025
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A stream of consciousness poem/memoir published in 1970, where every sentence begins with āI rememberā. Memory is one of my favorite mediums, and Joe Brainard expertly sculpts memory into a written format that is intoxicating to read. While the memories are specific to him and a certain experience of mid-century America, theyāre also somewhat universal and pretty tantalizing. I found the experience of reading this text to be deeply pleasurable.
Hereās an excerpt:
I remember when polio was the worst thing in the world.
I remember pink dress shirts. And bola ties.
I remember when a kid told me that those sour clover-like leaves we used to eat (with little yellow flowers) tasted so sour because dogs peed on them.
I remember that didnāt stop me from eating them.
I remember the first drawing I remember doing. It was of a bride with a very long train.
I remember my first cigarette. It was a Kent. Up on a hill. In Tulsa, Oklahoma. With Ron Padgett.
I remember the only time I ever saw my mother cry. I was eating apricot pie.Ā
I remember when my father would say "Keep your hands out from under the covers" as he said goodnight. But he said it in a nice way.Ā
I remember when I thought that if you did anything bad, policemen would put you in jail.Ā
I remember a girl in school one day who, just out of the blue, went into a long spiel all about how difficult it was to wash her brotherās pants because he didnāt wear underwear.
I remember the first time I met Frank OāHara. He was walking down Second Avenue. It was a cool early Spring evening but he was wearing only a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. And blue jeans. And moccasins. I remember that he seemed very sissy to me. Very theatrical. Decadent.
I remember that I liked him instantly.
I remember liver.
I remember the chair I used to put my boogers behind.
Mar 20, 2025
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I can remember everything that has happened in my life and I can also remember what I felt or what version of myself I was.
Apr 18, 2024
One night I was so sad and kinda tipsy, and the only thing that helped me was making a list of all the memories I have from my childhood. Itās very long and I update it everytime that I feel like my memories are deteriorating and I donāt feel real. Nostalgia kills me a little and I thought it was a happy feeling for years but as I get older it becomes more and more painful
Feb 22, 2025
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and wonder why the hell they asked you to hang out? Like I just hung out with someone and they looked at their phone half the time and then asked me the most minimal stuff ever and then after 45 mins said āI have to go!ā Like, damn girl you beat me to it
Mar 3, 2025
I was so tired and could barely stay awake for my friends DJ set but it ended up being really good and Iām so proud of them :)
Mar 15, 2025
isn't it crazy how when you get a drink in this cup it tastes 100% better than any other type of drinking vessel? You can have the same diet coke or whatever but if it comes in this cup it's going to be much more crisper and tasty. Shout out the Cambro 2000P156 much love
Mar 10, 2025