Walt John Pearce, a writer known for his deep appreciation of substantial literature, is bringing a unique literary experience to downtown Manhattan. This weekend, instead of his usual mountain porch reading spot, Pearce is hosting a 52-hour marathon reading of Gertrude Stein’s monumental work, The Making of Americans, at a new project space called Earth. Joined by collaborator Sam Frank and a diverse group of participants, including ex-podcast co-host Honor Levy, John Pearce is transforming a personal passion for literature into a communal event. Before heading to the city, Honor Levy caught up with John Pearce at his local Walmart in upstate New York, where he was gathering supplies for this ambitious undertaking. Their conversation, filled with literary insights and humorous observations, reveals Pearce’s motivations and the intriguing nature of this upcoming literary happening centered around the challenging yet rewarding prose of Gertrude Stein.
John Pearce’s Literary Project: Marathon Reading of Gertrude Stein
Inspiration and Concept
The idea for a marathon reading of Gertrude Stein’s The Making of Americans wasn’t born in a vacuum. John Pearce, while researching Stein, stumbled upon the history of Paula Cooper Gallery’s annual New Year’s Eve readings and a similar event organized by Sam Frank and Triple Canopy a decade prior. Inspired by these precedents and driven by his own fascination with Gertrude Stein’s work, John Pearce, with the help of Sam Frank, decided to revive this tradition. This wasn’t just about reading a book; it was about creating an experience, a “happening” as Pearce describes it, to share the often-perceived “unreadable” yet rhythmically captivating nature of Stein’s writing with a wider audience.
The Choice of The Making of Americans
The Making of Americans is not a casual beach read. Clocking in at 925 pages, it’s known for its repetitive and unconventional style, a hallmark of Gertrude Stein’s modernist approach. John Pearce acknowledges its challenging nature, even admitting to only having read three-quarters of it non-linearly. However, it is precisely this rhythmic, trance-inducing quality that makes it, in Pearce’s view, perfect for a marathon reading. He appreciates Stein’s experimental use of language, her rejection of traditional punctuation like commas, and her commitment to exploring the nuances of repetition and rhythm in prose. For John Pearce, The Making of Americans represents a bold step in modernist literature, a work that demands to be experienced and perhaps understood through the act of collective, prolonged reading.
Readers and Community
To bring this ambitious project to life, John Pearce and Sam Frank curated a diverse list of readers. This wasn’t about assembling a homogenous group of literary academics. Instead, they aimed for inclusivity, inviting “cool old Language poets,” “Fluxus people,” “weird downtown socialites,” writers of all stripes, and even “hermits.” This eclectic mix reflects John Pearce’s vision for the event as a “unifying” force, a space where literature can bridge different social circles and create a shared experience. The participation of Paula Cooper herself, from the gallery that originally hosted Stein readings, adds another layer of significance and historical connection to the event organized by John Pearce.
Walt John Pearce and Honor Levy in Walmart
Walt John Pearce pictured in a Walmart aisle with Honor Levy, preparing for a 52-hour Gertrude Stein reading event in Manhattan.
Exploring Gertrude Stein’s Modernist Style through John Pearce’s Lens
Stein’s Unique Approach to Language
John Pearce’s appreciation for Gertrude Stein goes beyond mere admiration; it delves into a deep understanding of her revolutionary approach to language. He highlights her radical stylistic choices, such as minimizing comma usage, a technique Stein herself termed “positively degrading.” Pearce agrees, viewing commas as a “cheat” that can weaken prose. He favors the use of “and” as a stronger connective, reflecting Stein’s rhythmic and additive style. This preference for rhythm over conventional punctuation is central to Stein’s modernism, and John Pearce clearly resonates with this experimental approach. He points to the repetitive nature of The Making of Americans, where simple words are rearranged and reiterated to create a complex and layered text, challenging traditional narrative structures.
The Significance of Stein’s Work
John Pearce argues for Gertrude Stein’s crucial position in modernist literature, placing her alongside figures like James Joyce. He believes that Stein’s relative lack of mainstream recognition is due to a combination of factors: her gender, her Jewish heritage, and the inaccessibility of her work, both in terms of its challenging style and historical availability. Pearce emphasizes the groundbreaking nature of Stein’s rhythmic innovations, which he believes “blew things open” for subsequent writers. He sees her as a pioneer who dared to break established rules of grammar and syntax to explore new possibilities in literary expression. By hosting this marathon reading, John Pearce is not only celebrating Stein’s work but also actively contributing to its rediscovery and renewed appreciation in contemporary literary discourse.
Walt John Pearce at Walmart in upstate New York
John Pearce is seen shopping for supplies at a Walmart in upstate New York, showcasing his down-to-earth preparation for a high-minded literary endeavor.
John Pearce: A Champion of Literature and Shared Experiences
Pearce’s Passion for Literature
This marathon reading event is a testament to John Pearce’s genuine passion for literature, particularly for works that challenge and expand conventional literary boundaries. His deep engagement with Gertrude Stein’s writing, his understanding of her modernist context, and his desire to share this with others demonstrate a commitment that goes beyond casual interest. Pearce’s own writing, and his insightful interviews for Interview magazine, further solidify his position as a thoughtful and engaged voice in contemporary literary circles. He is not just a reader but an active participant in the literary world, seeking to create meaningful experiences and foster deeper appreciation for significant, albeit sometimes challenging, works.
Creating a Literary Happening
John Pearce’s initiative transcends a simple book reading; it’s about creating a “literary happening.” By choosing a non-traditional venue like Earth and inviting a diverse group of readers and attendees, he is deliberately breaking down barriers between literature and everyday life. The marathon reading becomes a performance, a shared endurance test, and a communal exploration of a complex text. This approach reflects a contemporary desire to make literature more accessible and engaging, to move it out of academic silos and into public spaces where it can spark conversations and connect people from different backgrounds. John Pearce, through this event, is effectively using Gertrude Stein’s challenging work as a catalyst for community building and shared cultural experience.
A contemplative portrait of writer John Pearce on his porch in upstate New York, highlighting his thoughtful approach to literature and events.
In conclusion, John Pearce’s marathon reading of Gertrude Stein’s The Making of Americans is more than just a literary event; it’s a cultural experiment, a community gathering, and a passionate tribute to a modernist literary giant. Through his vision and initiative, John Pearce is inviting audiences to engage with Gertrude Stein’s challenging yet rewarding prose in a unique and immersive way, reaffirming the power of literature to connect, challenge, and inspire. This event positions John Pearce not only as a writer with a deep appreciation for literary history but also as an innovator in creating new forms of literary engagement for contemporary audiences.
Making of Americans line-up at Earth
A line-up of “The Making of Americans” books at Earth, signifying the scale and preparation involved in John Pearce’s ambitious marathon reading event.
