J.W. Burleson photo / Boquillas del Carmen, Coah.

PHB

My photo
Brooklin, Maine, United States
We own a 1975 GMC Sierra Grande 15 in Maine and a 1986 Chevrolet Custom Deluxe 10 in West Texas. Also a pair of 1997 Volvo 850 wagons. Average age in the fleet is 28 years--we're recycling. I've published 3 novels: THE LAW OF DREAMS (2006), THE O'BRIENS (2012), and CARRY ME (2016). Also 2 short story collections: NIGHT DRIVING(1987) and TRAVELLING LIGHT (2013). More of my literary life is at www.peterbehrens.org I was a Fellow at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study for 2012-13. I'm an adjunct professor at Colorado College and in the MFA program at Queens University of Charlotte. In 2015-16 I was a Fellow at Harvard University's Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. The Autoliterate office is in Car Talk Plaza in Harvard Square, 2 floors above Dewey Cheatem & Howe. SUBSCRIBE TO THE AUTOLITERATE DAILY EMAIL by hitting the button to the right.

Thursday, April 30, 2015

CARRY ME: The world of the novel



HHB born in this house, Isle of Wight, 1910
The world of a novel. My new novel CARRY ME  will be published in the US (Pantheon) and Canada (House of Anansi) in March 2016. (It will be published in France by Philippe-Rey, Paris). The story unfolds 1914-38 in England, Ireland, Germany, Rotterdam, New York, and on the Llano Estacado in Texas and New Mexico. Photos from the family file were part of the inspiration for the book.

Frankfurt



Hiking party, Taunus hills, 1925
 IG Farben Headquarters, now Goethe University-Frankfurt


Klinger School, Frankfurt
PHB brought HHB's 1938 passport back to Rotterdam, 75 years later


Rotterdam, the boat for New York
Lllano estacado, New Mexico

The Römer, Frankfurt


HBB, Geisebrechtstrasse, Berlin


Llano Estacado, New Mexico
Llano Estacado, New Mexico

1939 Nash Lafayette

I saw it at Motorland, in Arundel Maine, where Tim Stentiford has a thing for Nash. They certain have their own style; these Art Deco era cars especially.  This one has a bed in the car, The rear seat back raises up, and you sleep with your feet in the trunk.




Wednesday, April 29, 2015

1953 Ford, Bay Area


from Michael Moore, at the Benicia Band Car Show. That was a nice era for Fords. There was one stored in an older lady's garage when I lived in Banff. Caught a glimpse every now and then but the car never went anywhere. Wonder if it's still there. Alex, will you check it out? Near the firehall, I seem to recall. Kind of a cafe au lait color. Actually, close to the color of this Ford Crestline I saw in Roy, New Mexico a couple years back. 

Monday, April 27, 2015

Portland Architecture: Commercial Street

It's a redbrick town. There's a starkness and solidness in Portland's nineteenth and early twentieth century commercial architecture, an aesthetic that echoes values that were important in Maine life. What you see is what you get. Sharp but honest dealing.

1959 Cadillac Eldorado


from Kahzu

1958 Chevrolet Yeoman Wagon, Benicia CA

These from Michael Moore, at the Benicia Band Benefit car show. Caught an unmodified version of this wagon in Wiscasset, Maine last year.

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Brooklin Boatyard: April & Charlotte

That's Charlotte, the speedboat up front. We've seen her before. I love the light of April, especially in boat sheds.

Basha Burwell: Santa Barbara: El Chevrolet

BB was out in Santa Barbara styling for Toad & Co. (x-Horny Toad). A great, clean work truck. Nice pin-striping.   BB has also worked on their shoots here in Maine.
I want a pair of  SeaVee sneakers. Size 12.

Friday, April 24, 2015

Northern Rose at the Brooklin Boatyard

 A Torrey Island 29,  Joel White's design. She'll launch next month. Beautiful handsome sturdy thing.



Thursday, April 23, 2015

The Marfa-to-Maine truck. Naskeag Harbor, Brooklin ME

Not many boats in the harbor yet. Cold and rough on the gear for lobstering. Many lobstermen don't set out gear until June.

 Portrait by my son.

The Marfa-to-Maine truck.
Bought new at Casner Motors, Marfa 1975.  Maybe that's where it acquired the Chevrolet tailgate, even though it's a GMC Sierra Grande 15.
 I bought it from Bee Pierce in 2010.
Back to Naskeag.



Wednesday, April 22, 2015

1950 Mercury Lead Sled



from Colin Washburn:
"Man, I love these Mercs. Probably because my buddy Travis Hart had one in high school. His looked nothing like this one. The candy-apple red beauty was in a gas station in Ely, Nevada. It had Washington plates. A long road trip in a low-rider."--CRW
See also: a very clean Texas Merc. And John Lennox's first car.