Quickie Interview #5: Rick Barot

Rick Barot has an MFA from the University of Iowa and was a Stegner Fellow and Jones Lecturer at Stanford. He received an NEA fellowship in 2002. He now teaches at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, and in the Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College. His first book, The Darker Fall, was published in 2002 by Sarabande Books, which will also publish his second book, Want, in 2008. His poems have appeared widely, in such magazines as The New Republic, The Paris Review, Poetry, Post Road, and TriQuarterly. He's at work on a collection of essays about poetry. A couple of these essays are in the current issues of The Gettysburg Review and Virginia Quarterly Review.

First Car?

Red 1971 VW Beetle.

What was your favorite book in high school?

Early in high school, "Jude the Obscure" because of all the fatalist romanticism in it; late in high school, "Less Than Zero" because of all the pan-sexual stuff that happens among all those rich kids.

Which crowd did you hang out with in high school?

Two crowds: the tennis-team guys, because I was on the team; and the school newspaper kids, because I was the front-page editor for a couple of years.

First job?

Delivering the "Oakland Tribune" newspaper in the neighborhoods around Lake Merritt in Oakland.

Car now?

Green 2000 Toyota Corolla.

Favorite book now?

Unfair question. I read something by Virginia Woolf just about every week, usually some part of her "Diary."

What's new on your iPod or CD player?

A month ago my car got broken into and the stereo was ripped out and stolen. Inside it was "The Emancipation of Mimi" by Mariah. I still haven't replaced the stereo. In the CD player at home I have a CD of my friend Dave doing an acoustic cover of "Always Be My Baby," a song by Mariah.

What's the best DVD you've rented of late?

"Angels in America."

What are you working on these days?

Some new poems for a third manuscript. A lot of the poems seem to have place names for titles: "Tacoma," "Oakland," "Vancouver," "Oaxaca." Not sure why. Also, I'm doing more work on my essays about poets I love: George Herbert, Laura Jensen, James Galvin.

What are you reading that's fun?

Books I got at Open Books in Seattle this weekend: Wayne Miller's "Only the Senses Sleep," Josh Weiner's "From the Book of Giants," and Joy Katz's sweet little chapbook, "Garden Room."

What's your favorite exercise?

Jogging.

What's your favorite piece of clothing?

Are shoes considered clothing? Or are they considered shoes? I really like the black boots I bought at least ten years ago for $15 at the Ashby Flea Market.

What are some of your guilty pleasures?

House-porn magazines: "House and Garden," "Elle Decor," etc.

Favorite recipe?

I've never made it myself, but it's this chicken paprikash dish that my friend Salvatore makes. It's dumplings and chicken in a sort of broth with sour cream and paprika in the broth.

What's on your desk?

Student papers. They pretty much own the desk.

Stones or Beatles?

Something like a combo of the two, but lite: Oasis.

Porn name (first pet's name + first street you lived on)?

Charlie Agua Dulce.