Brotherhood 2.0: January 8, 2007
2007-01-08 · letter vlog · John · 2:54 · watch on YouTube
Topic: Books & writing (also: Nerdfighteria) · mode: Personal update · tags: community lore, recurring series, punishment or challenge, on location
Driving from Asheville to Birmingham, John rejects Hank's Sutter Home substitution for the Strawberry Hill challenge, says his untitled new novel's first draft is due January 21 and asks Hank for a title, and proposes a Brotherhood 2.0 Book Club.
What is said
The parts of the video and what is said in each (★ — how much it matters to the video).
00:00:00 — Leaving Asheville for Birmingham with Sarah; Hank did not complete the Strawberry Hill Challenge (Sutter Home vs Strawberry Hill)
- ★★ John says he and Sarah are about to drive out of Asheville to Birmingham, Alabama, down the dirt road from their parents' house, and that Hank is going to be 'here' soon. — 00:00:10 · Sarah Urist Green, Sydney Green, Mike Green · also in: Week 2 Condensed Highlight Reel
- ★★★ John says Hank did not complete the Strawberry Hill Challenge: drinking Sutter Home instead is like slow dancing with Teddy Ruxpin when challenged to wrestle a grizzly bear. (playful) — 00:00:10 · also in: Week 2 Condensed Highlight Reel
00:00:58 — Recent mouth surgery; Strawberry Hill tastes like post-dental rinse spit; the Yeti interrupts; am I trying too hard?
- ★★ John says he had mouth surgery a few weeks ago and claims Strawberry Hill tastes exactly like the minty rinse spat out after dental procedures. (playful) — 00:00:58 · also in: Week 2 Condensed Highlight Reel
- ★ John breaks off with 'That was the Yeti!' and then asks whether he is funny or trying too hard; per the description he is talking to the Yeti (Sarah) and edited out her answers. (playful) — 00:00:58 · Sarah Urist Green
00:01:27 — First draft of the new novel due January 21 (13 days, per Daniel Biss); no title; Shakespeare and Bible titles
- ★★★ John says the first draft of his new novel is due on January 21, which Daniel Biss, a mathematician he knows, tells him is 13 days away. (playful) — 00:01:27 · Daniel Biss
- ★★ Besides finishing it, John's problem is that the novel has no title; he is thinking of taking one from Shakespeare or the Bible. (hedged) — 00:01:27
- ★ John lists Shakespearean titles (Infinite Jest, The Dogs of War, Brave New World, In Cold Blood) and Bible titles (East of Eden, Song of Solomon), jokingly adding Rich Dad, Poor Dad. (playful) — 00:01:56 · Mike Green
00:02:34 — Asking Hank for a title; proposal of a Brotherhood 2.0 Book Club; first suggestions
- ★★ John says he hopes Hank can come up with a title for the novel. (hedged) — 00:02:34
- ★★★ John proposes a Brotherhood 2.0 Book Club: he will read a book Hank suggests if Hank reads one he suggests. — 00:02:34 · also in: Week 2 Condensed Highlight Reel
- ★★ John's first book-club suggestion: either What Is the What by Dave Eggers or We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families by Philip Gourevitch. — 00:02:34
Humor (significant)
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John says drinking Sutter Home when challenged to drink Strawberry Hill... — 00:00:10
“is like slow dancing with Teddy Ruxpin when you've been challenged to wrestle a grizzly bear”
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After claiming Strawberry Hill is made of strawberries, John says 'just kidding'. — 00:00:10
“It's made out of apple wine, malt, red dye, and the fires of hell.”
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Listing Bible titles, John includes Rich Dad, Poor Dad and imagines its biblical version. — 00:01:56
“Rich Dad gets turned into a pillar of salt, and Poor Dad is exalted.”
Threads in this video
- disputed · Hank: drink a glass of Strawberry Hill wine without hurling (2007) — John rejects Hank's claimed completion of the Strawberry Hill Challenge because Hank drank Sutter Home instead of Strawberry Hill. (00:00:10) → refers to Brotherhood 2.0: January 5th
- callback · John's wife Sarah as 'the Yeti' (2007) — Sarah interrupts off camera and John identifies her as the Yeti; he then questions her with her answers left out. (00:00:58)
- asked · John asks Hank to come up with a title for his new novel, Paper Towns (2007) — John asks Hank to come up with a title for his untitled new novel. (00:02:34)
- proposed · Brotherhood 2.0 Book Club: each brother reads a book the other assigns (2007) — John proposes the Brotherhood 2.0 Book Club: each brother reads a book the other suggests; his first suggestion is What Is the What or We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families. (00:02:34)
Where the stories that moved here went next
- John asks Hank to come up with a title for his new novel, Paper Towns (2007) — reported back; last: result reported, 2007-07-11
- Hank: drink a glass of Strawberry Hill wine without hurling (2007) — disputed
- Brotherhood 2.0 Book Club: each brother reads a book the other assigns (2007) — last documented in 2007 (looked back on in 2009)
Mentioned
Central: John's untitled new novel · Nerdfighter Book Club
Also: People: Daniel Biss · Mike Green · Sarah Urist Green · Sydney Green · William Shakespeare
Works: Bible · Brave New World · Claudia and the Sad Good-bye · East of Eden · In Cold Blood · Infinite Jest · Rich Dad Poor Dad · Song of Solomon · The Dogs of War · We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families · What Is the What
Places: Asheville, North Carolina · Birmingham, Alabama
Products: Boone's Farm · Sutter Home · Teddy Ruxpin
Only in the description or credits: Dave Eggers · Philip Gourevitch
Also centred on John's untitled new novel: July 19: A Day in the Life of a Writer (Who Has No Friends)
Also centred on Nerdfighter Book Club: Week 2 Condensed Highlight Reel · March 22nd: Book Club and Business Cards · September 6th: The Book Club Returns · Flinching in the Shower · The Physics of Book Clubs and Vidcon · Walking the Red Carpet: Thoughts from Los Angeles
Replies to
- corrects · Brotherhood 2.0: January 5th — “I would like to congratulate you on successfully completing the Strawberry Hill Challenge. Except that you didn't complete it.”
Later videos replying to this one
- 2007-01-09 · Brotherhood 2.0: January 9th (Hank) — answers — “As for the Brotherhood 2.0 book club, I'm really excited that you're giving me opportunities to read so many books about genocide.” (00:02:30)
- 2016-05-10 · On Pain (John) — continues — “In fact I complained about it in January of 2007 in the third video I ever made.” (00:00:34)