Autobiography of Red
The award-winning poet reinvents a genre in a stunning work that is both a novel and a poem, both an unconventional re-creation of an ancient Greek myth and a wholly original coming-of-age story set in the present.
Geryon, a young boy who is also a winged red monster, reveals the volcanic terrain of his fragile, tormented soul in an autobiography he begins at the age of five. As he grows older, Geryon escapes his abusive brother and affectionate but ineffectual mother, finding solace behind the lens of his camera and in the arms of a young man named Herakles, a cavalier drifter who leaves him at the peak of infatuation. When Herakles reappears years later, Geryon confronts again the pain of his desire and embarks on a journey that will unleash his creative imagination to its fullest extent. By turns whimsical and haunting, erudite and accessible, richly layered and deceptively simple, Autobiography of Red is a profoundly moving portrait of an artist coming to terms with the fantastic accident of who he is.
A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR
National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist
"Anne Carson is, for me, the most exciting poet writing in English today." --Michael Ondaatje
"A profound love story . . . sensuous and funny, poignant, musical and tender." --The New York Times Book Review
"A deeply odd and immensely engaging book. . . . [Carson] exposes with passionate force the mythic underlying the explosive everyday." --The Village Voice
Geryon, a young boy who is also a winged red monster, reveals the volcanic terrain of his fragile, tormented soul in an autobiography he begins at the age of five. As he grows older, Geryon escapes his abusive brother and affectionate but ineffectual mother, finding solace behind the lens of his camera and in the arms of a young man named Herakles, a cavalier drifter who leaves him at the peak of infatuation. When Herakles reappears years later, Geryon confronts again the pain of his desire and embarks on a journey that will unleash his creative imagination to its fullest extent. By turns whimsical and haunting, erudite and accessible, richly layered and deceptively simple, Autobiography of Red is a profoundly moving portrait of an artist coming to terms with the fantastic accident of who he is.
A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR
National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist
"Anne Carson is, for me, the most exciting poet writing in English today." --Michael Ondaatje
"A profound love story . . . sensuous and funny, poignant, musical and tender." --The New York Times Book Review
"A deeply odd and immensely engaging book. . . . [Carson] exposes with passionate force the mythic underlying the explosive everyday." --The Village Voice
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Community Reviews
literally do not know what to think of with this book. reminded me of the dreamer in vibe. I listened to it, so the verse part of it came through, but was perhaps less of a barrier than if you were to read it physically. I didn't have enough Classic knowledge of the Greek myths this was loosely based on. I think this would've been a great book to discuss in a group. neverthelesss, I looked up some info about the book after I finished so I could get a sense of what Carson was doing, at least retrospectively.
hard for me to rate this book. I think it's beautiful and clever, but it definitely confused me at times. I can really see this book being anywhere from 2-5 stars based on who's reading it and when. but in terms of merit, I guess 4 stars???
hard for me to rate this book. I think it's beautiful and clever, but it definitely confused me at times. I can really see this book being anywhere from 2-5 stars based on who's reading it and when. but in terms of merit, I guess 4 stars???
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Iâm not usually a big fan of the âcoming of ageâ genre but this book truly stood out. It was incredibly tender and beautifully written. Anne Carsonâs creativity and her unique approach to experimenting with classical myth made this so phenomenal.
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