penofpossibilities's review
5.0
I cant believe I went so long not having read this
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Incest, and Sexual assault
Minor: Gun violence, War, and Violence
honnari_hannya's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Incest, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Animal death and Animal cruelty
criticalgayze's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Autobiography of Red was recommended to me as part of my 30 Before 30 reading challenge where I enlisted 30 friends to share a book each I should read before my 30th birthday this year.
Going in, I had no clue about Anne Carson. I figured she was some fringe author and that this was a sort of one-off text (although I knew it had a less praised sequel). I had no idea she was a critically acclaimed poet or that this work was a NBCC award finalist.
The text itself is a phenomenal piece of novel in verse. The way repetition, especially of symbolism is use to tie in a cohesive narrative, and the way both the source text and its biographical history are weaved in was masterful.
Even more than the text itself, I was blown away by Carson's opening essays. The opening essay starts with the line, "He came after Homer and before Gertrude Stein, a difficult interval for a poet." In a year that has found me obsessed with writers on writing and reading, I was immediately hooked and practically salivating for a full work of LitCrit by Anne Carson.
Going in, I had no clue about Anne Carson. I figured she was some fringe author and that this was a sort of one-off text (although I knew it had a less praised sequel). I had no idea she was a critically acclaimed poet or that this work was a NBCC award finalist.
The text itself is a phenomenal piece of novel in verse. The way repetition, especially of symbolism is use to tie in a cohesive narrative, and the way both the source text and its biographical history are weaved in was masterful.
Even more than the text itself, I was blown away by Carson's opening essays. The opening essay starts with the line, "He came after Homer and before Gertrude Stein, a difficult interval for a poet." In a year that has found me obsessed with writers on writing and reading, I was immediately hooked and practically salivating for a full work of LitCrit by Anne Carson.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Drug use
Minor: Animal death
earthtokb's review
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Chen Chen said online "I wonder if Anne Carson watches gay porn" and I have to agree. What a wild read lol but I'm glad I finally got around to it! I've been wanting to read this book since the original L word was on and the character Jenny mentioned it. Mythology is generally not my thing but this has me thinking twice about that! Beautiful language that's got my writer wheels turning.
My only drawbacks is I feel like at times the line between what was happening & what was just the inner thoughts of Geryon were blurred and not in a way that brought me closer to the text. Had to stop and start quite a bit (and I read poetry all the time so that's saying something). Love me some Anne Carson, tho!
My only drawbacks is I feel like at times the line between what was happening & what was just the inner thoughts of Geryon were blurred and not in a way that brought me closer to the text. Had to stop and start quite a bit (and I read poetry all the time so that's saying something). Love me some Anne Carson, tho!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Animal death
serotonone's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Incest, Sexual assault, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Animal death and Sexual content
upward_not_northward's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
An interesting, modern-day adaptation of the Herakles/Geryon myth with elements of Peruvian folklore thrown in, all told in verse form. One of the more unique things I've read. My only complaint is that the edition I read, Vintage Contemporaries, has the narrowest interior margins on the right-facing pages that had me feeling like I was breaking the spine of the book just to be able to read them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Child abuse
Minor: Animal death
kalchainein's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest
Minor: Animal death
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