A review by revolverreads
Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
For the month of April, we had a wonderful listeners choice at Revolver Reads, and this little book of poems absolutely demolished us emotionally. Anne Carson’s Autobiography of Red is a queer coming of age story, and if you are in the market for something gutwrenchingly beautiful, that will leave you questioning a novel so small could leave you feeling so much, then this is the read for you.
Loosely based off of the myth of Geryon and the Tenth Labour of Herakles, our Red Bat Boy, Geyron, is introduced to us as a vulnerable and isolated child. A father that checked out long before any permanent memories could be made, a mother as vacant as the fruit bowls that litter their kitchen, and a disgusting monster of a brother, it’s easy to understand why a hot fuck boy at a bus stand that’s telling you to shove your hands under his shirt would seem like a great idea.
Unfortunately, for Geyron, that man happens to be the unfortunately charismatic Herakles. Carson’s novel in verse from that point forward takes us through the melancholic tale of them finding comfort in each other, though it’s quickly obvious that Herakles is a walking red flag.
We would be surprised if anyone read this and was able to sympathize or see Herakles in a light that painted him as anything other than a washed up attention seeker, with no value for Geyron or his feelings. Had Herakles taken a page out of Taylor Swift's book, he’d have known that loving Geyron was like RED, and not the yellow canary he dreams of. It’s one of the first indications that this person that Geyron loves does not even truly know who he is, and that’s the reason for the tear drops on our pages.
Though we do get a break from Dollar Tree Brad Pitt, when he callously ends things with Geyron, and get a glimpse into the life he begins to build around him, as he photographs and travels through Argentina. It’s impossible to be truly free of Herakles, because he managed to finesse Ancash into a sitationship, when we meet him again, as they plan their way to Peru.
Don’t be fooled by how small the book looks, because it successfully packs the punch it needs to. Like all poetry, it leaves you looking for everything left unsaid, it leaves you wanting better for Geyron, despite knowing how his story beyond the pages end. It’s a true work of art, and should not be missed.
Loosely based off of the myth of Geryon and the Tenth Labour of Herakles, our Red Bat Boy, Geyron, is introduced to us as a vulnerable and isolated child. A father that checked out long before any permanent memories could be made, a mother as vacant as the fruit bowls that litter their kitchen, and a disgusting monster of a brother, it’s easy to understand why a hot fuck boy at a bus stand that’s telling you to shove your hands under his shirt would seem like a great idea.
Unfortunately, for Geyron, that man happens to be the unfortunately charismatic Herakles. Carson’s novel in verse from that point forward takes us through the melancholic tale of them finding comfort in each other, though it’s quickly obvious that Herakles is a walking red flag.
We would be surprised if anyone read this and was able to sympathize or see Herakles in a light that painted him as anything other than a washed up attention seeker, with no value for Geyron or his feelings. Had Herakles taken a page out of Taylor Swift's book, he’d have known that loving Geyron was like RED, and not the yellow canary he dreams of. It’s one of the first indications that this person that Geyron loves does not even truly know who he is, and that’s the reason for the tear drops on our pages.
Though we do get a break from Dollar Tree Brad Pitt, when he callously ends things with Geyron, and get a glimpse into the life he begins to build around him, as he photographs and travels through Argentina. It’s impossible to be truly free of Herakles, because he managed to finesse Ancash into a sitationship, when we meet him again, as they plan their way to Peru.
Don’t be fooled by how small the book looks, because it successfully packs the punch it needs to. Like all poetry, it leaves you looking for everything left unsaid, it leaves you wanting better for Geyron, despite knowing how his story beyond the pages end. It’s a true work of art, and should not be missed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest and Sexual assault