Red Doc> (Vintage Contemporaries)

Anne Carson’s novels-in-verse are some of my favorites, especially “Autobiography of Red.” When I heard she was continuing Geryon’s story I was thrilled, and “Red Doc” does not disappoint. First, you need to read “Autobiography of Red,” since it is Part One of Geryon’s story, and “Red Doc” is Part Two. Second, keep in mind this is Anne Carson. She never repeats herself. She always invents new experimental formats and structures for her books. And that’s exactly what she’s done with “Red Doc.” Third, this is one of those books you’ll need to read several times to fully appreciate the brilliance of her technique. The word music, the story detail, the innuendo, the history, all of it delightfully Carson. Truly, she is a master at writing her way around a story as if she were stitching an heirloom quilt. No one does it better!

Autobiography of Red ends on high note, with the Heracles, his boyfriend, and Geryon enjoying a South American trip (think the Burroughs "Queer" journey, but with far less money). Like Alan Hollinghurst skipping from 26 to 43 in the protagonist's narrative in "Our Evenings," Carson jumps far ahead in Heracles & Geryon's life for this sequel. So many poetic insights, so sympathetic an eye for PTSD-suffering Heracles, and Geryon's meek shepardly sense-making. I hope it is turned into a play or film. One tip: this work is much harder to follow than Autobiography of Red. So you may want to read Rachell Mindell's dissertation on it: "What is a Hole Made of: Queer Identity and Grief in Autobiography of Red and Red Doc>", before diving into Red Doc. Or after.

I'm a fan of Carson so this is pure subjectivity. I also enjoy the Classic and myth and this is compatible with my admiration of Carson. This book is clever, beautiful, stunning, an object of beauty, 'and at every window the vague twilight / the black flakes of this / dayless day comes sifting / down....' Gorgeous.

"To live past the end of your myth is a perilous thing." I can't help but see a little wistfulness on Carson's part there. She's put out a huge amount of really good work, but her undeniably Great works were Glass, Irony & God, and then Autobiography of Red. She keeps turning out top-notch work, but it still can't match the heights she reached with those two books. She's sort of lived past the end of her own myth. Some artists flame out in a blaze of glory, and some of them stay alive, keep turning out quality work, even though their best is behind them. Buy this book. Read this book. It's good and you'll never regret taking the time out of your life for it. But don't expect it to be a reprise of Autobiography of Red. It's excellent in its own way, but it won't hit you nearly as hard as it's predecessor.

Honestly one of my favorite books of all time. A montage of beautiful, upsetting, glorious moments that make the head spin. Perfect reading for the bus ride or the recliner.

Be sure to read The Autobiography of Red, first. Red Doc> is the continuation, in a different key, of the poetic retelling of one of Hercules labors. Nothing I say can do justice to the power and depth of these works. Just read them.

beautiful book

Anne Carson is a great deal of fun. I love reading her stuff. Read it, enjoy it.

Haven't finished it but I enjoy Carson.

This book matches the brilliance and inventiveness of its companion book Autobiography of Red. It's original and deeply moving. I will be buying more work from this outstanding poet. The book is also attractive and of good quality.

A great poet, sharp and witty.

I don't know what to write in this review - that the book is good? Personally I would pay a sum of many figures for the shopping notes written by Anne Carson. She is head and shoulders above any writer today and for the past 20 years. Even when the themes aren't your thing, the writing itself carries itself with such dignity, with a head risen so high that her words are bound to be burned into your mind forever. I've never read anything like Anne Carson and having read everything published by her to this day, I only want more. Hers is a unique voice.

First of her books I got really into, a unique talent. wanted to have it on my kindle as well.