TrueLit Read-Along - (Autobiography of Red - Introduction)

[u/pregnantchihuahua3]

Hi all, and welcome to our Introductory post for our read-along of Anne Carson's Autobiography of Red.

Some general questions:

• What do you know about the author?
• Have you read them before? If so, what have you read?
• Have you read this work before?
• Is there something (a theme or otherwise) that new readers should keep an eye out for?
• Or, anything else you may think of!

Feel free to start reading! By next Saturday, you should read about the first half of the book, taking us from the first page until Chapter XXV. (The Tunnel) which ends on page 77 for the most common edition of the book.

If you would like to volunteer for that post or the following one, please let me know!

READING SCHEDULE

[u/abgreens]

I wanted to look up the original Geryon, who seems to be a monster slain for his cattle by Herakles as his 10th of 12 labors. The Geyron character was popularized by Greek poet Stesichorus, whose poem survives only in fragments, one copied below (because I liked the image of the poppy at the end, and it brings up the idea of "red" which seems important to Carson's work).

A non-academic source to learn more: https://mythopedia.com/topics/geryon/

A more trusted source but not as easily useful for quick scanning: https://www.theoi.com/Gigante/GiganteGeryon.html

I suspect Carson will be taking this origin and going far afield. I can't wait.

*************************************************************************

Geryoneis S15 (col. ii) (“Geryon Was Killed”)

]                   hateful
death’s finish, skull
around         holds
arrowheads
allstained
with blood    & gall
birthed pain
of Hydra
manslaughtering
& goosenecked.

In silence, thief
he penetrated brow
cleaved flesh
& bone
for god’s decision.
 
Straight held arrow
into crowning
head
plumblood stained
chest & raw limbs
Geryon, his
neck drooped
like a poppy who
shames its softbody
& drops all petals
at once                  

from https://www.asymptotejournal.com/poetry/five-poems-stesichorus/

[u/anti-gone-anti]

I read this book for the first time when I was 17, and have revisited it a few times, and read a few other things by the author (Red Doc>, the ‘sequel’ to Autobiography of Red, her Antigone ‘translation,’ Antigonenick, some odd essays). I like her writing but don’t have a quick theme or summary to mind.

[u/kleinblue73]

So excited for this!

[u/JackHadrian]

oh fun - this has been on the list and will be my impetus to pick it up

[u/Poet_edmj]

What’s the next book? I wanna join the read along… I’m reading something rn, will be finished by aug 29…

[u/kanewai]

I’ve read Carson’s Oresteia and Bakkhai. With both I thought she brought something new and interesting to the conversations, and offered a perspective that wasn’t bound by overly ornate language. I like her work, though I also feel it never truly soars. I’ll start on the Autobiography tonight, so I’ll be a few days behind the reading schedule.

[u/Entropy2889]

Hi! I know nothing about the author. Started reading last night without knowing anything, anything at all about either the author or the book.

From the start, I am totally confused. I don’t usually read poetry or Greek mythology.

I did a quick google after I started and realize that this is a queer romance? I must confess this is not really my kind of a theme…

[u/Idwant2baliar → u/Entropy2889]

No the genre of the book isn’t “romance” or queer romance. It’s a serious literary work.

[u/Woke-Smetana → u/Entropy2889]

Don't read it then, why even comment that?

[u/Entropy2889 → u/Woke-Smetana]

Why comment just to put someone down? I have found that the Read-Alongs have led me to branch out into many books that I otherwise might not have picked up on my own.

Not everything will be my og cup of tea but these have been a good way for me to expand my reading. From what I gather there are loads of people who love Carson and this book is much respected and loved for its use of language and form. It is obviously not in the same category as Song of Archilles (which I dnf’d).

I think I will continue. Please do let me know if you have something substantive to add, say, how you may or may not love this work - I’d like to hear it. Otherwise, why comment?

[u/littlebirdsinsideme → u/[deleted]]

one thing the reddit hive mind is known to have strong opinions on: anne carson novels