Autobiography of Red Paperback – August 1, 1998

"Autobiography of Red" is the story of Geryon, a young boy with red skin and large wings, who grows into a young man. He is in love with Herakles, a young man who seems to return Geryon's affection, but is actually quite cruel in his fickleness. The two encounter each other on and off over the years, Geryon seeking love, Herakles seeking adventure. Their paths eventually cross in Buenos Aires, of all places, where Herakles is with another young man, Ancash, recording the sounds of various volcanos. The three venture through South America together, the tension between the three of them almost palpable, at least to the more sensitive two of the group, Ancash and Geryon. It is here that the three must decide on the nature of their friendship, and Geryon on the nature of his life.This book is written in poetic free verse, and Ann Carson's style is nothing less than magical. It might seem difficult for readers accustomed to straightforward prose, but if one lets the words wash over them, their meaning will all be clear soon enough, and their beauty alone will convince the reader of their merit. The story is based on Greek myth, but rather than Herakles killing Geryon the monster literally, he "kills" by breaking his heart. Ultimately, the book's message seems to be that Geryon must learn to love himself first. The book is beautifully written, and cannot be recommended highly enough, to any reader who wants to read a delicate story in a challenging format.

This is poetry, in that it is beautiful and uses words ever-so carefully, but this is prose, in that it reads as easily as a novel and tells an engaging story. Geryon is a wonderfully-precise protagonist, going through his adventures with a quiet endurance and an energetic attachment to them. He has something of the quality of a Franz Kafka, a Michael Stipe, or an Angela Chase, but he's not so broodingly self-absorbed; rather, he's observant and thoughtful about the world around him. If the early-90s alternative rock movement had been more attentive and less despairing, it would have sounded something like this book, and would have taken a bigger audience.The framing prose, inventing some poetic fragments of an ancient Greek poet, asks us to look at the story-telling, as a parable of history-making, and makes us sensitive to the way the book uses language. If the book made me think about its construction as a book, though, it didn't keep me from reading it as a great story.

This book was so beautiful! The language itself is a miracle and all those pictures and moments and thoughts Carson captures are striking and precise. She takes the reader to a travel through different countries, from North America to Buenos Aires to Lima to Huaraz. We follow red-winged Geryon, who takes photographs and wonders about life and time. The book is sad and chaotic and breaks your heart with beauty and emotion. This isn't an easy one, though: you really need to focus or the poem flows by before you even notice.

Such a mystical, strange, and wonderful book of poetry. Anne Carson is definitely one of my favorites because of this work.

It must be a question of perspective. For me, it's as if I am standing outside a window looking in, and as I read, it is from the perspective of a mother of sons. Certain pieces linger -- Geryon's observation of stones at the beginning of the story- Carson has a unique ability to capture through mere glimpses the honesty and beauty of a child's understanding of his relationship to the world around him, trust in his brother because that's how the world should work in the mind of a 5 year old child; Geryon and his mother enjoying their Tuesday night routine- Geryon's mother's appreciation and validation of his sculpture autobiography; and perhaps what still pulls at my heart is what Carson was able to convey in the baby-sitting chapter- Geryon's retreat when his mother leaves and his springing to life with her return. As I read the novel, I had to force myself not to judge, but to observe; it was easier the second time through. Still, my heart aches for Geryon, and his vulnerability. Carson beautifully captures Geryon's plight "outside and inside." My chest still tightens as I recall Geryon's struggle as he is left to fend for himself, first by his brother's apathy, then by his brother's violence, the cruelty of love lost, and finally the cost of his freedom."Who can a monster blame for being red?"My heart aches for Geryon as he searches for meaning and an understanding of the distance between himself and the ones he loves, and his place in time and space.Alice Munro captured the sentiment best: "this book is amazing -- I haven't discovered any writing in years so marvelously disturbing."

I found this book's poetry ro be more elusive than stimulating to thought through an exquisite use of language. I have no idea of what the super-objective message is here. Very irritating.

Beautiful book

Some mindblowing imagery, the likes of which I have never seen. I'll never understand Anne Carson. She can write some inaccessible trash like her sappho translations or that first section of Plainwater discussing that greek poet, or even the incredibly needless intro of this book, but then when you get to the actual story she stuns and dazzles with her command of imagery and atmosphere. This should be your first anne carson book, a testament to the evocative power of words.

Sabemos del aporte estético y cultural de Anne Carson a la tradición poética de occidente. Con Autobiografía de rojo reinserta no sólo el mito en la sensibilidad de nuestra historia contemporánea, también logra lo que pocos: acudir a un estilo ya consumado en la literatura e reconstruirlo en nuestro discurso actual.En cuestiones del libro como producto: está manchado como de humedad u óxido, y eso parece que es responsabilidad de la librería

El libro es demasiado pretencioso, y aunque se vende como novela en verso y nada que ver. Decepcionante.

The item is as described. Thanks.

Anne Carson is certainly one of the most brilliant contemporary poets. Her Autobiography of Red is erudite and yet accessible. Highly recommended.

a