Reviews

Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson

moxygen's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Only reason it’s not five stars is because it’s TOO SHORT!!!

jazose's review

emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

honnari_hannya's review

5.0

What more is there to say about this book that hasn’t been better said by others? A deeply moving, queer coming-of-age. Uses the metaphor of the monstrous for the alienation young people (esp. queer) feel in the face of the seemingly immovable, insurmountable obstacles of their lives. About how to grow up in and through abuse—the confusion and hurt it breeds, and also the complicated ways in which love persists even so. Love persisting is essential in all of Anne Carson’s works I think, as well as the catharsis of being allowed to experience that love even in the annihilating face of anger and sadness. About how the people you love and who love you will eventually find their way to you, despite it all. :’)

pollardgreens's review

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Sure, it emotionally sucker punches with the weight of a freight train, but it's also incredibly irreverent and funny! What more could you want?

czarnola's review

Far too odd for me. 

nicomarlyse's review

5.0

A perfect piece of literature, actually.

Anne Carson, Queen of Simile fr fr

lunarflare's review

4.0

carson really makes language a territory of her own… it is so fascinating to witness the landscapes she creates and transforms with her words. i was a fan of her poetry long before reading her full-length works and this helped me appreciate the depth of her craft so much more, even though i’m certainly missing a lot of its elements. the narrative is imbued with care, and there is a palpable ache and wonderment to the roadmap of life that carson traces for a character borrowed from scattered poetry fragments. this read made me crave an academic environment where i could deconstruct and digest the text more meaningfully, and i would love to revisit it with a better grasp of the mythology + carson’s abilities.

chicaverte's review

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

finncetric's review

3.0

This felt like reading the script for an A24 movie but it's one of the boring ones

doughboyy's review

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0