Reviews with content warning for Incest - The Autobiography of Red

Reviews tagging 'Incest'

The Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson

46 reviews

bethuuul's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.25

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earthtokb's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny mysterious slow-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

Chen Chen said online "I wonder if Anne Carson watches gay porn" and I have to agree. What a wild read lol but I'm glad I finally got around to it! I've been wanting to read this book since the original L word was on and the character Jenny mentioned it. Mythology is generally not my thing but this has me thinking twice about that! Beautiful language that's got my writer wheels turning.

My only drawbacks is I feel like at times the line between what was happening & what was just the inner thoughts of Geryon were blurred and not in a way that brought me closer to the text. Had to stop and start quite a bit (and I read poetry all the time so that's saying something). Love me some Anne Carson, tho!

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wildelwrcase's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.75

I definitely didn't 'get this' like some people do. I will say that I definitely have not had enough time to truly go over it (I have to return it to the library) and really dig deep into the themes. But I think it is important for anyone going into this book casually, there is obviously a chance it just connects, but for me it didn't.

I think the actual prose was gorgeous and lyrical. I'm not used to reading much poetry, and maybe this is just not a beginners poetry book, but regardless I found the structure fascinating and extremely readable even for a newer reader. It's so very different to pretty much anything I've ever read before, like it's both trying to break the idea of novels and poems at the same time.

I really enjoyed out protagonist Geryon, and following him throughout life was really interesting. I especially love how during his childhood the description and metaphors are slightly more whimsical and large scale, a child scared of this new world, a world that hurts him again and again. But as he ages it becomes more reeled in, and less naïve. I also surprisingly really liked Ancash who provided a fresh perspective on Herakles, which was definitely needed.

I do almost wish that it stuck closer to the myth it was based on, Herakles causing Geryon's demise, though I'm aware that would land us with a very different story, but still interesting to think about.

I was also captured far more than I expected to be by the Intro and ending, both of which center around a largely forgotten Greek poet Stesichoros. It was super interesting historically and thematically, and I'm extremely glad Carson included it.

I will almost certainly return to this book when I am both older, am more educated on poetry, and have more time to really think through it. Regardless a very interesting read, especially if you are into books whose prose push boundaries, poetry, or slightly mind bending coming of age books.

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