Comments on: David Vann: Legend Of A Suicide

By: 1streading

1streading — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:55:55 +0000

Great review. I also read this at the end of last year. I suspect that the decision to market it as a novel in the UK is partly a commercial one, however, I agree that the stories add to the power of the novella - as does the autobiographical element. It would be quite difficult to disentangle these,and interesting to read the novella in isolation. Which I can’t do now.

By: Simon (Savidge Reads)

Simon (Savidge Reads) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:00:03 +0000

Great review of this book Stewart. I read this at the end of 2009 and I still think about it, particularily the novella. Its one of those books that I almost didnt read because of the ripples of hype but I am so, so glad that I did. Remarkable book.

By: Kerry

Kerry — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:21:42 +0000

This is a very difficult and dark subject, but the book sounds fascinating. I enjoy when a particular fact situation is approached from various angles. I like the “myth of the man” aspect of the work. Plus, the quotes are excellent. My urgent TBR is already pretty high, but I am keeping this in mind. Great review of a book that I otherwise would have missed. Thanks.

By: Stewart

Stewart — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:55:09 +0000

The book is definitely autobiographical.

Hi tolmsted. I knew it was autobiographical, in a way. The acknowledgements pretty much explains it when Vann says:

Finally, I must thank my family, because it was an uncomfortable topic I was writing about - my father’s suicide - and there’s exposure in these stories. They’re fictional, but based on a lot that’s true.

I don’t agree with the notion of the book being a novel; as far as I’m concerned it’s five short stories and a novella. This in much the same way that I don’t see Jim Crace’s Continent as anything more than short stories, even if it did win the Whitbread First Novel Prize.

By: tolmsted

tolmsted — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:01:38 +0000

I can’t wait to read this book. I’ve been listening to a lot of interviews with the artist on my ipod (podcasts mostly from the UK) and there were a couple things you might be interested in -

The book is definitely autobiographical. It took the author 10 years to write and he chose fiction mainly because of the fact he had so few hard facts - just lots of hearsay as to what happened.

Also, the UK edition is not published as short stories. It was published as a single novel - which the author prefers but admits can be confusing to some readers because of the way it jumps around. He actually asked the US publisher not to put “short stories” on the cover of that edition, even if it was broken down as short stories inside. He also discussed how the disorienting feeling caused by the jumping around in the narrative could be a good thing and in fact add to the text. While I knew that covers differed between countries, I was shocked to find out that format could as well.

By: kimbofo

kimbofo — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:21:13 +0000

This is a wonderful review. I read the book a month or so ago, and I’m still thinking about the horrors of Sukkwan Island and don’t think I will ever look at a sleeping bag the same way again.

By: Stewart

Stewart — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:51:05 +0000

I don’t know how this could be mistaken for chicklit, steffee. There’s not a handbag, pair of heels, or cappuccino in sight. Plus, the title ain’t too shopaholic.

By: steffee

steffee — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:37:22 +0000

I’m glad you linked to this on facebook; I always forget to check and still don’t understand feeds and whatnot.

Unrelated nonsense aside, then… The cover looks like chick-lit. It took me all the way up to the “God, I felt bad.” beginning of your final quoted passage (did you ever say how to quote?) to let go of that, and then I thought that the writing style reminded me very much of your own.

I no longer think being ungraspable is an attractive quality.

Since this is already a very disjointed and somewhat pointless comment, I’ll just add that 1st person and 3rd person narrators in the same anthology is rather impressive.

Suicide? Hmmm.