William T. Vollmann

[liehtzu]

I have never read a book by William T. Vollmann. Most of them are ludicrously large. But one day I might. He is, really, the only living American novelist who interests me at all.

He has been written up again in the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/29/books/29vollman.html

[Mirabell]

I've only read four books but they're all good. The condensed version of Rising up and Falling down is a huge amount of fun, well, if you try to ignore the abysmal arguments in it. Vollmann's writing is lively and the book moves along nicely. My first vollmann were the Rainbow Stories which dazzled me. Royal Family is amazing, too. I'm not sure about Europe Central. It's good, but...well, need to reread it.

[Liam]

Originally Posted by Mirabell

I've only read four books...

I'm loving the understatement in this, M.


L.

[Mirabell]

Originally Posted by Liam

I'm loving the understatement in this, M.

No, really. The man has written an awful lot and I've been meaning to read more, seeing as dear Fausto is a huge fan, but that somehow never worked out...

Just received his latest as birthday gift, Imperial, as well as the companion photo volume : the book described, by others as an "exasperating, maddening, exhausting and inchorent book". I am concurrently reading with his Riding Toward Everywhere 2008, about railroad hobos.

The incoherence appears to be nothing new for this author, whos works include You Bright and Risen Angels, The Atlas, his National Book Award winning Europe Central, and his "Books of Seven Dreams", which comprise his interpretation of the first contacts between new world aboriginals and europeans. I highly recommend the Atlas and the Seven Dreams Books, including Fathers and Crows (eastern amerindians and French Jesuits) The Ice Shirt (northern amerindians and Vikings) and the Rifles, with again the northern tribes this time with the Franklin Arctic exploration group.

The Seven Dreams series includes exhaustive footnotes, and usually the authors visits to areas mentioned in the historical portions of the book.

[Mirabell]

Originally Posted by ferns_dad

Just received his latest as birthday gift, Imperial,

Excellent review (largely negative) on "IMperial"

bookforum.com / in print

so far only the first 200 or so pages in.

I don't find his inclusiveness of detail as disconcerting as the reviewer (in other books by WTV), rather the opposite, it's the books that are like the reviewer is describing that I generally like this author (the Atlas, the Ice Shirt, The Rifles)

Interesting that the reviewer is a newspaperman, who of course is used to, and is probably most interested in, stories and essays that are likely to be at most 3 pages long?

So, I 'spect I will arrive at a different conclusion. time will tell.....

[Mirabell]

so far only the first 200 or so pages in.

I don't find his inclusiveness of detail as disconcerting as the reviewer (in other books by WTV), rather the opposite, it's the books that are like the reviewer is describing that I generally like this author (the Atlas, the Ice Shirt, The Rifles)

Interesting that the reviewer is a newspaperman, who of course is used to, and is probably most interested in, stories and essays that are likely to be at most 3 pages long?

So, I 'spect I will arrive at a different conclusion. time will tell.....

I own the abbreviated History of Violence and it's the same there. Unlike in his fiction, he lacks a vision, a coherence that is more than sentimentality. Nonfiction Vollmann is best in the short bursts of The Atlas. He lacks a certain scope, and maybe even an understanding, that would make these longer projects work. Nonfiction Vollmann, I find, is sentimental in the worst way and I tend to think his nonfiction works best when not approached as such, but as fiction. I always meant to write a lengthy critique of the History in that vein.

Your newspaperman comment is utterly unfair and wrong, because Arax references other BOOKS, including Lukas' classic study "Common Ground", which, at just under 700 pages, isn't tiny either. "of course" and "probably" my ass.

No, like me, Arax values Vollmann's gifts as a writer, but all he points out is that that lack of focus, of vision, can be damning in a book like this, because you lose sight of the 'broader terrain'. As a reader of other nonfiction, most notably of the History, I'm not sure I want to see Vollmann engage in this broader terrain. I suspect that kind of writing (or thinking) isn't one of his strengths.

[waalkwriter]

Well Thomas Wolfe is now criticized for the same flaws; his unwieldy and incredibly expansive books, but his work is brilliant even if he never managed to move beyond his own life story and transcend himself in his fiction.

I am waiting on Vollman to astound me with something truly memorable, I am waiting for an epic, non-historical fiction work from him, something completely imaginative that he takes and really makes his own...

[Mirabell]

Originally Posted by waalkwriter

Well Thomas Wolfe is now criticized for the same flaws; his unwieldy and incredibly expansive books, but his work is brilliant even if he never managed to move beyond his own life story and transcend himself in his fiction.

Again, isn't Wolfe a fiction writer? The difference between fiction and nonfiction, as I made it, may be crucial here. Vollmann's nonfiction works much better when read as fiction, IMO.

[waalkwriter]

See, my position is that I'm waiting for Vollman as a writer to mature and really attempt something for himself and go for an the imaginative epic I know he is capable of writing.

I read the Arax review as more than a little "green eyed", and would respectfully suggest that a reading of the entire Violence at least be attempted prior to committing to a "lengthy critique of the History in that vein." But then, I'm just sayin'

[JTolle]

I read half of Butterfly Stories as my intro to Vollmann and was incredibly impressed by the intense emotional sincerity I know now is standard Vollmann, but I sadly lost this book doing who-knows-what who-knows-where in an uncharacteristic misplacement.

Now returning to read The Royal Family, which, beside for a very, very few (3 at 252 pages in), short, awkward sentences is totally enthralling me and stunning.

[DB Cooper]

This will be the year of Vollmann for me. Due to my aversion to short stories, I picked up Europe Central to start with. As far as his nonfiction goes, Riding Toward Everywhere is only $5.85 on Amazon so that looks like a bargain. The reviews for that one mostly look unfavorable, but the subject matter is very interesting to me. Also taking a long look at the abridged version of Rising Up and Rising Down.

[DB Cooper]

So I dropped Europe Central after about 150 pages, it wasnt coming together for me so I'll try it again later. Its not that I disliked it but I wasnt getting in rhythm with the prose, and truthfully I wasnt really in the mood to read anything WWII related. Im reading The Ice Shirt now and so far its pretty darn amazing. Vollmann is a tough nut to crack, his oeuvre is all over the place in regards to subject matter, and according to the reviews, quality as well. I think Ive found a good entry point with The Ice Shirt though, but I really believe it will be very hit and miss in the future in regards to which of his books resonate with me.

[DB Cooper]

Vollmann finally clicked for me, and I have been devouring his books so far this year. In the last month Ive read The Ice Shirt, Riding Toward Everywhere, The Atlas, and tonight I plan on starting The Rainbow Stories. What an immense talent, and with his already extensive oeuvre there are plenty more books to choose from. I almost never read two books from the same author back to back, but right now Im compelled to only read Vollmann, hes that good. Any other Vollmann fans out there I would love to hear what books of his you have read and what your opinion of his work is. Thus far (yes its early) he is my personal greatest literary discovery of 2010.

[waalkwriter]

The other thing about Vollman is that he is absolutely fricking insane if you ever read about him. And insane in a highly interesting, 'my crazy uncle did this once' sort of way.

[Refus de Sejour]

Originally Posted by DB Cooper

Vollmann finally clicked for me, and I have been devouring his books so far this year. In the last month Ive read The Ice Shirt, Riding Toward Everywhere, The Atlas, and tonight I plan on starting The Rainbow Stories. What an immense talent, and with his already extensive oeuvre there are plenty more books to choose from. I almost never read two books from the same author back to back, but right now Im compelled to only read Vollmann, hes that good. Any other Vollmann fans out there I would love to hear what books of his you have read and what your opinion of his work is. Thus far (yes its early) he is my personal greatest literary discovery of 2010.

Cooper, Vollman is one of my favourite authors of all time! But it sounds like you've already read more of him than I have. . . In the past few months I've read The Ice Shirt, The Rainbow Stories, about 100 page of Imperial and about 200 pages of Fathers and Crows - the previous two are freakin' amazing, I just had to put them aside temporarily due to other commitments. I've also sneaked a peak at the prologue to The Rifles - absolutely stunning. Those few pages are some of the best I've ever read.

I've also read Whores for Gloria- a lot shorter than most of his work, a much narrower focus, and pretty visceral (lots of ugly sex). I get the feeling it's something he whipped off in his spare time

[Bottle Rocket]

I've read The Rainbow Stories and Europe Central, and have the abbreviated version of Rising Up and Rising Down near the head of my to-read queue.

I love Vollmann's work, but I often wish it came in smaller bites. Just thinking of Seven Dreams makes me long for Marguerite Duras, Aharon Appelfeld, or Pat the Bunny. It's the getting-started I find hard; once I'm into a Vollmann, I'm there, but, y'know, I only even climb Everest once a decade or so (well, twice in the '70s, but that was a special case).

He sure is a one-off, though. I really can't think of any writer to compare him to.


BRocket

[Refus de Sejour]

Originally Posted by Bottle Rocket

[. . .] and have the abbreviated version of Rising Up and Rising Down near the head of my to-read queue.

I forgot to mention Rising Up and Rising Down. I've read the opening sections (of the unabridged version), and, I confess, I find the confrontation with mortality too discomforting. Vollman paints its dusty, squelchy reality so vividly it leaves me with a slight sense of psychic nausea. One day, perhaps, I'll be able to handle it.

I don't find the length of his works off-putting at all; unlike most other lengthy books, I find I can put him aside for a week or two and then step straight back into the narrative. Imperial for example, works so well at the chapter level that I don't find its 600+ pages intimidating - it's just a matter of reading one good chapter, then another good chapter, then another. . . or to use your analogy, taking one good bite, then another, then another. . .