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Underground > Books, Criticism & Writing >

Recommend me some William Vollman

rakehell

21:49 / 13.02.03

So, Vollman sounds like an author I'd enjoy. Has anyone here read him? Can anyone make a recommendation to a beginner? Is "You Bright and Risen Angels" a good place to start?

Ethan Hawke

12:10 / 14.02.03

I prefer his "journalism" to his fiction, actually. "The Atlas" is a collection of journalistic pieces spanning the globe. The "Rainbow Stories" are ostensibly fiction, but read like journalism that I have to imagine most of the events were witnessed by Vollman.

gergsnickle

14:57 / 14.02.03

I would definitely reccommend You Bright and Risen Angels - it's the only W.T. Vollman (along with Rainbow Stories) that I was interested in. I have read You Bright and Risen Angels twice and have it on my pile of books to read again. It's similar to Pynchon, sorta fantastic and surreal, kinda like a cartoon, but also emotionally engaging. Give it a try.

buttergun

14:58 / 26.08.05

Been reading about Vollman for around 10 years, but have never read anything by him. His novel that interests me the most is "You Bright and Risen Angels." Has anyone else read it? I know it's got a bad rep as being very complex, but sounds like it might be right along the lines of the Pynchon/Wallace crowd. Humans versus bugs, and apparently a hilarious scene involving a bug's interrogation. Anyway, just looking for thoughts on this guy and his work.

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