I tried William Vollmann’s The Dying Grass a few times last year, both as an audiobook and as an ebook, but it got the best of me. Spotted it at my favorite used book store for a measly twelve bucks, so. Like, we’ll see—although it’s much, much more accessible in print than on screen—the form, the lines on the page—they makes more sense, evoke Whitman more than the ebook or the audio. I also picked up Ralph Ellison’s collection Shadow and Act somewhat randomly—just started reading it and got carried away. Great stuff.
I am telling you three times (if you get into the novel you’ll get to that three times thing): Dying Grass was best reading experience of my last two-three years. Twice.
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I’m gonna give it a go over the xmas break.
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I can’t imagine trying to read The Dying Grass as an ebook. The print format teaches you how to read it. And the audio narrator’s voice was too old-time Western for me, though I only heard a snippet. Good luck with your next attempt. Also, what BLCKDGRD said.
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Yeah, the ebook makes no sense. I actually think I paid a lot of money for it too!
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Sorry, I think Vollmann is a sham. People are way too easily impressed by, ahem, size. Now Ellison, right on. Anyway, nice blog.
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Love the essay in Shadow and Act about buying a record player to disturb his upstairs neighbor.
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I would say that it’s worth the struggle/slog/time. I’ve really loved Mr. Vollmann since I accidentally read Last Stories and Other Stories a couple summers ago. Also, as an Idaho native and Montana resident, I appreciate his aesthetic and sentiment and drawings turned onto the little corner of the country where my mind got its shape.
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I recommend that you continue the slog. I’ve really loved Mr. Vollmann since I accidentally read Last Stories and Other Stories a couple summers ago. Also, as an Idaho native and Montana resident, it’s nice to see an aesthetic/sensibility as his turned to the little stretches of country that shaped my mind.
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