Gardener of Stars

by Carla Harryman

Carla Harryman describes GARDENER OF STARS as "an experimental novel that explores the paradise and wastelands of utopian desire." The book offers a mythic history of a post-historical city situated in a garden landscape whose inhabitants are engaged in perpetual tending, limitless generation. Their generatings and tendings take place in speculation and dream, practical and impractical invention, desire and copious sex - all facets of a politicized eros and an erotic politics. The utopia in question ("the unruly utopia of the senses that is not in conflict with the world's current") must be understood first not in terms of place but in terms of personage. M, Serena, Gardener (the eponymous heroine of the novel) are themselves utopias (as distinct from utopians) surviving in a painfully fraught (though sometimes beautiful) milieu. Negotiating this milieu, the various characters come into contact (or, more precisely, throw themselves into contact) with events that are in a ceaseless process

180 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Kylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't say that I really "got" this one.

I do like a nice experimental writing style and the use of language is really evocative and inspiring. I did read it all in a day, which I think is how it should be read, either that or with breaks between the chapters to really let things sink in. So even though I struggled to figure out what the author was wanting to say it was written in a way that kept my interest.

I feel like this is something I revisit in a few years and likely have a different take on it.

[Marcos Gulati · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an experience to read. I think the beauty will really shine through by reading twice, but It’s one of those books that if you engage with it and relate to it, you’ll come about changed and thinking differently after. Maybe experimental novels is the genre I’m supposed to be reading

[Marissa Perel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going back to this book now, and it's basically got something for everyone who's into whatever-avant-garde-lineage like you've got your New Narrative and then Cageian and Language Poetics all wrapped into that little O Books mind-fuck. Yummy.