Still Life with Insects

by Brian Kiteley

Following a nervous breakdown, Elwyn Farmer finds stability and broad insight by keeping a journal of his insect sightings--an endeavor that also reveals a great deal about his family and himself

Genres: Fiction, Animals, Short Stories, Nature

114 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1989

Reviews

[abi · Rating 4 out of 5]

i have a soft spot for books like this; ones that exist on the small and personal, glimpses of family and all the turbulence that comes with them; getting attached to characters you never know well enough except to recognize them as someone else’s loved one, but you can see how they’re loved… anyway, it reminded me of the shipping news, that beautiful book, and i particularly liked the last few entries

[Laryssa Wirstiuk · Rating 3 out of 5]

The brevity of "Still Life with Insects" is one of my favorite things about it. I enjoyed the sweeping, sometimes disjointed, account of a life devoted to the study of insects. The book had some moments of beautiful description: I still remember the image of cheddar so sharp it burned the narrator's lip. I think the dialogue sounded too much like the narration, and I think the female characters were handled poorly. The narrator's descriptions of his wife left me very confused and almost angry. Though the narrator is clearly obsessed with bugs throughout, I would have liked to see that obsession amplified even more.

[Jaye · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected more insect involvement. This reminded me to not start with any expectations.

Also, it's fairly depressing. Suicides, nervous breakdowns, confusion.
I continued to read only because it's so short but felt discombobulated afterwards.

[Mollie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A man processing his life through an entomological lens--he is a career government scientist (I think FDA? I already don't remember) whose extra-curricular passion, and true vocation, is bugs. Each chapter is another random slice of his life in which some bug pursuit is prominently featured, although of course the real story is his life. The chapters stand alone and are connected only by the narrator's character and a loose time progression. There is no real plot line, yet by the end of the book you do have a good sense of who this man is. It's some good writing, but I admit, I wasn't terribly enthralled. It works as a book of short stories that you pick up when you are in the mood. The narrator is very zen, so it could be good when you are calm and want to continue to be so. Not good if you are looking to escape. I wanted to learn more about bugs!

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

The narrator of this surprisingly sweet book works as an inspector for a grain company, hunting for spoilage, and bugs in particular. In his spare time, and between his sometimes fleeting and sometimes trenchant observations of the people around him, he is an amateur entomologist - trying like all collectors to impose some order upon the chaos. Along the way, it captures quite a bit of what it means to be a man of a certain generation, in certain circles. I wonder whether someone who does not otherwise understand that experience would be lost, or just bemused. I quite enjoyed it (though it is too simple to earn more than 3 stars). In any case, it is just a one or two evening read.

[David Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A spare novella recounting the life of amateur entomologist Elwyn Farmer through a series of vignettes and set pieces often centered on insect collecting. The book is probably the result of a writers' workshop and reads as if it is. The book contains some wonderful, lyrical images and beautifully drawn "still lives," but ultimately I found it to be too spare to be satisfying. I realize that this is the account of a fairly ordinary life well-lived and not particularly momentous so there's not much drama here, but there's really not much of anything here.

[Mark Lisac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely written glimpses of moments in an ordinary life. We get to know a fair bit about the narrator, and some members of his family, although his wife remains strangely out of focus. Not much happens. Maybe that's to the point but the book felt flat and unmemorable. In fact, it has proved unmemorable; I first read it about 30 years ago and couldn't remember a thing about it. I'm with other reviewers who have said it demonstrates ability but doesn't have enough in its 114 pages to rate more than 3 stars. Not really a novel and I wouldn't call it a novella either; more like a sketchbook. A few of the more active scenes stretch believability, as well.

[Hubert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fascinating short read by a novelist I hadn't heard of. Kiteley confidently portrays the life of a grain silo operator Elwin through short vignettes that occur throughout his life. There isn't one single story that connects all the threads, other than that of the narrator's. He is an avid advanced amateur entomologist, and is looked upon by wife, family, kids, co-workers with a modicum of curiosity. The author's attitudes towards the narrator are fairly benign. The way the narrator relates to nature is humbling, yet intimately rich. Tragedy has struck at times (for example, sister committed suicide? I'd have to double check this) but Elwin treats all of those around him with respect, and wisdom.

This is the type of writing that deserves some more attention.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher through Edelweiss

Elwyn Farmer’s life hasn’t exactly turned out as he had planned. He was in graduate school to become an entomologist but circumstances out of his control forced him to abandon his work before he finished his degree. He does, however, maintain a passionate interest in bugs throughout his life and collects and catalogues them with meticulous precision.

The book is unique in that each memory Elwyn has about his life is punctuated by the bugs he has collected along his journey. For instance, he is on a camping trip with his wife and he captures two mating beatles in an outhouse.

Even though this is a very short read, I fell in love with the character of Elwyn. We are told through the course of his narrative that had a nervous breakdown at one point in his life when his job became too much. He is a kind, dependable, humble man whose family, friends and colleagues all display a great amount of respect for him. His evolving relationship with his sons and grandsons, in particular, is deeply touching.

In the end, maybe it is because it is a hobby and not his job that helps Elwyn maintain his passion for entomology. If he were forced to deal with bugs he might not have had such a zeal for collecting. Elwyn teaches us that sometimes life has other plans for us and in the end all things work out for the best.

For more of my reviews visit: www.thebookbindersdaughter.com

[Andrea Renfrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. There are more reviews of this book under a misspelling of the author's name. I have a first edition hardback from 1989 and wanted to honor the by line with the spelling that matched my book. So no, I did not read the e-book, but I do recommend purchasing it if you have an ereader.

2. I love his style. I will re-read this book because I feel like I should think it is amazing, but at this point in time with my first reading, I just liked it a lot. I think my amazement will come with another read through.

3. Something about the story Kiteley chose to tell reminds me of John Banville's The Sea. The Sea won a Man Booker Prize and Banville is incredible. This should tell you something about Kiteley that (though an great writer in his own right) I will be filing him away on the same side of my brain.

And as always, please read my full reviews and other thoughts on my blog: http://anakalianwhims.wordpress.com/

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkably efficient, balanced short novel and a favorite I go back to again and again. The structural conceit is deceptively radical, consisting of brief, tightly focused chapters each corresponding to a specific collection note from an insect in the narrator's apparently vast collection. So as readers we're given those isolated moment with which to understand the four decade span of the story, but somehow it's plenty - Elwyn Farmer is so vivid and realized as a character that we come to know him well, and to see him on his own, with his family, and with his business associates and superiors, and all of those relationships reveal a different side of his character in brief, perfect moments pinned down like Elwyn's insects.

[Laura Lynch · Rating 3 out of 5]

The narrator Elwyn Farmer is an amateur entomologist. Elwyn’s reflections upon family, life and work are woven around bug collections and the search for insects. His thoughts are insightful demonstrating the rapid pace of a person’s life with its triumphs and failures. A quick, quality read.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 100-page gem!

[Tom Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A disjointed but impeccably written novel of a government scientist whose hobby is entomological studies in many parts of North America. His accounts of family, sons and grandsons are a large part of the book.

[Johan Rosario · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t really understand the point of the book. It was an engaging read sometimes, but I didn’t get the point of half of what I was reading even though sometimes it was kinda interesting

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book, but rather odd. I'm afraid I didn't get it.

[Susan Katz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Odd little book. Somewhat engaging, but strange.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful little book. Bittersweet, touching and beautifully written. Not a word wasted.

[Chuck LoPresti · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most enjoyable reads in a while. The introduction of this book says it all - leaving me with just a reaction to record otherwise.

17 short episodes framed by the field notes of a bug collector fly past (sorry) the reader, leaving a desire for more. This is efficient writing, skillfully sparse and easy to read. It wouldn't be a chore at any length because this book draws you in to better hear the seemingly spoken narrative of an aging grandfather with some great stories to tell. There's humor, love and ache involved and while it has been executed with a deft light touch - it is far from shallow. Suggesting books to others is often worse than pointless but if you wanted to make a list of books to buy in the dozens to distribute to the folks that you are either silly or brave enough to think might read them....this goes to the top of that list. Having recently read Gass and Aickman - I've gained a new appreciation for the algorithms that pointed me in the direction of this book. The unique and perfectly crafted sentences of Gass and the wistful sapience of Aickman are likely the elements that led me to this. Leah Hager Cohen's intro says it all...she asks, "Could we love him if he didn't love himself?" - great question with far reaching implications. Hard not to gush over this one. I did love it.

[Caroline · Rating 1 out of 5]

Graywolf Press Discovery, indeed. This is a bland, forgettable book that barely trudges through its own short narrative. I normally don't mind episodic narration, but in this book it was irritating--it seemed like a cop-out to try to make the unimportant events of the novel seem more poignant. But, of course, it name-drops Le Seuer, Lake of the Isles, and Winona, and so of course the folks at Graywolf instantly fell in love. I'm glad this book exists if only because it helps me further argue that the state of Minnesota is completely obsessed with gazing at itself in the mirror. And you too, Robert Pirsig.

[Marcheto Marcheto · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of this novel was really original and attractive: to follow the life of an amateur entomologist through a bunch of his field notes in several isolated, and not particularly critical, moments of his life. But unfortunately the story didn’t grab me at all, and though it’s a very short novel I found it a bit tedious.