Brain Pain discussion

William T. Vollmann’s novel, The Royal Family, was first published in 2000. This “fictitious” account of San Francisco’s Tenderloin district contains graphic descriptions of prostitution, violence, and drug abuse.


Wikipedia page for William T. Vollmann:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_...


Interview in the Paris Review, Fall 2000:

http://www.theparisreview.org/intervi...


Feel free to use this thread to ask questions and post links to resources for William T. Vollmann and The Royal Family.

Also, if you’ve written a review of the book, please post a link to share with the group.

I didn't know this was a Brain Pain book! I finished it about a month ago. I haven't written a review, but I'll write a mini-review right now. It's a perfect read for this group. Like many Vollmann books, it's inconsistent... Pain mixed with pleasure, fast mixed with slow, sections that don't seem to belong... Nevertheless, it's a perfect example of his writing skills. It sways quite unpredictably between high-class romantic drama, middle-class family drama, and insight into ruthless big business; all centered around bizarre & dreamlike accounts of prostitutes and junkies. He maintains his voice throughout all of it; and an eloquent, magical, and terrifying voice it is.

Lookin' forward to discussion!!

Oh boy. May have to start this even though I'm currently halfway through Pynchon's new one.

Jack wrote: "Oh boy. May have to start this even though I'm currently halfway through Pynchon's new one."

We're just getting started with TRF, so plenty of time to finish the Pynchon and then join in.

How's the Pynchon? I need to order a copy...

Jim wrote: "Jack wrote: "Oh boy. May have to start this even though I'm currently halfway through Pynchon's new one."

We're just getting started with TRF, so plenty of time to finish the Pynchon and then join..."

I'm really liking it. B.E. is nearly as anecdotally-dense as his other works, but it reads quickly with a fairly straightforward structure and really short chapters. It's interesting to get Pynchon's take on contemporary society. I'm only halfway in, but I know I already want to read it again.

I've already got a copy of The Royal Family, so I might as well start it.

I thought I'd post this here since it's more about me than about the book.

I lived and worked in San Francisco from 1985 - 2011. For a short time in the winter of 1986, I lived on Eddy Street in the Tenderloin, and ate my dinner at Glide Memorial's soup kitchen when I was strapped for food money. I know the places and types of people in this book. Luckily, I was never addicted to drugs or a customer of a prostitute, but S.F. culture tends to allow for much contact between the various populations of the city.

So far, the book is very accurate and I can see every street and every neighborhood that Tyler drives through - kind of like a private movie/soundtrack to the book. In brief, Vollmann is accurately depicting the town and its people.

Jim wrote: "So far, the book is very accurate and I can see every street and every neighborhood that Tyler drives through - kind of like a private movie/soundtrack to the book. In brief, Vollmann is accurately depicting the town and its people. "

I can't find the item again, but Vollmann received official recognition from the city of San Fransisco for his representation of the city in The Royal Family. Something like the Key to the City or such.

Nathan "N.R." wrote: "I can't find the item again, but Vollmann received official recognition from the city of San Fransisco for his representation of the city in The Royal Family. Something like the Key to the City or such..."

Whatever they gave him, he certainly deserved it.

I vaguely remember seeing his name on the sidewalk board in front of The Booksmith on Haight Street sometime in the 90's. I think has doing a reading while I was in the store browsing, but I don't remember staying to listen as I didn't know who he was at the time.

Are here any italian members in this group ? I'm searching an italian edition of Royal Family by Vollmann but i don't find it

Gaetano wrote: "Are here any italian members in this group ? I'm searching an italian edition of Royal Family by Vollmann but i don't find it"

Hi Gaetano,

If no one responds here, you can also post your question over in the Vollmann Central Group:

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

Gaetano wrote: "Are here any italian members in this group ? I'm searching an italian edition of Royal Family by Vollmann but i don't find it"

Gaetano, --

All I find at the moment, looking at goodreads data, is that The Royal Family has only be translated into French. No Italian. I'm almost certain that something of his has been translated into Italian, but I can't say which at the moment. I'm expecting delivery of a Vollmann bibliography in a few weeks which should indicate which of his might exist in Italian; if that's of any help.

The Italian page for Vollmann shows a few translations, but not The Royal Family:

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_...

FWIW, the writing style in TRF is fairly simple English, so you might want to try it.

Jim wrote: "The Italian page for Vollmann shows a few translations, but not The Royal Family"

I count like nine, so that's pretty rich. I suspect that The Royal Family should get translated before too long.

If you're new to Vollmann, Gaetano, I'd recommend the deep end proper, "La camicia di ghiaccio" and then "Venga il tuo regno". Or the early "I racconti dell'arcobaleno." But the other shorter works would be good too.

Nathan "N.R." wrote: "Jim wrote: "The Italian page for Vollmann shows a few translations, but not The Royal Family"

I count like nine, so that's pretty rich. I suspect that The Royal Family should get translated befor..."

Thank you all for the useful feedbacks, ill try starting then with The Ice-Shirt waiting for The Royal Family translated in italian

My review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...