NYRB Classics discussion

The October book selection is My Death by Lisa Tuttle with an introduction by Amy Gentry 144pp

A widowed writer begins to work on a biography of a novelist and artist—and soon uncovers bizarre parallels between her life and her subject’s—in this chilling and singularly strange novella by a contemporary master of horror and fantasy.

The narrator of Lisa Tuttle’s uncanny novella is a recent widow, a writer adrift. Not only has she lost her husband, but her muse seems to have deserted her altogether. Her agent summons her to Edinburgh to discuss her next book. What will she tell him? At once the answer comes to she will write the biography of Helen Ralston, best known, if at all, as the subject of W.E. Logan’s much-reproduced painting Circe , and the inspiration for his classic children’s book.

But Ralston was a novelist and artist in her own right, though her writing is no longer in print and her most storied painting too shocking, too powerful—malevolent even—to be shown in public. Over the months that follow, Ralston proves a reluctantly cooperative subject, even as her biographer uncovers eerie resonances between the older woman’s life and her own. Whose biography is she writing, really?

This is a perfect choice for the Halloween season. Join us for a read and discussion. Spoilers are welcome but please be conscious of other readers in the early days of the month and limit anything that would ruin their experience.

Reviews:

https://readersretreat2017.wordpress....

https://tracysterrors.com/my-death-20...


https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/12/bo... paywalled

Live discussion with Amy Gentry Kelly Link and Lisa Tuttle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uv-T...

I read this in a couple of days. I didn't read the introduction, or any reviews, until I'd finished.
I thought it was a fascinating book. It's all perfectly normal, too normal, until it's not. As Amy Gentry describes it "a creeping sense of unease begins to steal into the text".
There is so much to talk about, particularly the ending. I'll wait until others have read it.

I read this for the second time this summer and thought it was excellent also the second time around. When Ralston explains the dream about the doll, it was wildly creepy -- it's wonderful to get a thrill from a book like that.

I am very interested in what others think about the ending, too. I remind myself that this is a (somewhat unconventional) horror story and needn't be realistic -- and that is what makes it a great read.

Oddly, I re-read Kazuo Ishiguro's "A Pale View of the Hills" soon after re-reading this, and the subject of identity, blurred identity/unsure identity, comes up in that too. There's a similar, intense moment where you try to make sense of who the character is -- I recommend that one if the subject intrigued any other readers.

I wasn't planning to join, just because of book-buying limits and time, but how big a deal is the doll dream here? I am also specifically reading books with/about dolls.

I will be getting to this on Wednesday, after I have finished with some other books.

Emmeline wrote: "I wasn't planning to join, just because of book-buying limits and time, but how big a deal is the doll dream here? I am also specifically reading books with/about dolls."

I think the doll dream is central to the story and the questions about identity. I don't want to build it up too much since you may be disappointed -- it packed more power for me the first time I read it.

I hear you on the cost of buying books. If you like offbeat creepiness you will probably enjoy this, and it's quite short.

Sarah wrote: "Emmeline wrote: "I wasn't planning to join, just because of book-buying limits and time, but how big a deal is the doll dream here? I am also specifically reading books with/about dolls."

I think ..."

Thanks Sarah. I'll mull over for a day or two, but may need to join you all after all (damn it!). The cost is one thing, but the space is my real source of angst... I must clear some shelf room!

I have My Death, but dreams in books are not my thing. I like the creepy doll aspect though so I’ll try it when I finish my current, non-nyrb, book.

Sarah wrote: "Emmeline wrote: "I wasn't planning to join, just because of book-buying limits and time, but how big a deal is the doll dream here? I am also specifically reading books with/about dolls."

I think ..."

hey! i see you're in barcelona -- so am I. You can borrow my copy if you'd like.

Sarah wrote: "hey! i see you're in barcelona -- so am I. You can borrow my copy if you'd like.."

What?! Really? We should have an in-person book chat! (Sorry if that's forward; I will DM like a normal person).