I had a hard time with Stesichoros. Stesichoros did not seem to flow with Geryon's story. It seemed unnecessary and out of place. I would have enjoyed the novel more without beginning and ending it with Stesichoros.
I enjoyed that Geryon was a monster. It made his character more interesting and made him easier to relate to. I think everyone sees themselves as a monster at some point, alienated in some way (perhaps not as alienated as Geryon feels). I was happy for Geryon on page 144 in his conversation with Ancash:
"Geryon?
Yes.
There is one thing I want from you.
Tell me.
Want to see you use those wings."
Someone finally recognized that Geryon is not just unique, but special. He needed that compliment to give him confidence. I guess I just typically like stories with happy endings, and this ending made me think that Geryon was going to go places and become an exciting, independent, and confident little monster.
4 comments:
I found the Stesichoros somewhat confusing and almost unnecessary when I finally got past page 21. However, after finishing the book, I went back and skimmed through the first 21 pages and things seemed to make a bit more sense to me.
That being said, one interesting thing to note is the almost obsessive and infatuated tone the narrator uses when talking about Stesichoros. For example, on page 5: “Stesichoros began to undo latches… Stesichoros released being. All the substances in the world went floating up… Some substances proved more complex.” Here, I believe the author is discussing the birth of language, and furthermore, the energy and life that grows out of the language.
This seems important to me after finishing the story, because I feel that Carson herself is doing this. She, through her characters, creates a poetic explosion of new phrases and new ideas. To list a few random quotations I enjoyed:
Page 60: “Like the terrestrial crust of the earth which is proportionately ten times thinner than an eggshell, the skin of the soul is a miracle of mutual pleasures.”
Page 39: “The huge night moved overhead scattering drops of itself.”
Page 101: “Meanwhile music pounded across hearts opening every valve to the desperate drama of being a self in a song.”
I lliked that Geryon was a monster, too. I thought it was a really original presentation of a main character, and it really put you kind of on conflict. Geryon wasn't as monsterous as someone of the people in his life. It really makes you question the concept of "good guys" and "bad guys"...
I'm glad you picked up on the happiness, or at least hopefulness, of Geryon using his wings at the end of the story. It would be so easy to see this as just a sad novel about a monster's unfortunate life.
I'm glad you picked up on the happiness, or at least hopefulness, of Geryon using his wings at the end of the story. It would be so easy to see this as just a sad novel about a monster's unfortunate life.
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