Left on Read: The Iliac Crest
Riley and Alice have opened another of Cristina Rivera Garza's novellas for a deep dive into the world of experimental fiction, borders, and - above all - the striated world of GENDER in a book that was hailed (by Alice) as "the best work of fiction about being trans written by a cis person."
I know we said we would do George Saunders' "A Swim in the Pond in the Rain" next - but Riley has been on holiday, so that one is coming next! Promise! Super swear!
Comments (19)
Episodes like this encourage me to start reading books again
same, I went out and ordered The Taiga Syndrome after listening to the last one and read it in literally one sitting
I’ve enjoyed being introduced to Rivera Garza in these two episodes. The Iliac Crest per your description strongly reminded me of Leonora Carrington’s The Hearing Trumpet as well as the Poe story. Anyway, great episodes thanks.
Finally got the time and headspace to listen to this - as I was cooking chilli for my family! Interesting how the discussion at the end about accepting an ambiguous meaning seems to chime with the themes you took from the book - trying to make meaning itself a border or a binary rather than the unfathomable sea… Looking forward to Swim in The Pond in The Rain based on Riley’s description; I’ve always struggled with fiction and only in recent years discovered I have full aphantasia so literally can’t picture what’s happening at all in the way most people do
If you guys are looking for another short in case of emergency book Isherwood’s Prater Violet is a pleasant enough snapshot of the German film industry between the wars with a typical Isherwood passivity and oooh shit ha,f these people are in the process of becoming full borne Nazis
I appreciate this isn’t the time or the place, but I’ve just had a full-on Riley-style fancy dinner for fancy lads in Usk. Fuck my hat.
I identify as a tree and a woman. Mu pronouns are she/fir
A really introspective and interesting conversation about the book and it's topics. Loved it a bunch.
There are at least tree genders
I've been loving these episodes! I picked up The Taiga Syndrome after hearing about it on your show, and I really enjoyed it. Going to read this one, as well! I've been really enjoying stories with more unusual/ambiguous/experimental narratives so I'm excited!
compelled to mention that The Coen Bros. Barton Fink also has a seagull inexplicably diving head first into the sea on its final shot. this was completely unplanned but it was left in because it fit with the weird humor as well as the absurdity that movie was going for. slim chance Garza might have been homaging that but idk.
A couple months ago Corey D. (Don't know how to spell it) made the suggestion that you should read the Terra Incognita tetralogy. But he spoke more about what the author did in real life than the actual book. And I don't remember him speaking about how she treated gender. But if you're looking for a mind fuck to twist your gendered knickers, you really need to read those books.
I'm so much enjoying these episodes. Specially as a latinamerican. Spanish is a wonderful intricate language and a lot of our literature works around those places. You motivate me as well to find friends with whom I could share a little bit of an intimate bookclub.
I’m sure it’s been said/asked a lot already, but I would love to hear both your thoughts on house of leaves
It's interesting that of all the D&G haunting this episode's discussion, schitzoanalysis itself doesn't really seem to have shown up. Not saying it makes the episode better or worse, but with the asylum right there, looming in the background, I kept expecting it.
"different level of incomprehension" is gonna stick with me. great framework
Riley and Alice closing out the episode with the kind of conversation with your friends I thought was only possible to have while high on MDMA
Alice and Riley are high on books. They are smoking that literary shit.
Only part way through this one, but I've recently read the Left Hand of Darkness, I suppose it's maybe more well known than a lot of what you guys cover but would love to hear your thoughts on it!