SUICIDE by Edouard Levé | Book Review

A book review of Edouard Levé’s “Suicide” (trans. Jan Steyn).

Paperback, 128 pages
Published 2021 by Dalkey Archive (first English ed. published in 2011) (Originally published in 2008 by P.O.L éditeur)
ISBN: 1564786285

Authors mentioned:
George Perec
Louise Erdrich
Donald Antrim

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#edouardlevé #suicide #jansteyn #dalkeyarchive

[sebastianromero]

I’d recommend “where reasons end” from Yiyun Li. Her son died of suicide and the whole book is a conversation with this son of here. The novel is also autofiction in a way, or sold as such, just like this one, because of the “scandal”—as you call it—of the real life suicide. I think it could be qn interesting comparison to this boon because in Yiyun Li’s case she is still alive (even if she also tried to kill herself) but its the son who’s dead. Of course its sad but I really admire Li’s cold and non-manipulative analysis of the situation. It focuses more on time and language and the relationship between this mother and son than on the death itself, and it never gets pigeonholed into that type of sentimental narrative of death and suicide. Also her memoir of the time when she was in a psychiatric hospital is quite good (dear friend from my life I write to you in your life).

[libraryofthelabyrinth]

What a sad little novel. It might be too intense for me at this point in my life but man that quote about the act inverting your biography and then alienating every other part of your life that you wished to relieve of their burden of meaning hits hard. Everything you’ve ever done becomes tainted with the light of your final act whether you want it or not, whether they’re related or not, so instead of being relieved of their burden of meaning, they’re piled on with it. Wow.

[chrisbeveridge]

good book on suicide is the Savage God by A Alvarez who knew Sylvia Plath...all the best brother...

[adriennegarcia]

Your students are so fortunate to have a teacher who is so passionate about literature.

[Fell-Purpose]

Great video. Makes me think of Leaving Las Vegas.

[MarcNash]

Clearly he knows of which he speaks (writes) having seen it to the end. But I also wonder if the missed understanding of the comic book is his statement on us coming after to read his book. That we too missed the comic book's sign-off note in the form of this novel, if we think we would get to know him or the meaning of the act of suicide, by reading a work of fiction. It's just a shame that his book isn't currently available in the UK, but I'm hot on its trail. Thanks for the heads up on this

[joshdoughty]

Was surprised I found it in the wild a few weeks ago. Awesome review.

[bdwon]

Have you ever read John Barth's _The Floating Opera_ ? I read it in my late teens, and soon thereafter discovered that I am (almost) immune to suicide.

[harryy.a]

Read Autoportrait a few weeks ago and have the rest of his works, very interested to read them all soon. Would love some recommendations from anyone who knows similar types of authors, not necessarily similar content although I like that too, but more so the style/form and this outsider/avant-garde kind of thing I find really interesting. I have gotten a bunch of books from Dalkey Archive but havn't got to them yet (heard they're good for more experimental/avant-garde stuff), but yeah any authors or publishers that put out stuff like this would great. Love the matt finish and bit size length of these books too.

[SpringboardThought]

Wow. I am curious. Wish my library had it maybe they can get it. Not so sure I’d want to own it probably, but maybe. You’re always finding interesting stuff to consume!

[javiervillar]

Great review. I only recently started reading Levé's Autoportrait but I already know I want to read more of him. I wonder if Dalkey Archive will translate his new unpublished writings "Inédits" published last year in France.

P.O.L., his publisher in France, has this description of his work on their website:

"We thought the work of Edouard Levé was definitively closed: it is not so. The writer and artist who died in 2007, at the age of 42, left in his archives a large number of unpublished texts, of which we offer in this volume a selection produced in collaboration with the writer Thomas Clerc. The author of Works, Self-portrait and Suicide has not stopped writing throughout his short but remarkable career, testifying to the artistic landscape of the 90s-2000s, of which he was one of the actors. We will find in this volume a set of all unpublished texts which reflect, like the disco ball which was one of his favorite objects, the variety of literary genres in which Edouard Levé's obsession emerges: novel chapter, fictions, walks in Paris, an alphabet, autobiographical texts, poems, performance texts, songs, essays, etc. A surprising cabinet of literary curiosities thus redefines the image of an author who wanted to be without style, refusing the limitation that this imposes on the creator."

Just thought I'd share. Thanks for your review!

[BrandonsBookshelf]

Man alive. Saying this is my kind of book sounds so weird considering, but I am beyond intrigued and very excited to add this soon. Thank you!

[scandalwubz]

Nope . Who made this guitar riff??? You wanna know why I’m alive not bc the book review bc this guitar riff sounds just like Heyy their Delilah