The Body Artist
13 journalers for this copy...
Amazon Editorial Review:
Don DeLillo's reputation rests on a series of large-canvas novels, in which he's proven to be the foremost diagnostician of our national psyche. In The Body Artist, however, he sacrifices breadth for depth, narrowing his focus to a single life, a single death. The protagonist is Lauren Hartke, who we see sharing breakfast with her husband, Rey, in the opening pages. This 18-page sequence is a tour de force (albeit a less showy one than the author's initial salvo in Underworld)--an intricate, funny notation of Lauren's consciousness as she pours cereal, peers out the window, and makes idle chat. Rey, alas, will proceed directly from the breakfast table to the home of his former wife, where he'll unceremoniously blow his brains out.
What follows is one of the strangest ghost stories since The Turn of the Screw. And like James's tale, it seems to partake of at least seven kinds of ambiguity, leaving the reader to sort out its riddles. Returning to their summer rental after Rey's funeral, Lauren discovers a strange stowaway living in a spare room: an inarticulate young man, perhaps retarded, who may have been there for weeks. His very presence is hard for her to pin down: "There was something elusive in his aspect, moment to moment, a thinning of physical address." Yet soon this mysterious figure begins to speak in Rey's voice, and her own, playing back entire conversations from the days preceding the suicide. Has Lauren's husband been reincarnated? Or is the man simply an eavesdropping idiot savant, reproducing sentences he'd heard earlier from his concealment?
This is also No. 45 on the 1001 books you must read before you die list.
Don DeLillo's reputation rests on a series of large-canvas novels, in which he's proven to be the foremost diagnostician of our national psyche. In The Body Artist, however, he sacrifices breadth for depth, narrowing his focus to a single life, a single death. The protagonist is Lauren Hartke, who we see sharing breakfast with her husband, Rey, in the opening pages. This 18-page sequence is a tour de force (albeit a less showy one than the author's initial salvo in Underworld)--an intricate, funny notation of Lauren's consciousness as she pours cereal, peers out the window, and makes idle chat. Rey, alas, will proceed directly from the breakfast table to the home of his former wife, where he'll unceremoniously blow his brains out.
What follows is one of the strangest ghost stories since The Turn of the Screw. And like James's tale, it seems to partake of at least seven kinds of ambiguity, leaving the reader to sort out its riddles. Returning to their summer rental after Rey's funeral, Lauren discovers a strange stowaway living in a spare room: an inarticulate young man, perhaps retarded, who may have been there for weeks. His very presence is hard for her to pin down: "There was something elusive in his aspect, moment to moment, a thinning of physical address." Yet soon this mysterious figure begins to speak in Rey's voice, and her own, playing back entire conversations from the days preceding the suicide. Has Lauren's husband been reincarnated? Or is the man simply an eavesdropping idiot savant, reproducing sentences he'd heard earlier from his concealment?
This is also No. 45 on the 1001 books you must read before you die list.
Journal Entry 3 by 
perryfran
at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, June 6, 2008
perryfran at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, June 6, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (6/6/2008 UTC) at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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Winging its way to the UK to start this bookring. Enjoy!
Winging its way to the UK to start this bookring. Enjoy!
Journal Entry 4 by Caterinaanna from Coventry, West Midlands United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 17, 2008
To make up for my tardiness in giving perryfran my address I have not only recieved this but read it, as it is not a long book. At first I thought it was pretentious, then I got hooked by the swirling timescale of the mysterious man's utterances and the alternation of straightforward narration, usually through newspaper clippings, with more descriptive, swirling, foggy in a depressed and confused head writing. I'd like to savour it a little more, to explore some of the conversations, to look at the extent to which Lauren's work as well as her interactions with 'Mr Tuttle' involves her not only washing Rey out of her hair but peeling him off her body.
Thank you for sharing perryfran, I wish this book luck on its future travels. Will PM jellyfish67 as soon as this JE posts.
Thank you for sharing perryfran, I wish this book luck on its future travels. Will PM jellyfish67 as soon as this JE posts.
Released 15 yrs ago (6/24/2008 UTC) at Coventry, West Midlands United Kingdom
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Hoping to get into the post to jellyfish67 this afternoon.
Hoping to get into the post to jellyfish67 this afternoon.
Arrived safely....thank you
I must admit I found this book hard to read even though it's probably the shortest book I've read in ages. I did understand where it was going but I found it went round in circles a little.
Posting it to tubereader next...
I must admit I found this book hard to read even though it's probably the shortest book I've read in ages. I did understand where it was going but I found it went round in circles a little.
Posting it to tubereader next...
Journal Entry 7 by jellyfish67 at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (10/2/2008 UTC) at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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On its way to Tubereader shortly...
On its way to Tubereader shortly...
Journal Entry 8 by Tubereader from Lenningen / Lenneng, Kanton Remich Luxembourg on Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Book received safely.
I have a couple of rings ahead of it with more people on the line but hope to get to start this one in a couple of weeks at the outmost.
Thanks perryfran from sharing and jellyfish67 for sending it!
I have a couple of rings ahead of it with more people on the line but hope to get to start this one in a couple of weeks at the outmost.
Thanks perryfran from sharing and jellyfish67 for sending it!
Journal Entry 9 by Tubereader from Lenningen / Lenneng, Kanton Remich Luxembourg on Friday, November 21, 2008
Just a quick update to let everyone know that I will start reading this book this weekend. Sorry for the delay in picking it up!
Journal Entry 10 by Tubereader from Lenningen / Lenneng, Kanton Remich Luxembourg on Monday, November 24, 2008
This was a really fast read, but I failed to get into the story. I really liked the first chapter, with the very detailed description of the breakfast scene. I found myself realising that some of the things that Lauren does or thinks also happen to me.
But that was almost the only part of the book that I really liked. I failed to understand the depth of the story with Mr Tuttle. Maybe I would have had to pace myself in reading the book, but the truth is that it did not catch my attention so much as to make me slow down my reading pace. It´s the second book that I read by DeLillo and I must say I´ve had a similar feeling with both of them, there must be a depth into the story, but I fail to reach it.
Thanks perryfran for sharing a 1001 book and jellyfish67 for sending it to me!
I have pmed cat207 for her address and I am waiting for her reply.
But that was almost the only part of the book that I really liked. I failed to understand the depth of the story with Mr Tuttle. Maybe I would have had to pace myself in reading the book, but the truth is that it did not catch my attention so much as to make me slow down my reading pace. It´s the second book that I read by DeLillo and I must say I´ve had a similar feeling with both of them, there must be a depth into the story, but I fail to reach it.
Thanks perryfran for sharing a 1001 book and jellyfish67 for sending it to me!
I have pmed cat207 for her address and I am waiting for her reply.
Journal Entry 11 by Tubereader at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (12/9/2008 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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The book has been posted to cat207 today. Sincere apologies for the delay.
Happy reading!
The book has been posted to cat207 today. Sincere apologies for the delay.
Happy reading!
Arrived in today's mail. Thank you Tubereader, and perryfran for sharing your book.
A very quick read or what. Ethereal or maybe not.
Heading to Dave in tomorrow's mail.
Heading to Dave in tomorrow's mail.
Journal Entry 14 by davemurray101 from Christiansted, US Virgin Islands US Virgin Islands on Thursday, December 18, 2008
Recieved in todays mail. Looks intriguing. Thanks to Perryfran for the bookring and Cat207 for sending it on.
20/12 - just finished this one. I was really dissapointed since I really liked Underwold when I read it all those years ago. There are quite a number of elements that could have developed further - such as a plot.
Now sending on to TerraceWest in the new week.
20/12 - just finished this one. I was really dissapointed since I really liked Underwold when I read it all those years ago. There are quite a number of elements that could have developed further - such as a plot.
Now sending on to TerraceWest in the new week.
Journal Entry 15 by davemurray101 at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, December 29, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (12/29/2008 UTC) at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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sent to TerraceWest in the mail.
sent to TerraceWest in the mail.
I just received this in the mail today. I've got another ring on the go but will get this done ASAP, i've already emailed the next in line to get an address.
Thank you TerraceWest for returning this. I will pass this on to the next reader.
Journal Entry 18 by perryfran at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Monday, September 28, 2009
perryfran at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Monday, September 28, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (9/28/2009 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
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Sending on to liz-z to continue this bookray.
USPS DC# 0308 0070 0000 7659 0250
Sending on to liz-z to continue this bookray.
USPS DC# 0308 0070 0000 7659 0250
I just got back in town and had this book waiting for me. :-) Perfect timing, I am finishing up another book and will be on this one next. Thanks for sharing!
Finished! It took me awhile to get into this book but I must say that I really enjoyed it. This book really made me look behind the surface to the meaning underneath. I think that it is a book that most will either love or hate and one that forces the reader to draw their own conclusion. Was Mr. Tuttle real? a figment of Lauren's imagination? a ghost?
Loved it and I am looking forward to reading more of this author's work.
Thanks for sharing! I have pm'd for HeresDeb's address and will be sending this book on soon!
Loved it and I am looking forward to reading more of this author's work.
Thanks for sharing! I have pm'd for HeresDeb's address and will be sending this book on soon!
Journal Entry 21 by liz-z at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, October 31, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (10/29/2009 UTC) at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
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Sent this book off a couple days ago to Debbie. Thanks again for sharing!
Sent this book off a couple days ago to Debbie. Thanks again for sharing!
The book is safe here with me! Sorry for worrying you. I went to log it one day and had log-in problems, then I forgot to try again. I will read it over the next couple of weeks (taking a little longer due to Thanksgiving), and pass it on.
I have finished this book, and PM'ed the next person in line a few days ago. No response yet, so I will try again. I'm pretty sure the PM just didn't go through, since she mailed me another bookring from perryfran recently.
Update on 2/1: Will try to PM the next person again. Otherwise will send back to perryfran this week.
Update on 2/1: Will try to PM the next person again. Otherwise will send back to perryfran this week.
Journal Entry 24 by HeresDeb at Bookring, Book Ring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, February 5, 2010
Released 14 yrs ago (2/5/2010 UTC) at Bookring, Book Ring -- Controlled Releases
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Took to the post office today. It's on its way to the next person on the list... enjoy!
Took to the post office today. It's on its way to the next person on the list... enjoy!
Thank you! The book arrived, and I look forward to reading it.
This book wasn't my cup of tea. I was interested in the way the book began, with thoughts and half-formed sentences of dialogue. But I wasn't interested in Lauren's interactions with Mr. Tuttle.
I think I probably didn't need to read this book before I died.
In any event, thank you, perryfran, for sharing this bookring.
I think I probably didn't need to read this book before I died.
In any event, thank you, perryfran, for sharing this bookring.
Released 14 yrs ago (3/14/2010 UTC) at
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Mailed back to perryfran. Thanks!
Mailed back to perryfran. Thanks!
Back home with me again. I'll read this soon and then send it to its final destination in Australia. Thanks everyone for participating in this bookray!
Not sure what to think of this one! This was a very short novel written in dense, sometimes impenetrable prose. I didn't really care too much for the characters and whether or not "Mr. Tuttle" was real, imagined, or Rey reincarnate. Overall, for a short novel, too many words and not enough plot.
Journal Entry 30 by perryfran at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Saturday, March 20, 2010
perryfran at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Saturday, March 20, 2010
Released 14 yrs ago (3/20/2010 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
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Heading to FreePages in Australia - last on this ray. When finished, please pass it on. Enjoy!
Heading to FreePages in Australia - last on this ray. When finished, please pass it on. Enjoy!
Journal Entry 31 by FreePages from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Thursday, April 1, 2010
Caught!
The Body Artist is back in Aus! What a well travelled book!
Received with some trepidation, I'm more of a plot driven kind of reader, but I'll give it a go hopefully before I u-know-what. Once read, I have another 1001 BC reader in mind that I would like to pass it on to. I'll see her in another month, at the local BC meet-up, so I hope to have it read by then.
I do love the JEs, I wish I was as poetic with my JEs as many of you are with yours :-)
Many thanks to Perryfan for sending it all this way.
Cheers
:-)
The Body Artist is back in Aus! What a well travelled book!
Received with some trepidation, I'm more of a plot driven kind of reader, but I'll give it a go hopefully before I u-know-what. Once read, I have another 1001 BC reader in mind that I would like to pass it on to. I'll see her in another month, at the local BC meet-up, so I hope to have it read by then.
I do love the JEs, I wish I was as poetic with my JEs as many of you are with yours :-)
Many thanks to Perryfan for sending it all this way.
Cheers
:-)
Journal Entry 32 by FreePages from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Thursday, May 13, 2010
Not enough plot for me. DeLillo really did make time, love and human perception a bit of a wilderness for these characters, but some of the writing I really liked.
The first paragraph drew me in..
Time seemed to pass. The world happens, unrolling into moments, and you stop to glance at a spider pressed to its web. There is a quickness of light and a sense of things outlined precisely and streaks of running luster on the bay. You know more surely who you are on a strong bright day after a storm when the smallest falling leaf is stabbed with self-awareness. The wind makes a sound in the pines and the world comes into being, irreversibly, and the spider rides the wind-swayed web.
I felt like repeating those lines here so I can visit them occasionally. It was the quality of the writing and the lack of meshing between the characters (a very different approach to normal) that makes me feel it was a worthy inclusion in the 1001 list.
I was pleased it was a short book, it was refreshing to read something like this for a change but I'll be pleased to go back to my normal reads now.
I've only read one other of DeLillos, "Falling Man", and I found it quite different to this one. I suspect he is a really versatile writer. Although, one thing that was the same was the use of a performing body artist as a main character.
Thanks again, perryfan for the opportunity to read this one. I think I'll take it to a Canberra BC meet-up either this month or next for my 1001 reading buddy to see what she thinks of it.
Pages 124. Hardcover. Lovely dust jacket art.
The first paragraph drew me in..
Time seemed to pass. The world happens, unrolling into moments, and you stop to glance at a spider pressed to its web. There is a quickness of light and a sense of things outlined precisely and streaks of running luster on the bay. You know more surely who you are on a strong bright day after a storm when the smallest falling leaf is stabbed with self-awareness. The wind makes a sound in the pines and the world comes into being, irreversibly, and the spider rides the wind-swayed web.
I felt like repeating those lines here so I can visit them occasionally. It was the quality of the writing and the lack of meshing between the characters (a very different approach to normal) that makes me feel it was a worthy inclusion in the 1001 list.
I was pleased it was a short book, it was refreshing to read something like this for a change but I'll be pleased to go back to my normal reads now.
I've only read one other of DeLillos, "Falling Man", and I found it quite different to this one. I suspect he is a really versatile writer. Although, one thing that was the same was the use of a performing body artist as a main character.
Thanks again, perryfan for the opportunity to read this one. I think I'll take it to a Canberra BC meet-up either this month or next for my 1001 reading buddy to see what she thinks of it.
Pages 124. Hardcover. Lovely dust jacket art.
Journal Entry 33 by FreePages at King O'Malley's Pub, Garema Place in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Saturday, August 28, 2010
Released 13 yrs ago (8/28/2010 UTC) at King O'Malley's Pub, Garema Place in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia
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Hope to release this one at the Canberra BCer meet-up today :-)
Journal Entry 34 by D-face at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Monday, August 30, 2010
Picked up at the monthly Canberra BookCrossing Meet Up. I am looking forward to reading this slim volume.
Journal Entry 35 by D-face at Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Friday, October 15, 2010
Released 13 yrs ago (10/15/2010 UTC) at Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia
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Book exchange, Level 1, London Circuit Building
Journal Entry 36 by D-face at King O'Malley's Pub, Garema Place in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Saturday, October 30, 2010
Released 13 yrs ago (10/30/2010 UTC) at King O'Malley's Pub, Garema Place in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia
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October Meet Up of Canberra Book Crossers
Picked up at the Canberra October meetup at King O'Malley's pub. I recognised DeLillo as a '1001' author so I was interested to read something of his.
I just checked the '1001-Books-You-Must-Read' list and DeLillo appears on it for 4 of his books, though not this one. It's a slim one, so perhaps an easy introduction to his work.
Wow, this book sure has travelled! *waving to all those before me*
I just checked the '1001-Books-You-Must-Read' list and DeLillo appears on it for 4 of his books, though not this one. It's a slim one, so perhaps an easy introduction to his work.
Wow, this book sure has travelled! *waving to all those before me*
Rating 7-7.5*
This was another enigmatic book. Like a book translated from another language, I felt like I only got about 90% of it.
The story line was an interesting idea and I wanted to see what happened. Though the style was a bit difficult at times.
The language was beautiful if a little inaccessible, so 7-7.5*
*
Reserved for the 2012 UnCANvention.
Edited 16 Nov 2012 - Released into a goody bag for the 2012 UnCAN,
at Three Mothers Thai restaurant, Canberra City, Australia.
This was another enigmatic book. Like a book translated from another language, I felt like I only got about 90% of it.
The story line was an interesting idea and I wanted to see what happened. Though the style was a bit difficult at times.
The language was beautiful if a little inaccessible, so 7-7.5*
*
Reserved for the 2012 UnCANvention.
Edited 16 Nov 2012 - Released into a goody bag for the 2012 UnCAN,
at Three Mothers Thai restaurant, Canberra City, Australia.
Journal Entry 39 by davemurray101 at Maryville, New South Wales Australia on Sunday, November 18, 2012
Picked up at the Bookcrossing convention in Canberra. Looks like I've journaled it before. But as with Bookcrossing, what goes around comes around.
