The Argonauts
by Nelson, Maggie
- New
- Condition
- New
- ISBN 10
- 1555977359
- ISBN 13
- 9781555977351
- Seller
-
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
47 Copies Available from This Seller
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Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Graywolf Press. New. Special order direct from the distributor
Reviews
On Apr 9 2016, a reader said:
"In Opie's nursing self-portrait, she holds and beholds her son Oliver while he nurses, her Pervert scar still visible, albeit ghosted, across her chest. The ghosted scar offers a rebus of sodomitical maternity: the pervert need not die or even go into hiding per se, but nor is adult sexuality foisted upon the child, made its burden"
The Argonauts is the ninth book by American poet, art critic, lyric essayist and nonfiction author, Maggie Nelson. Described as a memoir, it is more of an opinion piece on LGBTQ+ issues, in particular, transgender and queer. It is told in the first person by Nelson, and addressed to her (fluidly-gendered) "husband", artist, performer and writer Harry Dodge.
Nelson touches on a myriad of topics: gender and identity, motherhood, transgender, queer families, same-sex marriage, writing and death. The opinion pieces contain occasional gems of wisdom, but soon become somewhat preachy, tedious, and boring. Many of the people described have the luxury of indulging in first-world angst, so perhaps this is the intended reader base for this book.
Sometimes the writing is not easily accessible: the concepts are so abstract and high-brow, the sentences so convoluted as to need rereading multiple times; no reader enjoys being made to feel stupid or ignorant. Nelson assumes in the reader familiarity with certain linguists, philosophers, writers, artists, poets, psychoanalysts, and unquestionably a basic knowledge of their works, ideas and concepts would increase the appeal of the book. When she quotes the work of others, her reference appears as a name printed in the margin of the text.
What redeems this work from a lower rating is that Nelson (and sometimes Harry) shares important parts of their lives: their relationship as lovers and their wedding, Harry's steps towards transgender, Nelson's relationship with her stepson, Nelson's stalker, their journey toward parenthood and the birth of their son, Iggy. Harry's account of his mother's passing is quite moving.
Nelson has won the 2015 New York Times Notable Book and the 2016 National Book Critics Circle Award (Criticism) for The Argonauts. An unusual memoir.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Russell Books Ltd (CA)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- ING9781555977351
- Title
- The Argonauts
- Author
- Nelson, Maggie
- Book Condition
- New
- Quantity Available
- 47
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10
- 1555977359
- ISBN 13
- 9781555977351
- Publisher
- Graywolf Press
- Place of Publication
- Minneapolis, Mn
- This edition first published
- 2016-01
Terms of Sale
Russell Books Ltd
For further information - (250) 361-4447 (GST applied to all Canadian orders). Shipping prices are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. Canadian and U.S. orders sent with Automated Package Tracking and delivery confirmation, where available. If your book order is heavy or over-sized, we may contact you regarding any extra shipping costs.
About the Seller
Russell Books Ltd
Biblio member since 2006
Victoria, British Columbia
About Russell Books Ltd
Family owned and operated since 1961. Located in Downtown Victoria selling new, used, and remainder titles in all categories. We also have an extensive selection of Journals, cards and calendars.
Glossary
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- New
- A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...