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The Wavering Knife
Brian Evenson's fifth story collection constructs a human landscape as unearthly as it is mundane. Replete with the brutality, primordial waste, and savage blankness familiar to readers of his earlier works, Evenson's Kafkaesque allegories entice the mind while stubbornly disordering it. In the title story an obsessive consciousness folds back on itself, creating a vertigi...more
Paperback, 205 pages
Published
March 15th 2004
by Fiction Collective 2
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The Wavering Knife by Brian Evenson
Among the writers we read there are some who entertain us, some we can appreciate but don’t feel any particular affinity with, some we intensely dislike, and some we admire so much we’d like to be them. And then, there is a small category that transcends all the categories above: the writers we are simply in awe of. I had such a feeling when I read Th. Mann, or Maurice Blanchot. And now—reading Brian Evenson’s The Wavering Knife.
I sh...more
Among the writers we read there are some who entertain us, some we can appreciate but don’t feel any particular affinity with, some we intensely dislike, and some we admire so much we’d like to be them. And then, there is a small category that transcends all the categories above: the writers we are simply in awe of. I had such a feeling when I read Th. Mann, or Maurice Blanchot. And now—reading Brian Evenson’s The Wavering Knife.
I sh...more
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What a strange, dark, original, little collection. Surreal at times, all-too-real at others (see what I did there?). I don't remember exactly where I first came across Evenson's name but he comes with much acclaim. Everyone seems to agree that the story 'Promise Keepers' is far and away the best (and one of the most disturbing) of the collection. It's also pretty darn funny.
Some other noteworthy stories are 'White Squares', 'The Intricacies of Post-Shooting Etiqutte', 'Virtual', ...more
Some other noteworthy stories are 'White Squares', 'The Intricacies of Post-Shooting Etiqutte', 'Virtual', ...more
(this review originally appeared in Art Voice)
Brian Evenson observes violence. He is the man behind the counter selling pins to boys who will push them through butterfly brains. But it's not so much "Does the butterfly die?" Or, "Why does the butterfly die?" Or even, "How does the butterfly die?" Evenson is all about dissecting the painstakingly generic transactions that brought the pin to the butterfly brain. He is also about why, in the end, the boy an...more
Brian Evenson observes violence. He is the man behind the counter selling pins to boys who will push them through butterfly brains. But it's not so much "Does the butterfly die?" Or, "Why does the butterfly die?" Or even, "How does the butterfly die?" Evenson is all about dissecting the painstakingly generic transactions that brought the pin to the butterfly brain. He is also about why, in the end, the boy an...more
Haunting as hell, lingering, sears. Evenson tackles a lot of genres in this short story collection, but somehow his voice, fierce and unflinching, never falters. Standouts include the title story and that one with the electrical crucifix, oh and the one with the room's walls all lined with teeth. Yeah, if that doesn't pique your interest I don't know what will
"And then, as if suddenly, their mother was dead by her own hand, the two young girls inherited by the ex-husband, their father, the ex-father."
The precision and brilliance of craft of that sentence (particularly, "as if suddenly") is typical of Evenson's work as a whole. Reading an Evenson story is like being temporarily blinded by darkness, grasping an object between thumb and forefinger, and rolling it over your fingers until the shape of the thing you are holdin...more
The precision and brilliance of craft of that sentence (particularly, "as if suddenly") is typical of Evenson's work as a whole. Reading an Evenson story is like being temporarily blinded by darkness, grasping an object between thumb and forefinger, and rolling it over your fingers until the shape of the thing you are holdin...more
The collection is a little uneven: certain stories are shot with humour and darkness, and some are just all darkness. Despite that, I thoroughly enjoyed several of the stories, enough to look out for more of Evenson's work, despite the hit-or-miss quality.
I wish I had written this book. Dark, methodical, these stories wiggle their way into your brain and stay there for a long, long time like little cerebro-literary worms.
The typeface in this book is the ugliest shit I've ever seen. Yes, that impeded my enjoyment. I did like about six of these nineteen stories, but that's not a very good ratio. I got a pretty heavy Paul Auster vibe off this guy (granted I've only read the New York Trilogy but I feel like that's enough to get an Auster vibe off another author) in that these aren't really stories, they're more like ideas of stories. I'm reminded of what Dave Kehr said about A Woman is a Woman: "Godard's idea ...more
One of the wonderful short stories in this amazing collection reminded me of Borges, except Evenson is infinitely more twisted.
I think Evenson is quite brilliant. I only gave the book 4 stars but perhaps I will return to this collection and try again at a later date. I think some of the darkness and violence and uncertainty in these stories unnerved me at a bit. Yet they are very well written, unusual, original, and interesting. I loved the Intricacies of Post-Shooting Etiquette and Promisekeepers. I think there was a lightness of tone and a sense of humor in these stories that helped with the sombre nature of the subje...more
The Wavering Knife is a collection of much more abstract collection of stories by Evenson. It does much to confirm him as a post-modern Poe but is probably not the best intro to his writings.
some incredible, some mediocre stories in here. very macabre. the occasional mockery of southernness and religious fundamentalism is a bit tired, but the more surreal stories ("The Ex-Father" esp.) are rocking.
True story: I was reading this on the Metro in DC when a woman barfed all over me; my copy has the vomit stains to prove it.
True story: I was reading this on the Metro in DC when a woman barfed all over me; my copy has the vomit stains to prove it.
i'm torn between two and three stars. after reading 2/3 of the book in one day, putting it down for over a month, and then finishing it up just now i can say that the stories are more interesting and (oddly) less jarring when read only a couple at a time. not sure i would read anything else by him but it made for good book group discush.
My favorite Evenson collection. There is no way of describing the thrilling, horrific, and indelibly well-crafted terrains this book presents to its readers. 'Avant-gothic' is a fitting phrase. Evenson is a modern master of incredible intelligence and ability. A great starting point to his work, I think.
To much GOD stuff for me, but some of the stories are very interesting. My Favorites.
The Ex-Father 3 stars
Virtual 5 stars
The Wavering Knife 3 stars
The Installation had an interesting concept of what the grey squares repersent but the story didnt move me.
The Ex-Father 3 stars
Virtual 5 stars
The Wavering Knife 3 stars
The Installation had an interesting concept of what the grey squares repersent but the story didnt move me.
This is a great collection of short stories. He writes in two distinct voices in the book and both of them are amazing. This is a very original and well written book.
I could not get into this book. I've read a lot of interesting reviews of Evenson's work. I'll have to try him another time.
very interesting so far. super dark, ironic and succinct. Evanson teaches at Brown.
I enjoyed some of the stories--there is no doubt he is brilliant, just not my cup of tea.
Inaugural Fancy Family Book Group Book.
One of my favorite short story collections.
Susan Ashley
marked it as to-read
Carol
marked it as to-read
Emily
marked it as to-read
Tim alward
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