Grief is the Thing with Feathers – Max Porter (2015, 114 pages)
Max Porter’s first novel Grief is the Thing with Feathers was published to much fanfare in 2015,which is encouraging in today’s increasingly conservative publishing industry, as this novella is a true original. In fact, it’s difficult to call it a novella, as its more like a patchwork of prose, poetry, monologue, fantasy and the commonplace.
A woman has died suddenly, leaving behind a husband and two young boys, reeling with grief. Into their shattered lives comes Crow:
“I find humans dull except in grief. There are very few in health, disaster, famine, atrocity. Splendour or normality that interest me (interest ME!) but the motherless children do. Motherless children are pure crow. For a sentimental bird it is ripe, rich and delicious to raid such a nest.”
Crow is far from sentimental: he is foul-mouthed, aggressive and terrifying. He is also exactly what the family need; particularly a family headed by a Ted Hughes scholar.
“In the middle, yours truly. A smack of black plumage and a stench of death. Ta-daa!”
The voices alternate between Crow, Dad and Boys. The mixed narrative, compiled of short passages and lots of white space on the page effectively captures the disorientation and incoherence of grief. We never know exactly what Crow is: metaphor, collective fantasy, actual manifestation. The oversized bird, the madness and uncontrollable force of grief, exists alongside Dad trying to keep a hold on the everyday concerns of raising two boys:
“There was very little division between their imaginary and real worlds, and people talked of coping mechanisms and childhood and time. Many people said ‘You need time’, when what we needed was washing powder, nit shampoo, football stickers, batteries, bows, arrows, bows, arrows.”
The Boys are not distinguished from each other. They play and pretend, they are violent and angry and thoughtful and decent. Their passages are the most poem-like:
“Dad has gone. Crow is in the bathroom
where he often is because he likes the
acoustics. We are crowded by the closed
door listening. He is speaking very slowly,
very clearly. He sounds old-fashioned, like
Dad’s vinyl recording of Dylan Thomas.”
Grief is the Thing with Feathers deserves all its plaudits and then some. It is a taut, beautifully written, experimental exploration of grief which effectively captures the fallout of a death on a family. It is brave, tender, unsentimental and deeply moving. Cathy over at 746 Books wrote recently of the theatrical adaptation which looks amazing. I’m sure this tale will transfer powerfully to stage.
“They offer me a space on the sofa next to them and the pain of them being so naturally kind is like appendicitis. I need to double over and hold myself because they are so kind and keep regenerating and recharging their kindness without any input from me.”
Image from here
A must for my library! Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you enjoy it Debra! I thought it was stunning.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve recently finished a short story that blends prose, poetry and illustration, something that I hope to perfect in time, so this really appeals to me. Really looking forward to getting hold of it, thanks again for your inspiring reading challenge, I’m definitely reaping the rewards :0)
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a really difficult thing to get right, but when it works, it can be so effective. I’d love to hear how you find Grief is a Thing With Feathers.
I’m still not sure I’m up to this challenge but I’m enjoying it so far 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Completely agree with you about this one. I found it an exhausting and emotional read first time through, but such an important book which repays re-reading. I had not heard about the play, which sounds incredible. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is an exhausting read! I think it lends itself to re-reads because it’s so multi-layered.
I’m really hoping the play comes to London!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is one I’ve dithered over, partly because of all the hype surrounding it but you’ve convinced me to get off the fence about it. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve come to really distrust the hype around books now, as so many of the recent sensations I felt very meh about at best. This one I felt deserved the plaudits, I hope you agree when you come to read it Susan!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very wise. I think it’s counterproductive.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I read a little bit of this but to be honest, it just didn’t grab me… which is odd because I really do like my grief-lit. Perhaps I should give it another try?
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a real shame, but maybe with the fragmentary style you have to be in the mood? A fragmentary grief novel (think I’ve invented a genre there) I couldn’t get on with at all was Lincoln in the Bardo. I finished it, but it just never drew me in, due to the style. So many people loved it though, I wouldn’t want to put you off if you’ve not read it!
With this, I thought it brilliantly captured the chaos and contradictions of grief so with your specialist interest I’d urge you to give it another chance! (And unlike Lincoln in the Bardo it’s really short 😉 )
LikeLike
Fragmentary-grief is a genre now – but yes, think that was why it didn’t hook me from the start. I should give it another go. Haven’t read Bardo yet… it’s in the stack but it’s just not calling my name…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll be interested to hear what you make of it – I feel I’m out on a limb with this one! Maybe I should give it another go…
LikeLike
This is possibly the best review of the book I’ve seen, simply because it cuts through the hype and convinces me I should actually read it…. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a compliment – thank you! I hope I haven’t steered you wrong but I really did think it was excellent. The trouble with all the over-hyping that goes on is that it can have the opposite effect and work against authors…
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Experimental” “grief”. Hurrah! The two magic words that form a protective spell around my TBR! 😉
More seriously, I feel I’d hate this, but the quotes are very compelling. Fabulous writing and imagery. I’m strangely tempted…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh go on, you know you want to 😉
Although the writing’s experimental it’s not remotely pretentious or just done for the sake of it, it really works. Sure I can’t tempt you??
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pusher! I’m saving myself till the end of the month and then I’ll pick the two (or three) that most appeal… 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope I can tempt you…
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is one of my favourite books ever. I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I freaking love it so much and was excited to see it made it into your month!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It really is a brilliant book!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s exactly it, it’s more of a poem than a novel and I flicked through it in the library knowing I was about to get out a piece of poetry/prose with a beatnicky/paragraphs all over the shop feeling and so didn’t feel disappointed. I don’t know if enjoy is the right word, but I liked it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It defies categorisation, but for my purposes it’s definitely a novella 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person