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Stillness and Shadows (1986)

by John Gardner

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561467,934 (3.19)2
Gardner's relentlessly honest and moving portrayal of a broken marriage, and his ambitious unfinished masterpiece--a metafictional mystery centering around one man's struggle to recover his lost identity--together in one accomplished volume Stillness: Martin and Joan Orrick--distant cousins who have known each other since early childhood--are in the final throes of a failing marriage. Martin is a compulsive drinker who obsesses about his writing, and Joan is struggling with a debilitating physical condition. Together they search for some type of collective identity, and identify where the dissolution of their love began.   Inspired by therapy sessions Gardner experienced with his first wife, Stillness is an insightful portrait of one couple's struggle for fulfillment in a tumultuous world.   Private detective Gerald Craine is pursuing an unknown murderer. At the same time, he himself is the target of an unknown person's pursuit. Stumbling through an alcohol-soaked haze, Craine desperately seeks meaning and understanding in a world fraught with fragmented narratives.   Shadows: John Gardner's friend Nicholas Delbanco has supplemented this unfinished novel with seven sections from Gardner's original manuscript that provide critical insight into Gardner's approach to developing the novel and its characters, giving a rare glimpse inside the creative process of one of the twentieth century's most inventive writers.   This ebook features a new illustrated biography of John Gardner, including original letters, rare photos, and never-before-seen documents from the Gardner family and the University of Rochester Archives.… (more)
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A posthumously published book (Gardner died in 1982), in three sections. "Stillness" is a short semi-autobiographical novel about a troubled writer and his marriage, as his brilliant and beautiful wife struggles to make sense of his frequent bouts of rage and hurtfulness. The book is dark, plodding and depressing, only partially redeemed by a comparatively sweet and upbeat conclusion. Not one of Gardner's better works. "Shadows" is an unfinished detective story, followed by several fragments that the editors felt might somewhat conclude the story. I don't much care for unfinished stories, unless I am particularly enthralled by the author's writing style - which is not the case here. Gardner's value as a writer for me lies more in his characters and plots, not his actual writing, which is often a chore to get through. I couldn't bring myself to read this part of the book. ( )
  burnit99 | Jan 19, 2007 |
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Gardner's relentlessly honest and moving portrayal of a broken marriage, and his ambitious unfinished masterpiece--a metafictional mystery centering around one man's struggle to recover his lost identity--together in one accomplished volume Stillness: Martin and Joan Orrick--distant cousins who have known each other since early childhood--are in the final throes of a failing marriage. Martin is a compulsive drinker who obsesses about his writing, and Joan is struggling with a debilitating physical condition. Together they search for some type of collective identity, and identify where the dissolution of their love began.   Inspired by therapy sessions Gardner experienced with his first wife, Stillness is an insightful portrait of one couple's struggle for fulfillment in a tumultuous world.   Private detective Gerald Craine is pursuing an unknown murderer. At the same time, he himself is the target of an unknown person's pursuit. Stumbling through an alcohol-soaked haze, Craine desperately seeks meaning and understanding in a world fraught with fragmented narratives.   Shadows: John Gardner's friend Nicholas Delbanco has supplemented this unfinished novel with seven sections from Gardner's original manuscript that provide critical insight into Gardner's approach to developing the novel and its characters, giving a rare glimpse inside the creative process of one of the twentieth century's most inventive writers.   This ebook features a new illustrated biography of John Gardner, including original letters, rare photos, and never-before-seen documents from the Gardner family and the University of Rochester Archives.

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