"Quiet" Writers

[Sand]

Viva June, I can recommend Andrzej Stasiuk's 'On the Road To Babadag' as an example of that sort of exploration of marginal places, in Eastern and Southern Europe. He haunts bus stations, wayside halts, cemeteries, remote small towns and villages, and writes of them with a sort of compelling fatalism. 'Fado' by him is equally good. A sort of Sebaldian successor, if rougher at the edges and less ruminative.

[MagnusTC]

Quote

Most of these are UK- or US-centric, though. I would love to read something about local matters in this style, so if anyone (Mads?) has any suggestions regarding books about obscure corners of Copenhagen, or even Denmark/Scandinavia more broadly, it would be much appreciated.

Fin de Copenhague by Guy Debord and Asger Jorn, one of the classics of psychogeography. Not sure how much it deals with local matters though, and it's probably rather unsebaldian ;) Other dérive-based books about Copenhagen would be Finn Thybo Andersen's Byvandringer 1968 (documenting desolate buildings, vacant neighborhoods...), and let's not forget the beautiful Amager issue of the magazine ta'. But to be honest, it feels difficult to think of any danish equivalent to Breton or Machen!

[klarkash]

Quote Originally Posted by Sand

A friend not on the group has kindly reminded me of another examplar of "quiet writing" - Julien Gracq, particularly "King Cophetua" and, I would add, "The Peninsula". He achieves a fine counterpoise between outer and inner terrain.

This is interesting to hear, as the only Gracq I've read is the astonishing Chateau D'Argol, which is anything but quiet.

[Sand]

Yes, Chateau d'Argol was an early work. Gracq grew more nuanced later. The transition starts with The Opposing Shore (1951).

[Robin Davies]

If we're allowed to include comic book writers/artists I recommend Chris Reynolds:
The comics of Chris Reynolds

[Draugen]

I thoroughly enjoyed Chateau D'Argol, it read like a lengthy prose poem. The "overblown" language is definately something I unashamedly enjoy. Maybe not "quiet" but it had that slightly disorienting feel. He seems to go out of his way not to give us "the full view" despite being so descriptive.

I own A Dark Stranger but haven't yet read it. I think I'll look up the Gracq novels mentioned here too. Has anyone read The Narrow Waters or later works like The Shape of a City. From what I've read, it also touches the realms of psychogeography.

[Sand]

Regarding Gracq, I would say the books to read first are King Cophetua, The Peninsula, The Opposing Shore and Balcony in the Forest. A Dark Stranger I find a little awkward - I think he was to some extent finding his way. The Shape of a City and The Narrow Waters are, to my taste, a touch more mandarin and intellectualised than these other works, though anything by Gracq has my respect. Incidentally, I relish Chateau d'Argol too - as I said at the start of this thread, I still like more vivid, eventful literature as well as "quieter" work.

[MadsPLP]

Quote Originally Posted by MagnusTC

Quote Most of these are UK- or US-centric, though. I would love to read something about local matters in this style, so if anyone (Mads?) has any suggestions regarding books about obscure corners of Copenhagen, or even Denmark/Scandinavia more broadly, it would be much appreciated. Fin de Copenhague by Guy Debord and Asger Jorn, one of the classics of psychogeography. Not sure how much it deals with local matters though, and it's probably rather unsebaldian ;) Other dérive-based books about Copenhagen would be Finn Thybo Andersen's Byvandringer 1968 (documenting desolate buildings, vacant neighborhoods...), and let's not forget the beautiful Amager issue of the magazine ta'. But to be honest, it feels difficult to think of any danish equivalent to Breton or Machen!

No suggestions at all from me. I spite of my limited knowledge in these matters, I believe Magnus' assertion is correct.

The only thing that springs to mind i Søren Ulrik Thomsen's and Jokum Rohde's coffee table book København Con Amore which documents the seedy and rundown Copenhagen, but that's probably not exactly what you're looking for.

I also think that both VivaJune and Magnus would know more about Danish (at least un-contemporary) literature than myself.

[Nicole Cushing]

Quote Originally Posted by Sand

Interesting, Nicole, thank you, and I sort of see what you mean, although a lot of Ramsey's work does have strong incident. Which do you recommend as the "quieter" stories or books?

I think some of his stories in Demons by Daylight could be classified as quiet horror. I think "The End of a Summer's Day" is probably one of the best quiet horror stories I've ever read. There's another Campbell story called "The Voice of the Beach" which strikes me as effective, quiet cosmic horror (can't remember where I read that one).

[Nicole Cushing]

I forgot to mention Shirley Jackson. While she might not be a totally "quiet" writer, she's only a stone's throw away from being one. (*rimshot*)

I'm about half-way through reading The Haunting of Hill House for the first time, and I'm finding it quite effective, quiet horror.