Ten extraordinary literary suicides

Timesonline.co.uk ^ | January 25, 2008 | Gary Lachman

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Mishima was an odd guy. A Japanese ultranationalist who surrounded himself with a cult of gay bodybuilders/weapons enthusiasts.

That's one story Kurosawa wouldn't touch, that's for sure!

But Paul Schraeder did! His Mishima is one of my all-time Top Ten films, and hardly anybody's seen it. The non-linear nature of the film with the use of b&w for the flashbacks, color for the story of Mishima's last day and saturated candy color for the literary adaptations is stunning. A must!

[Lurker]

Hemingway was awful, simply awful.

His self indulgence was legendary in almost every aspect of his life. Food, liquor, women, you name it, Hemingway over indulged.

It wasn't admiration for his writing that drove his career, it was envy.

He was a pitiable man who died in a contemtible manner.

L

[CholeraJoe]

Al Gore choking on a spotted owl sandwich.

Sorry, wishful thinking.

[stylecouncilor]

ping

[Borges]

I’m not defending his lifestyle just the best of his fiction. The best of the short stories are just great.

[Lurker]

Well then we must agree to disagree. The only thing I enjoyed about Hemingway's short stories was their brevity.

L

[dfwgator]

Yeah, but Hunter having his remains shot out of a cannon was pretty original.

[durasell]

Not particularly. I’m a big O’Hara fan — not many of us left.

To clarify my take on Hem. I find it fascinating that towards the end he sunk into self-parody while F. Scott continued to plug away and was actually climbing back up just prior to his death.

[durasell]

If you judge writers by their lifestyles and circumstances surrounding their deaths, then you’ll be reading mighty few books.

[Borges]

Well, H lived a lot longer than FSF.

[wideminded]

But Paul Schraeder did! His Mishima is one of my all-time Top Ten films, and hardly anybody's seen it.

I've seen it and it is also one of my all-time favorite films. The soundtrack by Philip Glass is incredible too.

Seeing the film also encouraged me to read a couple of biographies about Mishima as well as his partial autobiography Confessions of a Mask. I guess I'm not into literature enough to read his novels.

[durasell]

Well, H lived a lot longer than FSF.

---

Proof positive that marrying a series of increasingly richer women is better for your health than marrying just one crazy woman.

[Borges]

Thank goodness Vladimir and Vera had a happy marriage.

[windcliff]

Thanks for the ping. Interesting info.

[durasell]

So did Tolstoy, apparently.

[Lurker]

I judge Hemingway by his writing, which to be succinct about it, sucked.

L

[durasell]

I’ll probaby regret asking this, but what books by Hemingway have you read?

[Lurker]

"Old Man And The Sea" was tolerable. "For Whom The Bell Tolls" was interminable. "Farewell To Arms"...pure dreck. Started "The Sun Also Rises" but realized there was no reason to further subject myself to his contributions to American literature.

L

[fish hawk]

Yeah, he is only one of the Greatest writers to come out of America. I’m sure you like Steven King much better.

[fish hawk]

Year, millions of readers all over the world prove your point. LOL get real. So you have an opinion even it it has not backing by the public and critics.