Legend Of a Suicide
by Vann, David
Thanks to Robert Burdock for his photo of the cover - http://www.flickr.com/photos/robaround/3484325276/in/pool-openlibrary
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On Apr 2, 2015, CloggieDownunder said
“Watching the dark shadow moving before him, it seemed as this were what he had felt for a long time, that his father was something insubstantial before him and that if he were to look away for an instant or forget or not follow fast enough and will him to be there, he might vanish, as if it were only Roy’s will that kept him there” Legend of a Suicide is the first book by prize-winning American author, David Vann. It consists of five short stories and a novella. The stories are all connected and describe the relationship of young Roy Fenn with his father Jim, a failed dentist and unsuccessful fisherman who commits suicide when Roy is thirteen. Vann writes from a position of authority, having experienced exactly that with his own father. While this dark subject forms the centre of the tales, Vann often surrounds it with equally dark humour as he describes the (frequently absurd) incidents of their lives. All this is contained within Vann’s luminous prose: “There had been rain overnight. I remember how strong the dove grass smelled, bitter in my nostrils and throat. I looked up suddenly from the bright ground and everything pulled together, all the strands of cloud and blue air, as if there were a huge drain in the center of the sky that sucked it all up” The short stories are narrated in the first person by Roy; the novella (Sukkwan Island) is narrated in the third person from the point of view of Roy and Jim, and describe a fateful homestead stay on a remote Alaskan island. Again, some evocative descriptive prose is used: “They watched the sun getting lower. It was so slow they couldn’t see it dropping, but they could see the light changing on the water and on the trees, the shadow behind every leaf and ripple in the sideways light making the world three-dimensional, as if they were seeing trees through a view-finder” is an example. Vann’s portrayal of the mentally ill father, his rationalisations and choices, is very realistic. Young Roy’s thought processes have a similarly authentic feel. This is a moving, sometimes funny, sometimes shocking tale with a clever twist. An amazing debut.
Available Copies
Legend of a Suicide : Stories
by David Vann
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Published
- 2008
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9781558496729
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
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Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
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$8.97
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University of Massachusetts Press, 2008. Hardcover. Very Good. Disclaimer:May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed. Item Price
$8.97
Legend of a Suicide: Stories
by Vann, David
- Condition
- Like New
- Edition
- Reprint
- Published
- 3/16/2010
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780061875847
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- 1
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McKeesport, Pennsylvania, USA
- Item Price
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$4.06
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Harper Perennial, 3/16/2010. Reprint. paperback. Like New. LIKE NEW!!! Has a red or black remainder mark on bottom/exterior edge of pages. Item Price
$4.06
Legend of a Suicide
by Vann, David
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 2010
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780061875847
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- Seller
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Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
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Harper Perennial, 2010. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed. Item Price
$6.53
Legend of a Suicide
by Vann, David
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good Plus Jacket
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 2008
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9781558496729
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- 1
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Milwaukee , Wisconsin, USA
- Item Price
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$24.95
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Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Press, 2008 171pp. Spine ends are lightly bumped. Jacket has small creases at the spine ends and the tips of the flap folds. Jacket has light scratches. Spine head has light chipping. Text is unmarked. 9781558496729. First Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine/Very Good Plus Jacket. Item Price
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Legend of a Suicide
by David Vann
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- Used
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 2008
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Mississauga, Ontario, CAN
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$75.00
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Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 2008. First Edition . First USA Edition. Hardcover. Fine book in a Fine, second state Dustjacket. Signed by the author on the title page. First book, set in Alaska.
Item Price
$75.00
Legend of a Suicide : Stories
by David Vann
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 2008
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9781558496729
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
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Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
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$8.97
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Description:
University of Massachusetts Press, 2008. Hardcover. Good. Disclaimer:A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. The spine may show signs of wear. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. An ex-library book and may have standard library stamps… Read more about this item Item Price
$8.97
Legend of a Suicide : Stories
by David Vann
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 2008
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9781558496729
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
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$8.97
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University of Massachusetts Press, 2008. Hardcover. Good. Disclaimer:A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. The spine may show signs of wear. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend… Read more about this item Item Price
$8.97
Legend of a Suicide (Grace Paley Prize in Short Fiction)
by Vann, David
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- 9781558496729
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Eugene , Oregon, USA
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$3.99
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University of Massachusetts Press. Used - Good. Hardcover This item shows wear from consistent use but remains in good readable condition. It may have marks on or in it, and may show other signs of previous use or shelf wear. May have minor creases or signs of wear on dust jacket. Packed with care, shipped promptly. Item Price
$3.99
Legend of a Suicide : Stories
by David Vann
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Published
- 2010
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780061875847
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Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
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$6.53
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HarperCollins Publishers, 2010. Paperback. Very Good. Disclaimer:May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed. Item Price
$6.53
Legend of a Suicide: Stories
by Vann, David
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9780061875847
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Frederick, Maryland, USA
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$5.26
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Harper Perennial. Used - Good. Good condition. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains. Item Price
$5.26
Legend of a Suicide : Stories
by Vann, David
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9781558496729
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Reno, Nevada, USA
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$6.37
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University of Massachusetts Press. Used - Good. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Item Price
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Legend of a Suicide : Stories
by Vann, David
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- ISBN
- 9781558496729
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Mishawaka, Indiana, USA
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University of Massachusetts Press. Used - Very Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects. Item Price
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LEGEND OF A SUICIDE
by Vann, David
- Condition
- Used - F/F
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 2008
- Binding
- Hardcover; First Printing
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Commack, New York, USA
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$30.00
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Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Press. F/F. 2008. First Edition. Hardcover; First Printing. First edition, fine unread in fine protected DJ. . Item Price
$30.00
Legend of a Suicide : Stories
by Vann, David
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9781558496729
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Mishawaka, Indiana, USA
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$5.00
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University of Massachusetts Press. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Item Price
$5.00
Legend of a Suicide : Stories
by Vann, David
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9780061875847
- Quantity Available
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Mishawaka, Indiana, USA
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HarperCollins Publishers. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Item Price
$6.66
Legend of a Suicide
by Vann, David
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- Used - Very Good
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- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780141043784
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GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
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Paperback. Very Good. Item Price
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Legend of a Suicide
by Vann, David
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Jacket Condition
- Not Applicable
- Edition
- Reprint
- Published
- 2008
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780141043784
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- 1
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Buttaba, New South Wales, AUS
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$4.40
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London, England: Penguin Books, 2008. Book. Good. Medium Softcover. Reprint. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Medium softcover, reprint, 170gms, 229 pages. Book is in good condition with minor general wear and tear and moderate page discolouration/spotting throughout, otherwise no other pre-loved markings.. Item Price
$4.40
Legend of a Suicide
by Vann, David
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 2009
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780141043784
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Seattle, Washington, USA
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Penguin Group, 2009. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed. Item Price
$6.29
Legend of a Suicide (Grace Paley Prize in Short Fiction)
by David Vann
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Published
- November 2008
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9781558496729
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Saugerties, New York, USA
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$9.98
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University of Massachusetts Press, November 2008. Hardcover. Used - Very Good. Item Price
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Legend of a Suicide
by Vann, David
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780141043784
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
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$1.02
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Paperback. Good. Item Price
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