In addition, some of the choices of subject veer on predictable: how many books have retold the suicidal stories of Plath and Sexton? Instead, a mention of Iris Chang, the talented writer and author of The Rape of Nanking, who killed herself in 2004, would have been far more interesting. For one thing, Chang contradicts the stereotype regarding the obsession of “self” in one’s work, as her books are all historical and deal with the grisly subject matter of the World Wars, and many argue that it was this very subject matter that might have done her in. Poet Weldon Kees is also known for having jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge, (we think) yet his body was never found.
Death Becomes Them can offer a light, fast (though not necessarily insightful) read, and the book has no pretenses as far as depth is concerned, given it is being marketed as pop culture. (If it had real depth, likely the publisher would not have wanted it, given our dumbed down culture). Strauss’ best moments are those when she is dealing with historical figures and there is no shred of emotionalism or sentimentality. For a good exploration on “madness” I recommend Mad, Bad, and Sad by Lisa Appignanesi, and for more details regarding screwy literary lives and marriages, I recommend Uncommon Arrangements by Katie Roiphe, where the writing is much more lyrical than the at times pedestrian sounding prose of Strauss. Any competent editor should have objected to her overuse of such clichéd modifiers to describe the subject at hand: dark, chilling, tormented, tortured, etc.
Though Death Becomes Them is a good title for the book, because very often it is these individuals’ deaths that eclipse their lives and accomplishments for the lazy reasons above. Literally, it is their deaths that take over, and if one wonders why that is the case, look no further than this book.
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Article comments
1 - Alix Strauss
Hi Jessica - Thanks for taking the time to read my book. I did want to share a few notable authors that found DEATH BECOMES THEM to be both fascinating and well-written:
"Alix Strauss' book is dark, grisly - and completely fascinating. I almost felt guilty for so thoroughly enjoying this look at history's most tormented souls." - A. J. Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible
"Every life is laid out with such humor, such style and heart, it's hard to imagine the dead themselves would not be thrilled to come back and read what the author had to say about them. Forget the bible - this is what I want to find in a hotel drawer at four in the morning. A truly unique, compelling and strangely life-affirming work of literary investigation. The perfect book to get you through the night."? -- Jerry Stahl, author of Permanent Midnight
"Strauss brilliantly exposes the devilry in the details and makes the profoundly moving, self-inflicted end-days of the greats a fascinating read." -- Michael Largo, author of Genius and Heroin