Fiction book about generational suicides?

August 18, 2011 7:36 AM

Looking for the title of a book that I read in the mid 90's. It is a "fanciful" fictional book about a family (generations of family) end up committing suicide in very strange ways.

My library had a list of books that said "if you like this author, you may like this...". I think the author I chose was Louise Erdrich. I believe that the cover of the book had a hand drawn picture of a girl swirling upside down. The book was told from her point of view. Also, all of the characters in the book were aware that suicide was their fate, a family condition. Does this ring any bells? whatshouldireadnext.com failed me. And no, I am not looking to harm myself. I used the word "fanciful" to describe the book b/c I don't remember any of the characters being depressed.

posted by futz to writing & language (5 answers total)

There's no chance that this may have been The Virgin Suicides?
posted by psychostorm at 7:47 AM on August 18, 2011

No it isn't. I don't think that the book was very mainstream.
posted by futz at 7:53 AM on August 18, 2011

Kind of a stretch, but the first thing that came to mind was Edward Gorey's The Gashlycrumb Tinies.

"A is for Amy who fell down the stairs. B is for Basil assaulted by bears. C is for Clara who wasted away. D is for Desmond thrown out of a sleigh..."
posted by ErikaB at 2:27 PM on August 18, 2011 [1 favorite]

hope this doesn't count as chatfilter, but I know I read this book as well. Right now all I can think of is Geek Love - which is in the same vein of grotesque horror/comedy (maybe it was what I read next?), but I think isn't it. If I can think of any other information, I'll come back and post it.
posted by Mchelly at 11:44 AM on August 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

Thanks! This has been bothering me for a long time. Any tidbits are welcome.
posted by futz at 5:30 AM on August 20, 2011