Brilliant contemporary literature suggestions?

[lesbiaphrodite]

How can you know until you've read it all?

I claim no special knowledge or insight. I am humbled by the writing of the greats, and I know that my own work is not great. I don't know much about "all' that has been written in these past years. I only know that none of what I have read has moved me very much (except that which was written before 1940).

 

[Varian P]

I share your book tastes and aversion to "modern" writing. In a similar literary doldrums the other month I was recommended the weird, dreamlike work of Haruki Murakami. You may like it.


E2A: I just saw that in an above post Neon recommends Murakami's Norwegian Wood, which I second.

I read and liked Dance Dance Dance. I'll make Norwegian Wood the next of his I read.

 

[Varian P]

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. I've bought myself a copy of The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro, on shereads's recommendation, but I know I'll be coming back to this list in the coming months for shopping ideas.

And it's been fun hearing everyone's passionate support for their favorite books and authors; I used to be such a bookworm, and I've been an awfully ambivalent reader lately. I want to get lost in literature again...

 

[Varian P]

Ok, Varian - what's your take? Personally? I can't think of absurdists beyond maybe Jean Genet or Sarte. Post-modern writing is easy to come by these days, but absurdist writing in the 21st century? I can't help you because I'm absurdly old school.

It's entirely possible I'm misusing/abusing the term absurdist, but I'll say that of Nabokov's novels, I loved Invitation to a Beheading best, I adore Camus and Sartre, and Kafka. I've never read Genet, but I see right away he's someone I need to check out--thanks.

I'm terribly old school myself, hence this thread.

 

[Varian P]

I claim no special knowledge or insight. I am humbled by the writing of the greats, and I know that my own work is not great. I don't know much about "all' that has been written in these past years. I only know that none of what I have read has moved me very much (except that which was written before 1940).

I see you know all the words to my song.

 

[Varian P]

I echo endorsements for Pratchett and Alexie.

I'll raise you Mark Saltzman. I loved "Iron and Silk" and "Laughing Sutra"

Christopher Moore is wonderful, start with Bloodsucking Fiends.

*bounces up and down and waves at Varian after being responsible and saying something on topic*

Always a joy to see you (still is good, bouncing up and down, even better!), on topic or no.

*waves back*

(bouncing up and down would be indecent in this dress)