What commonly-disliked author do you really enjoy?

sonictheplumber · 4 days

I love Wallace, Franzen, Kafka, Dostoevsky, Bolaño, etc., and I can tell you, "It" is as ambitious and interesting as anything those dudes wrote. He's not consistently good, but his best stuff is comparable with anything deemed "literary."

avon_barksale · 29 days

I tip a buck a box, so roughly $4-$5.

yettibeats · 29 days

Bluest Eye / Morrison. Uggggghhhhhh.

Genius_Swaggg · 1 month

I went to school with his brother. Funny seeing this of all things.

thesilverspyder · 1 month

I had the dinosaur eating the fish in the midwest. All it managed to do is confuse and ultimately upset my relatives.

poketmunsta · 1 month

Remember that it's just a tool. I tend to use mine only for non-fiction because, a) I don't care about physically owning them, and b) non-fiction is a lot easier to digest during a noisy commute (the ease of the Kindle itself is a given.)

I still buy physical books often, and with the Kindle Touch I am supplementing my reading with some much needed non-fiction. It doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing kind of purchase.

Masterdanger · 2 months

Same here. Straight-up fine arts degree, went into UI design. No regrets.

infinitejesting · 2 months

Indeed. Only have dwelling/fire coverage, costs more—covers less.

infinitejesting · 2 months

Haha, yes. "sucks major ass" is not an inaccurate description of what has happened.

infinitejesting · 2 months

Thanks for the note. No security clearance needed, thankfully.

warrior_princess · 3 months

I know what you mean. I mean, working through the solipsism and actually communicating or connecting with an author on some similar conscience level can certainly be, well, joyous.

thingamajingy · 3 months

"The Marriage Plot" is a pretty funny novel about how semiotics can suck the fun out of lit, and life alike.

warrior_princess · 3 months

I finished it in December and loved it. It's got to be the best "new" thing I've read in a long time. My mind is still buzzing from it.

warrior_princess · 3 months

Kafka does it for me. Then there's DFW, of course. Brief Interviews was one of the most depressing books I've ever touched.

warrior_princess · 3 months

Are there authors that aren't gloomy?

Akhel · 3 months

I so wish I could read Bolaño in Spanish.

turtlejay · 3 months

This is kind of like going into r/tv and saying, "I like The Big Bang Theory, but hate Breaking Bad. Can I fit in here?"

But to answer your question, I'd say it's a toss-up. I read the more literary stuff, and can get down voted just as easily. Context matters. As in life, no one wants to be talked down to, but you can't expect to not be challenged.

As a side q, what section of the bookstore has the "normal" books?

themostamazing · 3 months

oh nice, I don't read those. kudos.

CorsairSanglot · 3 months

This is one of the worst things that has ever happened.

themostamazing · 3 months

I'm a little addicted to Biblioklept. They have just nailed a certain literary culture. Flavorwire can be good at times, albeit I think they've had some strategy meetings where they've decided that Gawker is their competition.

fernguts · 3 months

I like this type of writing because the dialogue becomes part of the texture of the story, and not some separate entity. Also, some authors really do feel that punctuation is litter.

themostamazing · 3 months

I've discovered some pretty decent book blogs from links here. But no, I do not actually expect good original content here.

MessyJesse · 3 months

When I started to get into lit, I read a bit of everything. Maybe you could try some Atwood (Oryx & Crake), DeLillo (White Noise), McCarthy (Blood Meridian), Hemingway (For Whom the Bell Tolls), O'Connor (Wise Blood), Kafka (The Metamorphosis). I think the key when just getting started is to read a wide variety of stuff.

This sub reddit naturally veers to sci-fi/fantasy, so if you find yourself absolutely compelled by genre fiction, you'll have no problem finding recommendations from others here. But try out the big works too, if you're willing.

paladin87 · 3 months

Yep, I recognized them too. The only thing I remember about that dude was his never-ending supply of jeans and white button shirts. And his love of poplar frames.

infinitejesting

TROPHY CASE

you'll need to login or register to do that

create a new account

login