I'm with Bovine on the 'Curious Incident' and 'Vernon God Little' choices - both fine books.
My recent favourites, off the top of my head;
Dave Eggers - 'A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius' - Eggers' staggering biography of sorts manages to be both heartbreaking, genius and honest to the title. Also check out last year's 'You Shall Know Our Velocity' or his new 'Short Short Stories' in the Guardian Weekend on saturdays. My absolute idol.
Erlend Loe - 'Naive: Super'
Toby Litt - 'Deadkidsongs', 'Adventures In Capitalism', 'Exhibitionism', 'Corpsing', 'Beatniks'. Often self-indulgent, but curiously interesting writer. This year's 'Finding Myself' is hard work though, but has its moments.
Jack Kerouac - 'Maggie Cassidy' - Makes Love, Lust, and even the Loss sound so beautiful.
Evelyn Waugh - 'Decline and Fall', 'Vile Bodies', 'Put Out More Flags'.
Anything by Don Delillo.
Douglas Coupland's 'Hey Nostradamus' is supposed to be good. I've not read it, but this comes from the man who wrote 'All Families Are Psychotic'. Definately worth reading.
Paulo Coelho will probably change your life. At least 'The Alchemist' will, and 'Veronika Decides To Die' will get you thinking.
|