cgray

I'm bummed that most of my favorite books are those I read in great college courses, or during college. Sure, being in college helps enjoy zany, postmodern fiction. But the books themselves were good, too, right?

So, I read and loved Infinite Jest, Gravity's Rainbow, White Noise, House of Leaves, The Tunnel, A Frolic of His Own, JR, etc. within a year or two of each other.

I haven't read many books since which compare to those.

What have I missed in the last ten years? What's a postmodern lit class reading these days? Recommendations welcome, and I'd be really excited if anyone could send me a syllabus from their lit class.

Edit: Yes, I've read the Corrections. Franzen may be the closest thing in the last decade, but... really?

terrible chong

House of Leaves

It's pretty mind-bending.

cornyt

Have you read David Mitchell? I liked "Cloud Atlas."

djmont

DFW's new one is supposed to be even better than Jest.

Supermallet

Have you read Finnegans Wake? While it's not quite the same as the books you're listing, it does pave the way for them.

TimeandTide

Anything by Cormac McCarthy (start with The Road, All the Pretty Horse, or No Country for Old Men).

printerati

Agreed, but I read Blood Meridian in an American Lit class about 15 years ago. Perhaps my professor was ahead of the game.

The last "new" thing I read outside of McCarthy was Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, so I am out of the loop as well.

dmar91

For a less serious take on postmodernist themes, have a look at House of Windows by John Langan.

Hank Ringworm

I'd recommend not reading postmodern literature.

The Bus

I've tried twice now to read that book and I get through it about halfway before becoming totally disinterested.

Strafe

People make House of Leaves sound more interesting than it is. It's a chore.