Well I came accross this today after couple blog posts in the reader ,I oh and er about joining in I never see this a a literary blog ,but suppose it is and I m a terrible book snob a lot of the time so the question is what is your favourite Literary book and why is it a literary books well here are the ones I reject and why .
ULYSSES –A BIT LIKE SHOWING OFF .
THE UNFORTUNATES BY BS JOHNSON –TO OBSCURE AND AGAIN SHOWING OFF
MY CHOICE – Underworld by Dom Delillo –
the book wonderfully captures America post world war two from fifties to the nineties,the story jumps around the times so the time-line is all over the place ,it has many interweaves stories a main character Nick Shay that maybe sums up the American everyman perfectly ,the main drive of the book is a baseball from a famous baseball match .The reason I choose this book is it sums up to me what Literary fiction is Delillo is the successor of Bellow , Updike and Roth ,he maybe came nearest to the fabled GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL with this book ,it isn’t a easy read but rewarding ,it uses a baseball as a way to move the book forward and jumps through history only in literary fiction would a writer be so bold to do this and succeed .
this blog hop is hosted by the blue bookcase ,many thanks and a new addition to my reader .
I have this book! I actually own it, as yet unread, and after your wonderful review I’m going to pick it up soon. Like, in the beginning of the year when my reading committments are somewhat abated. I love how you said Ulysses was showing off. 🙂
Also, I see Read a Myth Challenge in your sidebar. That will be fun to participate in together.
well it is Joyce was a great writer but ulysses is a book for life I ve read it twice and still not fully got it ,great your doing the reading the myth challenge Im really looking forward to this wanting to find some great books to read ,all the best stu
Hi Stu–I have not read Underworld, and you do much to convince me I should. I think your blog definitely qualifies as a literary book blog. Evidence: your focus on literature in translation, your odd finds that always turn out to be gems, and your unique and personal take on books that is so refreshing and charming. Your blog is one of my favorites because of your personal voice and your honesty. Have fun checking out the rest of the “literary” blogs!
I would try it lisa ,I think this will be held up as the great american novel of the last twenty years at some point in the future ,I ve had some fun looking at the other blogs ,always feel maybe I m a bit light but thats just me I m not a long wind person ,but love to pass my passion for world lit on ,all the best stu
Glad I found your blog! Thanks for visiting Rose City Reader so I could follow you back here.
Underworld is definitely literary, but it wasn’t for me. Part of it was simply that I don’t like baseball. Sorry, but there you have it. But with Underworld, I came to long for the baseball bits because the rest was too depressing to deal with at all.
I think DeLillo can write; he’s just not a writer for me. He may even be as good as Bellow, Updike, and Roth — all favorites of mine — but I think he lacks their underlying exuberance, good nature, and humor.
suppose being english baseball is alien to me I have a brief understand of it ,but as a cricket fan could relate to peoples passion about this sport ,think he maybe is more of a male readers choice Delillo ,all the best stu
I think you are right — DeLillo appeals more to male readers.
I saw another person comment about your love for translated works, and I must say that that’s one of the things I love about your blog 🙂 You review books that I don’t see on most other blogs. I’m glad to see you participating in the Literary Blog Hop-I definitely think you quality 😉
I’m ashamed to say I’ve never read any DeLillo! I’ve heard some great things though so hopefully will pick up one of his books soon!
many thanks kelly ,I try to highlight the world lit that appeals to me ,DON’T be ashamed I ve many female writers I ve not read that I feel I should have done ,all the best stu
I haven’t read that novel, but I have no trouble believing it owns. DeLillo is the kind of writer that takes the necessary time and means to get under your skin. I have been wanting to read Updike for a while now and your placing of DeLillo in his heritage encourages me to do so.
Yes delillo is not a quick read ,but his books worth reading ,all the best stu
On this occasion Stu I believe you are wrong. Does the world really need yet another ‘great American novel’? The world is full of them. Americans seem to be unable to write about anything else other than America Problem is Americans not only believe their own hype but shout loud enough to persuade others.
A book which is not even 20 years old can hardly be termed a classic, for that accolade it must express a truth which resonates with more than one generation and is appreciated by readers of more than one nation.
‘Ulysees’ fits the bill as a great novel because it is one of the first stream-of-consciousness novels, experimental in language and imagery, yet structured upon a Greek myth. Yes it is difficult but please let’s not dumb down literary expression just because the text is difficult, otherwise we shall only have American writers (whose literary products rarely travel well, or are even translated, surely a measure of international stature) to read.
Faulkner’s ‘The Sound and the Fury’, Virginia Woolf’s ‘The Waves’ and Samuel Beckett’s novels are also difficult stream-of-consciousness books to read but am I just showing-off by saying I’ve read them, or possessing a slightly higher than average literary ability in appreciating such works?
P.S Stu Try reading the monumental Dos Passos novel ‘U.S.A’. Never heard of it? Why? Because it’s written from a left-wing perspective and expresses political truths such as the emasculation of the unions which Americans invariably sweep under the carpet in recounting their history!
not showing off Kevin ,I ve a copy of USA had a couple of years brought it after seeing Dos Passos mention on various list of must read American book ,have been put of by size of it to be frank ,I will try and read it in the new year then can compare thoughts on it ,I think underworld will be considered a MODERN CLASSIC because there aren’t many books from the era that are in same league the corrections is good but flawed , Middlesex is lovely but think subject of book will only see it develop into a cultist book ,infinite jest ,is a little confused but must admit only ever got 250 pages into it ,all the best stu
I have a friend who raves about DeLillo. Falling Man is here somewhere, but have yet to read him. Sounds like I’m missing out…
I loved falling man as well ,it was a very touching book ,all the best stu
Cool! I really like books about post war America, for some reason. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and taking part in our Blog Hop!
your welcome ,all the best stu
So nice to see men reading and writing in blog world. I can get quite annoyed at the steady drone of female voices here.
there are quite few of us out there lol ,all the best stu
Good choice Stu
thanks willa ,all the best stu
Intrigued by comment above on gender balance. Some blog writers/commenters do not define their gender: why should they? And if I were to try to guess, it would be just that, a guess. So does it matter?
Ulysees is showing off? Ha! I avoid mentioning that I have read it, lest anyone invite me to explain. At which point I would be left speechless!
Haven’t read any de Lillo yet but perhaps it’s time I give it a try, since you have chosen it for the Blog Hop! 🙂
thanks birdy he is worth try ing all the best stu