Postmodernism has become widely recognized as a movement consisting of an epic scope, innovative techniques and wide ranges of psychological and intellectual impact. The beginning of postmodernism is uncertain, but for the sake of continuity, James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake has been chosen as the chronological starting point for this list. Books have been decided upon by overall excellence rather than impact.
A triple-whammy from the master abstract minimalist, whose technique of viewing objectively the subjective world was taken to its zenith in this trilogy of meta-fictional neurosis, in which characters lives and situations seem to splice together until it becomes apparent they were the fictions of one person all along. A formidable work of Joycean density.
A labyrinth of ergodic structure, Danielewski’s novel has become a recent cult classic and by simply opening its pages its conspicuous that there’s no other book like it: encoded typography, color-word associations and the meticulous inclusion of mythological and metaphysical references turn this roaring institution of a novel into a rorschach test on a Minsa scale.
Though Slaughterhouse Five may be his best-known work, this is the one that should be included in the pantheon of solipsistic narration. Often overlooked as self-indulgent and uneven, Breakfast is a personalized account of the phrase “perfect paranoia is perfect awareness.” Pontiac salesman Dwayne Hoover becomes obsessed with the work of sci-fi writer Kilgore Trout, eventually spiraling into acute eruptions of anxiety when he believes that he is the sole human combating a world of reificated humanoids. Black satire at the peak of its powers.
The works of Borges are impossible to describe without a depth of analysis, since he has the power to include in five pages a universe of infinite captivation. Even today, many of the short stories in this collection are open to interpretation.
The Gonzo journalist epic is included here for its superior attempts to splice fact and fiction through surrealist imagery to construct the greatest drug and political satire of its epoch.
No other book of its kind is as gruesome, funny, polemical or disturbing as the story of Wall Street yuppie Patrick Bateman as he calmly iterates the details of his homicidal life, all in an apathetic tone that combines magical realism with minimalism in a way no other book can. Its swift change from comedy to horror happens in such breakneck speed that its stream of consciousness takes on a new level of apprehension.
The most paradoxic war novel ever written, Heller’s novel is widely recognized as one of the greatest novels ever written, its structure centering on irony and repetition that would grow irritating in lesser hands. Cemented Heller’s mastery in the literary world.
To faithfully describe this novel is to end in failure: a pastiche of paranoia, pop culture, sex and politics that turns narration on its head with subtle metaphorical discipline, as the lives of several people center around the parabolic venture of the rocket “0000.” Comparisons of the novel and its symbols to Ulysses and Moby-Dick do not do justice to its singularity.
So much has already been written about this book’s impact that to go further would seem superfluous. Arguably the novel that put postmodernism on its contemporary path, filtering paranoia, drugs and influences from erotica to detective fiction to science fiction comprises one of the most influential and unforgettable works in modern literature. [JFrater: This is one of my all-time favorite books - if you haven't read it - do it!]
The recently-departed Wallace left behind the most intriguing, in-depth, comedic, sorrowful, apprehensive and overall sagaciously maximalistic read in the postmodern canon. The parallelism between the Enfield Tennis Academy and the Ennet Drug and Alcohol Recovery House using alternating esoteric and colloquial words (and his trademark endnotes) creates the most epic and exhausting novel of modern times.
Honorary Mentions: Finnegans Wake, Fight Club, The Unfortunates, A Clockwork Orange, Lolita, Godel Escher Bach
Contributor: F. McClure
yeah i put naked lunch down too, for much the same reason mexmark
I loved Naked Lunch, but then, I love almost anything Burroughs writes.
Thoughtful list; though I would have prefered the kind of basic descriptions from other lists that actually describe the books in ways that are intriguing to the LV reader – rather than using hedge disclaimers to avoid attempting to describe them fully.
I was going to be very disappointed if American Psycho was not on here. I agree with Becca’s praise for it; such a wonderfully disturbing and unforgettable book.
#49: Anon. Pseud’s Corner of course!! Thank you; that had been bothering me. I haven’t read Private Eye for a long while but it was formerly a favourite way to spend a break at work; office door closed, cup of coffee and some amusing diversion from the tedium of the day. Pseud’s was always one of my favourite sections, introduced me to many new words too.
Anyway, because it’s been so long I’m not sure if it still has that column and I did hear somewhere that publication had stopped though I hope that wasn’t true. I’ll see if I can find it on Monday and let you know if there will be something to keep you quiet on your trip!
Please don’t listen to the people who want to stop the literature lists. They’re great and (although it’s debatable if this is a good thing or not) now my list of books to read has become absolutely ridiculous. I’m about 2/3 the way done with Catch-22 and i’ve been loving every minute of it. Keep up the good work! Also, does anybody have a definition of what postmodern is or is it just one of those things that you can’t define?
Breakfast of Champions is such a mind***** of book, but it’s great.
The first few chapters are great.
some good suggestions, im not sure i’d agree with much of what was said about certain novels on the list. however, very thankful for learning about some new books i have yet to read. thank you.
While Breakfast by Vonnegut is a good choice for this list, it’s not the best he has made. Both Cat’s Cradle and Slaughterhouse are better structured and way more surreal!
EXCUSE ME WHERE IS DON DELILLO
I have to say that I am impressed with the number of people who really do take an interest in the books presented here. I learn so much from the submitted lists and I am glad that we are all learning together all the time!
tits mcgee: on the most overrated novels list – seriously
What about The Life & Opinions of Tristram Shandy? Even the film was tres meta! Lol
Bor-ing… Make some exciting lists… Enough with the books and movies!!!
i totally love these types of books!
Nietzsche, to assume that I suffer from hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is just a spurious asseveration.
To elucidate, I’m certainly not trying to attack his or your honorificabilitudinitatibus; I only made my post because of the author’s pleonastic attempt at being a sesquipedalian and the resulting desultory mess.
No need to be an acebereal curmudgeon. Now hush before I perform a defenestration on your sophomaniac posterior.
Disclaimer: I do not really talk like that. You’re more likely to be thought of as intelligent if you write clearly and simply.
MadMonkey: That gave me chuckles.
Fact is, you need to tailor your writing for your audience. The audience here is very broad; not everyone does or really needs to know several of the words used to describe these novels – implying they are dumb because of that is just intellectual snobbery. Relatively obscure statistical terms and incorrectly used derivations serve only to make the write-up impenetrable to the casual reader when surely the intent should be to educate and encourage people to broaden their literary horizons. The content of this list is interesting; I just feel that it could have been a little bit more accessible.
I definitely think Wolfe’s Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test should be included in this list!!!!
I need to read these, evidently.
I mean, they all beat Fight Club in a postmodern list.
That means a lot, to me.
I know this, because Tyler knows this.
On this list, I read Catch-22 & Breakfast of Champions.
Breakfast of Champions is by far Vonnegut’s best work, though that does not detract from the quality of most of his other work (I found Mother Night to be weak compared to BoC and Cat’s Cradle).
However, I think one could replace Hunter S Thompson with Franz Kafka, though the literary post-modern movement didnt start until after WW2. His narratives preceeded anything that was written before, because absolutely none of it makes any logical sense. The title of all his works could well be “What the F—?”, but in Russia, soon after he died, The Trial would become reality…
No Dave Eggers?
Agree with Infinite Jest at #1, plan to read it again this summer.
If you are a fan of Breakfast of Champions (Like I am) you should really watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5EqOiye7zI This NEEDS to be released on DVD!
I am loving these books lists, it is giving me something to do and means I don’t have to waste my time getting my soul sucked out watching tv. I have added many to my to-read list. I hope to see more book lists in the future. Maybe best historical novels? or best non fiction? Maybe I will come up with my own list.
House of leaves severely affected my life, while I was reading it I would have trouble sleeping and have pseudo hallucinations after long hours of consciousness (catching something in the corner of your of your eye that isn’t there, feeling like I was being watched when I was alone etc.) I’ve talked to people who bought multiple copies to take separate notes in to figure out all of the hidden messages and codes in this novel. For me, this is the greatest book ever written.
I’ve read all of these but #7, so now now I have to because it keeps such good company.
Breakfast of Champions is so funny.
One of the greatest and most overlooked post modern novels is In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O’brien.
It’s Mensa, not minsa! Sorry, had to point that out. Now i’ll go back to the list and finish reading and give a positive review when i’m done.
ok, list read. Sadly, i probably won’t be reading any of these. They just don’t spark that “hm…that sounds interesting” thought in my brain. Ok, they sound interseting, but not enough for me to go and check out one of them at the library.
This won’t be such a positive review, sorry. I could barely read the list. To many big words that i haven’t heard of and i’m a bookworm/geek/nerd/. I agree with Mad Monkey. Put down the thesarus, and write the list for us average intelligence people out here on the intertoob. Mad Monkey is right, if you write plain and clear so everyone understands you, you come across as more intelligent.
Other than that, interesting list!
crap! i have a typo in my last comment! it’s interesting, not interseting. Sorry!
Went to Wikipedia and found a great, long list of post modern authors. It included Vladimir Nabokov, William Faulkner and Cormac McCarthy. This list of books could have been much longer: Lolita, Light in August and The Blood Meridian for starters.
90. Sandra: crap! i have a typo in my last comment! it’s interesting, not interseting. Sorry!
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drat! I was hoping you meant intersecting! That would have been a really interesting comment!
91. Joe13:…It included Vladimir Nabokov, William Faulkner and Cormac McCarthy…
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I figured that would be understood from the Introduction. I assume people do read the Introduction.
I haven’t read any of these yet (more to add to my ever-growing list!), but my father and I had a discussion about Catch-22 earlier today.
My father: “A friend of mine once told me Catch-22 was the Great American Novel, so I read it.”
Me: “Was it?”
My father: “No.”
I intend to read it someday, even if it isn’t the Great American Novel.
92. segue–drat! I was hoping you meant intersecting! That would have been a really interesting comment!
“Ok, they sound intersecting, but not enough for me to go and check out one of them at the library.”
*ponders on that for awhile*
Nope….that doesn’t make any sense at all to me……..hmmm….
I wonder what everyone would have thought if i meant intersecting and not interesting.
Loved Lolita, would have liked to see it on the list, but i like it as an honarable mention
Amazing books, amazing list, Hells yeah. I need to find Naked Lunch and Gravity’s Rainbow. American Psycho was incredible (good movie too), I have yet to read something that i haven’t liked from Hunter, and glad to see Labyrinths on here. I can’t even describe how great that book is.
As I read through the list I somehow thought Camus´”Stranger” would be up there or something from Paul Auster.
Most notable omission:
“Hopscotch” Julio Cortazar (pure genius here in case you don´t know it)
So many good books out there and such a short life to read them all *sigh*
Great list thank you.
Baxter:
I’m not *entirely* sure you were serious in that answer to me… but perhaps you were, and so I won’t comment overly much on the gobbledeygook factor.
“if postmodernism can be defined as transgressing the angst and ennui of modernism”
Well, who furnishes that definition? That’s a new one on me. Plus, it’s vague. Just how does one “transgress” angst and ennui?
Moreover, perhaps it can be said that Modernism was more angst-ridden than, say, the romanticism that preceded it, but it also clearly hearkened back to romanticism in many ways. Angst is more a condition of modern times, I would say—not necessarily of modernISM as an art movement or style. Ennui, again—definitely a product of modern times. But I wouldn’t say it permeates modernist literature or art to the extent that it can be singled out as a common characteristic.
Honestly, I don’t know how to classify what post-modernism is, in literature, beyond saying that it is whatever ISN’T modernist, but comes AFTER modernism. In architecture I can point out postmodernism readily and distinguish it easily from modernist architecture and of course other forms. In painting, not quite as easy but still, I can do it. But oddly enough for someone who is a writer (me) and who has studied English Literature and Literary Criticism (I have, thoroughly) I still don’t really know of a way to define post-modernist literature beyond what I’ve already mentioned—and beyond saying that perhaps it plays with time a great deal, and borrows from older forms, which is a common trait of post-modernism in whatever artistic endeavor one is talking about.
“then I think that Burroughs most certainly belongs on this list.”
I’m not sure I see the argument here, but I’m listening.
“He goes beyond Ezra Pound’s modernist criteria and the psycho*****ytic school of criticism that sprung up after Freud started publishing, and comes back with something distinct, unique and wildly unsettling.”
I don’t see this as a qualification for being “post-modernist” per se, Baxter. Are you trying to say that Burroughs is more distinct, unique, and was more unsettling than Joyce was with Ulysses or Finnegan’s Wake, or Miller was with “Tropic of Cancer?” Or more distinct and unique than Breton’s “Nadja” or Gertrude Stein’s “Tender Buttons,” or Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot?” All are modernist standouts, and all are definitely MODERNIST, not post-modern. How is Burroughs’ “Naked Lunch” really all that distinct from these IN its “distinctiveness,” if you follow me?
“The way I see it is that this can be simplified in terms of motive; classical literature generally aimed to resolve and encapsulate issues for the reader,”
I’m not so sure about the resolution part, but okay, we’ll let that go.
“Keats’ influence meant that issues no longer needed closure to be resolved,”
Why Keats per se?
“while modernism was about raising questions, leaving the reader to resolve these issues in isolation.”
Actually I would not consider that to be a sufficient characteristic to term a work “Modernist.” Modernism, in essence, is grab-back at romanticism, and also a thorough move towards art not just for art’s sake but for the *artist’s* sake. Modernism, remember, is as much about WHO the reader is as what is being said to him or her. Or, to put it another way, it’s more about the artist and other artists than it is about any reader (unless he or she is another artist).
Modernism isn’t just the literature of a certain time period, though of course it does surely encompass a range of time—from about 1900 (perhaps a little earlier) up until about 1960 or so. But it’s really more about a characteristic attitude and style that just happens to fall within that time frame because of certain influences preceding it.
“Postmodernism took this a step further by throwing the author’s part in this process into the light, forcing readers to confront issues which in general could not be resolved and implying that no resolution was indeed necessary.”
I would say that it’s *modernism* that threw the author’s part in the process into the light much more than post-modernism does—which to me, again, follows modernism without BEING modernist. I see much less focus on authorship today than there was 50-100 years ago, or on the author’s role as the artist.
“I cannot think of any modernist literature which achieves any kind of greatness without a discernible narrative as Naked Lunch does… but now I’m rambling.”
Well here I’d totally disagree. Have you never heard of dadaism? Of dadaist literature? What about surrealism?
Seems to me, Baxter, that you’re simply viewing the directionless surrealism of Burroughs as unique–therefore it must be post-modern. I don’t see the logic in that at all. For one thing it isn’t unique, and for another, it simply doesn’t follow that it’s therefore excluded from being modern as opposed to post-modern.
Not that I care that much—I don’t have the huge love for Burroughs that many people seem to have. I much prefer Henry Miller, who was an influence on Burroughs.
95. Sandra: “Ok, they sound intersecting, but not enough for me to go and check out one of them at the library.”
*ponders on that for awhile*
Nope….that doesn’t make any sense at all to me……..hmmm….
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See, the thing is, Sandra, that with a statement that sounds almost right, but isn’t, and is interesting as a result, it could mean almost anything!
Intersecting is one of those words that has almost mystic powers in maths and physics. It creates entire new fields of thought. Bringing that sort of thought to literature is mind-blowing, and something I’d love to be in on the ground floor for.
Muse away, my friend, this could be big!
@ 100: segue
*continues pondering*
Randall, “The Post-Modern and the Post-Industrial” is an excellent primer on the subject that manages to cut through a lot of the nonsense. Its basic premise is that Postmodernism is the cultural arm of Post-Structuralism, so any work of art concerned with the impossibility of objective truth can be termed postmodern. Slaughterhouse Five is the perfect literary ur-text in this regard.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is likewise postmodern under this definition. HOWEVER, meta-narratives and a text’s recursive self-awareness don’t necessarily make something postmodern unless it is using these tools to point out the impossibility of objective truth. If that were the case then you could argue convincingly that Hamlet and The Bacchae are postmodern, which is clearly nonsense. Also, and God I really can’t stress this enough, referencing popular culture is NOT postmodern. Artists have been referencing the culture they live in since artists were invented. A play about Dionysus in fifth century BCE Athens is a play that is referencing popular culture, especially when that play takes place at the Festival of Dionysus.
Still, maybe it’s easier just to use it as an art-historical term, i.e. any building or work of art created after 1967 that isn’t obviously pre-modern or high-modern in its style. That’s way too vague, but then people might argue that the above definition regarding Post-Structuralism is too narrow. Anyway, as far as I’m concerned we are still, historically, very much in the Modern era, and arguably also in the Romantic era. They overlap.
People get a little bit too excited about Post-Structuralism. I think it’s amazing that Derrida proved that there is no objective truth using linguistics, but the actual idea has been around at least since the Enlightenment.
As an aside, I was drinking at the Auckland Uni bar last year and overheard a loudmouth artist behind me describe himself as a Post-PostModernist. He had actually been making some quite good points up until then about how we need to stop being so preoccupied with deconstructing everything and actually say something useful and, constructive for society. But yeah, Post-Postmodernist. I laughed so hard some beer came out my nostrils.
jesuswept:
Excellent points. I’ve heard of this idea of post-modernism being, to some extent, the bastard child of post-structuralism, but it’s interesting to me that these are still, to some extent, *negative* definitions. Moreover, I don’t believe most people who talk about post-modernism wish to limit it to a discussion or illustration of the impossibility of objective truth. (Perhaps they should).
I think the point about post-modernism referencing popular culture is meant to indicate how it makes USE of the reference—not merely that any reference to pop culture is itself indicative of a text that is “post modern.”
I like the story about the post-postmodernist. I had a friend in college in the early 80s who (deliberately and humorously) used to play with all these confusing and addled labels. I wish I could remember some of the stuff he came up with–the only one I recall right now is that he used to call futurism “pre-nextism.”
All misnomers and misspellings were accidental and my vocabulary is not meant to seem grandiloquent. So for all of you who believe I am being abstruse or esoteric, may I suggest the following principle:
1. Go ***** yourself (@ Mad Monkey)
2. Suck it up; stop being goddamn perfectionists.
3. Grab a thesaurus.
4. Get a life.
That is all.
For the record, I was not under any circumstances trying to sound “smart” and your sardonic comments on my supposed grandiloquence is quite uncalled for. Also, any misnomers or spelling errors were unconscious and accidental.
God, I’m only seventeen here, gimme a break. Perfectionists.
Oh, and I forgot to include Blood Meridian by McCarthy as an honorable mention.
For those of you who still aren’t mindboggled, may I recomend All and Everything? It’s even more impenetrable than most of the works on this list, but is by no means as excellent. Even so, it’s a great read.
Anon: Just to let you know that after a worrying few minutes when I couldn’t find it in Smith’s I picked up a copy of Private Eye and joy of joys, Pseuds Corner is still there. I also noticed a new column called Obamaballs which on quick perusal appears to be mentions of Obama for no good reason whatsoever – something about a “zeitgeistily fashionable nod to Obama” made me chuckle. The little I have read so far seems to be as scathingly witty as ever which bodes well for you finding a little amusing diversion on your trip!
RIGHT ON F. McClure YOU TELL EM
A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST WANT TO ENJOY PARTICIPATION WIHOUT GETTING A GODDAMNED ENGLISH LESSON
liked the honorable mentions too
I tried to read Infinite Jest. Once. A long time ago. I started panicking about two pages in. Absolutely nothing made sense.
Wow F. McClure, you’re only 17?! I’m that age and I wish I could be that well read! I better start catching up. I’m currently reading Infinite Jest. So far I’m a bit confused. Will it start to make sense soon? The only other book I have read was Catch-22, which I loved. Great list btw!
F. McClure, ***** on all those who ***** about book lists and words they may not understand. If they do not understand a word, they should pick up a *****ing dictionary (or Google if opening a book is too much,) and learn something new.
That said, great list.
There are tons of books that were not mentioned, but big deal, as the books you did mention rock. Except for Fennigan’s Wake. ***** Fennigan’s wake.
Have you had the chance to read Tropic of Cancer?
Fight Club should definitely have been on this list instead of a mention, it blew my mind. I’m also really surprised A Clockwork Orange is only an honorable mention.
GREAT LIST!!!
Although I agree with Madmonkey with the long words. Using long and utterly incomprehensible words is more likely to annoy than it is to impress.
But i will check most of these out!
113. Looser: Looser than what?
I agree with the ones I have read. I think most of anything by Henry Miller could have made the list. And as far as critcizing for using incomprehensible words, I think that would be a waste of time because there is no need. If you do have a problem it’s probably because your jelous, un intellegent, or just an ass for mentioning it when it has nothing to do with the topic.
So glad Infinite Jest was included, my favourite novel of all time.
@Adrian: Yes, I have read Tropic of Cancer, and I consider it the greatest composition in the English language. However, I chose Finnegan’s Wake as the starting point (1939) rather than Tropic of Cancer, which was released in 1934. No worries; I consider Tropic of Cancer (and Capricorn) to be above being included in lists.
Nausea needs an update.
R.I.P. J. D. Ballard
edit in G
The forest growing crystals