# What contemporary novels would you like to learn about? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 2, 2003, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contemporary-novels-would-you-like-to-learn-about/165945 "2003-04-02T13:11:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kefka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@kefka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kefka)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contemporary-novels-would-you-like-to-learn-about/165945/21 "2003-04-03T00:44:57Z")
i know they’re kind of obvious, but the two i’d recommend are: **One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest** by Ken Kesey and **On the Road** by Jack Kerouac two of my favorites ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contemporary-novels-would-you-like-to-learn-about/165945/22 "2003-04-03T00:58:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shodan \* > \*\*The Dispossessed, by Ursula LeGuin. \*\* Even better, _The Left Hand of Darkness_. ---
**Author:** ![Auntie\_Social](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@Auntie\_Social](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntie_Social)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contemporary-novels-would-you-like-to-learn-about/165945/23 "2003-04-03T01:07:12Z")
From the “I Can’t Believe Nobody Else Has Already Said…” file: **Invisible Man** by Ralph Ellison. It should be on your list even if you _weren’t_ looking for diversity of viewpoints. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contemporary-novels-would-you-like-to-learn-about/165945/24 "2003-04-03T01:46:02Z")
Good one, **AS**. _Invisible Man_ is powerful and important along with all its other many virtues. It’s sitting right there on my fiction shelves, and I’m embarassed that I missed it before. Native American writer Louise Erdrich has a number of books to look for, including _Love Medicine_ and _Tracks_. John Nichol’s _The Milagro Beanfield War_ is a fine novel on an aspect of Hispanic culture that doesn’t get covered often, but I think he’s not Hispanic himself. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contemporary-novels-would-you-like-to-learn-about/165945/25 "2003-04-03T13:34:26Z")
_bump_ ---
**Author:** ![deball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@deball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deball)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contemporary-novels-would-you-like-to-learn-about/165945/26 "2003-04-03T15:15:26Z")
I’d go with **White Noise** as a classic of contemporary American culture before **Underworld** , as recommended reading to students. Just a humble O. How about: **The Heart is a Lonely Hunter** by Carson McCullers. A good entry into contemporary southern fiction. **Trout Fishing in America** by Richard Brautigan. Great example of experimental prose and large metaphors. **92 in the Shade** by Thomas McGuane. A beaut about America and becoming your own person in the face of your’s and previous generations. **The Bell Jar** by Slyvia Plath. Yeow, the artist and the world collide and the artist loses. ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contemporary-novels-would-you-like-to-learn-about/165945/27 "2003-04-03T17:10:47Z")
**Tangent** , nice call on Geek Love. If nothing else, that book is a guarantee of great discussion. **pseudotriton** , are you going to post a list of your forty-odd potentials? I’d love to see it. I don’t have all that much to suggest that hasn’t been mentioned already, particularly seeing as how I tend to read a lot of novels by white men. It’s a shame Zadie Smith isn’t American. Or Hanif Kureishi. Or Martin Amis. ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contemporary-novels-would-you-like-to-learn-about/165945/28 "2003-04-03T17:14:48Z")
Also, I know he’s a white guy, but I just finished Richard Powers’s **Galatea 2.2** and thought I’d suggest it. ---
**Author:** ![Payton\_s\_Servant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3da27b/32.png) [@Payton\_s\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Payton_s_Servant)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contemporary-novels-would-you-like-to-learn-about/165945/29 "2003-04-03T18:39:31Z")
Tom Wolfe’s **Bonfire Of The Vanities** ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contemporary-novels-would-you-like-to-learn-about/165945/30 "2003-04-03T20:50:41Z")
Yeah, Judith. I’ll probably do it soon, whenever I can get me, my list, the computer, and ten minutes together at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contemporary-novels-would-you-like-to-learn-about/165945/31 "2003-04-03T21:43:02Z")
Someone else mentioned Neal Stephenson’s _Cryptonomicon_, which I would like to cheerfully second. However, I have a computer background and really enjoyed it - some people might be turned off by the serious math thrown in at various points (My own mother complained about the half-page sized graphs at one section, until I pointed out that they were a series of diagrams depicting a character’s “horniness index” as he went through life). But that shouldn’t stop you. It’s a great story. I’m currently reading Bruce Serling’s _Distraction_, which is a futuristic political thriller in an almost-defeated America. Maybe you can take a look at that as well. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contemporary-novels-would-you-like-to-learn-about/165945/32 "2003-04-04T00:40:17Z")
_The Risk Pool_ by Richard Russo. Or perhaps _Empire Falls_. Or perhaps _Straight Man_. _Radiance_ by Carter Scholz. _Microserfs_ by Douglas Coupland. I seem to recall that he’s Canadian, but that’s certainly still American, and his books are set in the US. _God’s Pocket_ or _Deadwood_ by Pete Dexter. _The Poisonwood Bible_ by Barbara Kingsolver. _The Chivalry Of Crime_ by Desmond Barry. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contemporary-novels-would-you-like-to-learn-about/165945/33 "2003-04-04T00:47:51Z")
I have to second **Catch-22**. I must admit that I bought it about 3 years ago and I’m still not finished with it but it’s really good so far and I’m always glad when I pick it up and read a page or two. **On The Road** also seems kind of obvious but I can’t fully recommend it yet as my friend let me borrow it last summer and I just opened it for the first time literally about 20 minutes ago. On second thought, I guess such a lazy reader as myself has no business in this thread :P. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contemporary-novels-would-you-like-to-learn-about/165945/34 "2003-04-04T02:11:55Z")
Is there a length limit? **Cryptonomicon** might be too long for a 12 week course. John Gardner’s **Grendel** is short, but loaded with philosophy and thought provoking ideas. Personally, I love stories from the point of view of the “villain.” If you’re remotely interested in science fiction, check out Mary Doria Russells’ **The Sparrow**. Well worth reading and will definitely spark avid discussion. How about Alice Walker’s **The Color Purple**? It seems like everyone has already read it, but maybe not. Too bad you can’t include Canadians… Margaret Atwood is my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contemporary-novels-would-you-like-to-learn-about/165945/35 "2003-04-04T16:13:35Z")
I actually had Carol Shield’s LARRY’S PARTY under consideration for a while until I remembered her Canadian-ness. I’m not being reticient, but my computer at home is disabled now, and my stack of books are next to it, so when I’m on the comuter I don’t have my books handy. I’m going to fix what’s wrong tonight, I hope. ---
**Author:** ![Auntie\_Social](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@Auntie\_Social](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntie_Social)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contemporary-novels-would-you-like-to-learn-about/165945/36 "2003-04-04T17:01:07Z")
One thing that strikes me as a I read over people’s suggestions, and that I’m sure you’re already thinking of if you’re the guy teaching the course: If I was a student in such a course, I wouldn’t want to just read and analyze a bunch of novels that were cool and fit the category of “American post-WWII writing.” I would want to have some sort of coherent flow to the books, and come out of the course with an understanding of the major currents in fiction over the last 60 years. I’m afraid I’m not familiar enough with those currents to suggest what they are, but I would hope there’s more to it than needing a couple books by minorities and a couple books from the last 20 years. E.g. _A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius_ would qualify as recent and probably more “fun” to read and discuss while still representing the obsessively ironic or meta- or whatever trend of recent years. You could throw in maybe one piece of genre fiction in there, but I can imagine a lot of English majors dropping a course that had much genre work. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contemporary-novels-would-you-like-to-learn-about/165945/37 "2003-04-04T17:12:18Z")
No, you’re right, Auntie, I need some some sort of thematic linkage, but if I can look over some books that fill categories I’m weak in anyway, that would be better than filling the course with more stuff I’m already strong in. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contemporary-novels-would-you-like-to-learn-about/165945/38 "2003-04-04T17:40:12Z")
As someone starting teaching a reading course on Tuesday, I just went through this myself. I had a thematic linkage in mind for the course but I still asked friends for more general examples, just to prompt my memory or acquaint me with books I somehow had missed. But as for “Genius,” Eggars’ work is not a novel, so it hardly belongs in a novel course. It also happens that I personally found it overwrought and boring and never finished it. If you want a good representative of modern post-ironic writing, a better candidate is Douglas Coupland. I really like _Microserfs_. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contemporary-novels-would-you-like-to-learn-about/165945/39 "2003-04-04T19:56:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pseudotriton ruber ruber \* > \*\*I actually had Carol Shield’s LARRY’S PARTY under consideration for a while until I remembered her Canadian-ness. \*\* [minor nit, but could have ramificatons for your class] Hey **PRR** , Carol Shields has dual Canadian/US citizenship - that’s why her book, **Stone Diaries** , was nominated for both a Booker and a Pulitzer. Her niece is a friend, which is why I know this, but I am sure a cite would be easy to come by… [/mn,bchrfyc] Looking forward to seeing your list… ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contemporary-novels-would-you-like-to-learn-about/165945/40 "2003-04-04T20:06:47Z")
Shoulda searched before I posted, so I wouldn’t have to post again. I found the cite [here](http://www.pulitzer.org/year/1995/fiction/bio/) at the Pulitzer Prize site: > [@](#): > > Carol Shields was born in the United States and holds dual citizenship here and in Canada. Her previous books include “The Orange Fish,” “Swann,” “Various Miracles,” and “The Republic of Love.” Her newest novel, “THE STONE DIARIES,” was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and received Canada’s prestigious Governor’s General Award. She lives in Manitoba. So you can use that book if you wish… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contemporary-novels-would-you-like-to-learn-about/165945.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-contemporary-novels-would-you-like-to-learn-about/165945.md?page=3)