Currently reading Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and re-realizing what an amazing piece of literature it is. Really sums up an interesting time in American history - from my perspective at least - that hasn't been covered very well in our traditional history books - at least from what I've seen with my kids. Or, I haven't even seen many TV specials or anything that really cut the the heart of the matter like the great Hunter S.
I grew up in 1970s - I was born in 1967 and really came of age during that time period. So, I remember the '60s hangover that the '70s was and the way that Thompson depicts what really went down. I think the '70s, which spilled in into the '80s, were a very selfish time - of course, I was a kid, so I was naturally selfish as well - in the aftermath of a very community-oriented period. The '60s kind of ushered the spirit of individualism in America, but I think it went too far in some ways in rebelling against authority. Authority is often designed to maintain a communal spirit and that spirit I think got lost.
Thompson does a great job chronically all this in the form of a very entertaining story about a few days in Las Vegas. I am reading the book now after reading his Hell's Angels portrait that kind of broke Thompson into the mainstream. While that may have been a revolutionary book at the time, it doesn't really hold up that well. Fear and Loathing on the other hand, I think I could continue reading for the next 100 years at least. It's Thompson's perfect book. After that, he manages to get through about three quarters of Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail and then apparently has a breakdown of some sort and last quarter is just dictated and not nearly as tight or strong. After, that he seems to show intermittent brilliance in his column writing but nothing as sustained as his first two Fear and Loathing efforts.
So that's sort of a long prelude (in honor of Hunter) to my current list of 10 greatest fiction books I've read. Off top of head, here's what I got
1. On the Road - holds up on every read through
2. Brother Karamazov - so much depth
3. Catch 22 - black comedy as its finest
4. The Ginger Man - also great black comedy - kinda of a favorite theme for me
5. Sun Also Rises - Hemingway's best
6. Fear and Loathing....
7. One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest -gotta have some Kesey
8. Crime and Punishment - I am a sucker for Dostoevsky
9. One Hundred Year's of Solitude - this should probably be higher
10. The Shining - great American Horror Story. I am thinking I am missing something that should replace this...
10a. I knew I was forgetting something - the Odyssey by Homer clearly needs to be placed near the top of this list.
but I have read all these books multiple times and will likely read them again and that is why they make my list.
Please share some I am missing and I will hopefully get a chance to check out.
I grew up in 1970s - I was born in 1967 and really came of age during that time period. So, I remember the '60s hangover that the '70s was and the way that Thompson depicts what really went down. I think the '70s, which spilled in into the '80s, were a very selfish time - of course, I was a kid, so I was naturally selfish as well - in the aftermath of a very community-oriented period. The '60s kind of ushered the spirit of individualism in America, but I think it went too far in some ways in rebelling against authority. Authority is often designed to maintain a communal spirit and that spirit I think got lost.
Thompson does a great job chronically all this in the form of a very entertaining story about a few days in Las Vegas. I am reading the book now after reading his Hell's Angels portrait that kind of broke Thompson into the mainstream. While that may have been a revolutionary book at the time, it doesn't really hold up that well. Fear and Loathing on the other hand, I think I could continue reading for the next 100 years at least. It's Thompson's perfect book. After that, he manages to get through about three quarters of Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail and then apparently has a breakdown of some sort and last quarter is just dictated and not nearly as tight or strong. After, that he seems to show intermittent brilliance in his column writing but nothing as sustained as his first two Fear and Loathing efforts.
So that's sort of a long prelude (in honor of Hunter) to my current list of 10 greatest fiction books I've read. Off top of head, here's what I got
1. On the Road - holds up on every read through
2. Brother Karamazov - so much depth
3. Catch 22 - black comedy as its finest
4. The Ginger Man - also great black comedy - kinda of a favorite theme for me
5. Sun Also Rises - Hemingway's best
6. Fear and Loathing....
7. One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest -gotta have some Kesey
8. Crime and Punishment - I am a sucker for Dostoevsky
9. One Hundred Year's of Solitude - this should probably be higher
10. The Shining - great American Horror Story. I am thinking I am missing something that should replace this...
10a. I knew I was forgetting something - the Odyssey by Homer clearly needs to be placed near the top of this list.
but I have read all these books multiple times and will likely read them again and that is why they make my list.
Please share some I am missing and I will hopefully get a chance to check out.
6 comments:
Thanks for this, Ralph. I'll think on this for a bit. We're talking fiction. I tend to read a lot of nonfiction and poetry.
Qualifying statement: My fiction reading is in the area of drama, so I lots of expertise there. Fiction, not as much, so pardon my amateur list. You'll note that my list begins with British authors and then goes to American and what--for good or ill--"minority authors." This is the precise progression of my literary education. Since then, the script has flipped. Brit lit is now often an afterthought, with minority lit and American taking the lead.
Anyway........
The Tolkien books are all pretty important to me (and certainly to 20th-21st Century thought) Tolkien has influenced everyone from movie makers to fiction/ fan fiction to video games. The Hobbit, in particular, is a gem.
The Odyssey is an epic poem, but I see you've included it under fiction. I'm with you. Another great book with lasting impact..."the wine dark sea."
I'm a big fan of Douglas Adams. His humor and insight are sorely missed. Hitchhiker books are an absolute romp.
Along those lines, also a big fan of Neal Gaiman, with the exception of American Gods. Tried to get through that but it was so overwritten that I got lost in the middle. Turns out I had the "original author's version" which, to me, means I should have bought the version where his editor pared it down and maintained the flow. We'll see what the movie looks like. Love The Sandman books.
20th Century American writers are pretty solid, too. Twain, Hemingway, Faulkner. Though I am familiar with many of their famous novels, I have particular knowledge of their short stories, which I specialized in in grad school. Can recommend.
Vonnegut is another favorite of mine. Take your pick.
Katherine Anne Porter (Noon Wine), Eudora Welty (A Worn Path), Mary Shelley (Frankenstein), Alice Walker (Everyday Use) are all really good. James Baldwin (Go Tell it on the Mountain), Richard Wright (Native Son), Ralph Ellison (Invisible Man). The list goes on.
On the poetry side, I have many favorites and spend quite a bit of time in that world. Frost has been with me for so long that his images occur to me regularly when I'm in nature. Same for my beloved Mary Oliver.
Drama is there as well, of course, so I'll just end the list with August Wilson.
Mike:
AS always, thanks for the input. Some of the works you mention, I am not that familiar with and will check out. Currently, Andrew has me reading the Harry Potter novels so I can converse with him. I believe them to be influenced by Tolkien but am not sure. Entertaining fare at least.
Rowling certainly in same vein as Tolkien, as is George RR Martin. A great British wellspring.
I also noticed that there are a couple of words missing from my opening statement. That's what I get when I try to write a short essay through my phone.
Anyway, when I wrote "for good or ill" in relation to what has come to be known as "minority literature," i was bemoaning the label that lumps together black, Hispanic, native american, women writers etc.
Literary studies is certainly evolving so as to discern and define these groups more honestly and specifically, but when I was in school, "minority lit" was an official category (and was actually viewed as progress beyond British and american (men).
Obviously, I'm a big fan of black literature, being an august wilson scholar and having taught African American lit for many years.
Hope that makes sense.
I'm currently reading Rick Atkinson's book, The British Are Coming. It's quite good. The dude did a lot of research and he is a good writer. I've also been reading as much as I can about buddhism.
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