Great Overlooked Novels
We've mentioned the New York Times' popular book blog, Paper Cuts (here and here). But until now, we've failed to note The Washington Post book section's blog, Short Stack. Last month, they noted five great overlooked novels by famous authors. We'd add one more to that list: Something Happened, by Joseph Heller, of Catch-22 fame. If you had to add one book to that list, which would it be?
6 Comments:
Dear John,
I loved "Something Happened" because of the way Heller capture the mood and his timing was superb. A very sad book but well written.
I think that your article about "Emotional Intelligence" was also well done. Imagine was pleasure when I read it, I am totally fascinated by the subject by the way, and saw that you were the author. Daniella
So glad you've read it, Daniella. I was mostly assuming no one would recognize it, because it's not exactly a well-known title. Plus, it was published rather a long time ago. But then, you're one of the more well-read folks I know.
John,
I enjoyed "The Summer of Katya" by Trevanian. It was exceptional and a wonderful gift even though it was not in his usual style.
Writers become an obsession for me, I tend to think about them for years as if I knew them and inhale their work until satiated.
Stopping at your blog is always satisfying, not unlike stopping by one's favorite bookstore.
Daniella
Daniella,
That's an interesting new title and author, neither of which I've ever heard of before. And as someone who fully understands the joy of stopping at one's favorite bookstore, I'd consider that the ultimate compliment. Thanks, dearest.
I'd add Kurt Vonnegut's BLUEBEARD to the list. It's the fictional autobiography of one-eyed, abstract expressionist painter Rabo Karabekian (a minor character from BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS). In the 20 years (give or take) since I first read it, I have continued to quote from it frequently, particularly the line "Tell me how your parents died," a first question in a first conversation between strangers, such a statement on the tragic lack of conversation in "polite" society. Most of us talk to each other, but rarely do we TALK to each other.
Wow, that's a great one, T.J. Thanks for adding it. As a fan of the late bard, I'll have to look that one up and read it. It certainly qualifies as an overlooked novel, because I've never so much as heard of it. But then, I'm admittedly not a huge reader of fiction, either.
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