21st Century Literature discussion

Hello. I'm a cranky guy, and I mostly like old books. My request to you may seem brash, annoying, or just silly. In any event, I have a goal, though I'm not sure it's possible. I want to find a great book that suits me as a reader, and it must have been written recently. 2010-2012 publication date would be perfect. So this seems the right group to ask.

The best books I've read recently (old books, recently read) have been:

Yvain: The Knight of the Lion by Chrétien de Troyes
The Tartar Steppe by Dino Buzzati
If on a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino
Zazie in the Metro by Raymond Queneau
A House for Mr Biswas by V.S. Naipaul

This has been a remarkable foray into the 20th century (with the exception of Yvain). Now bring me into the 21st, if you can.

Some of my favorite authors of all time are Kafka, Rabelais, Hamsun, Cervantes, Camus, Celine, Dostoevsky, Voltaire, Heinrich von Kleist, Swift, Richardson, Homer, Apuleius, and a bunch of anonymous medieval writers, such as the guy who wrote Nibelungenlied.

Does that indicate what I like. Probably not. Anyway, recommend something that will blow my mind, that's startling, that's new. It could be super-popular, or super-obscure, as long as it's remarkable. You might have guessed that ironic is okay by me, but not necessary. Vulgar, okey-dokey. Absurd, cynical, yeah sure, I'm into that.

Dull, formulaic, cliche ridden, uninspiring, pollyanna, or 100% B.S. is not okay. So whaddayasay?

My suggestion is that you read along with the two suggestions we pick each month, and take your chances with the rest of us. Additionally you can check the discussions from previous months.

Mmm. Based upon your list, I suggest trying Coetzee's "Slow Man", a group read a couple months ago. After that, our January reads, Art of Fielding (2011) and Amazing Adventure of Kavelier and Clay (2001). But otherwise, remember that we're engaged in exactly the same quest you are. We love the old titans of literature and seek comparable greatness in today's authors. Often times, it comes up short. But if the endeavor wasn't hard, it wouldn't be worthy of our efforts. I've read so many books I'd never have taken the chance on. I'm grateful that I did. My life has been so enriched by these, my horizons expanded, my mind opened. It's worth occasionally reading half of something mediocre now and then.

I agree with Deborah and Will. I've only been with this group a couple of months, but the five books I have read off the group list in that time have all been rewarding, and to some extent unexpected. Nearly all of them were books I would not otherwise have read. Several of them were books I did not expect to like. Apart from the quality of books the group reads, I have found the group discussions have done a lot to enhance my enjoyment of these books. Other readers see things I missed, and when I comment on what I have noticed or enjoyed, other readers make observations that help me see it in a different light.

All right, right now I'm inclining towards Cloud Atlas, after seeing the group's recent discussions and having downloaded a sample chapter. I had sampled The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, and though it seemed somewhat interesting, I didn't get hooked on it, moved on to something else, and thus neglected David Mitchell altogether. Now I find the Cloud Atlas sample very interesting.

I still invite suggestions, and perhaps I will be able to make recommendations to other cranky folks when I stumble onto something. Re: Coetzee, Slow Man seems interesting as well. I can't get an e-book apparently, and shipping paper books to Korea (where I reside) is a bit costly, but I'll add it to my next bulk order if my samples of The Lives of Animals and Summertime convince me to give the author a shot. Cheerio.

I appreciate the recommendations, and I'll browse through what I can get my hands on. I almost forgot that I was planning to look into Satantango, and the rest are new books and authors to me.