ILX BOOKS OF THE 00s: THE RESULTS! (or: Ismael compiles his reading list, 2010-2019)

Yay, two of my noms made the top 50, which was two more than I expected.

The pieces on Peter Green in 45 and his idea for a Scottish World Cup record are two of my favourite pieces of music writing anywhere. The Green one in particular is a heartbreaking portrait of fandom and the reality of meeting your idols.

Right, I'm going to get this myself now. Seen it many times in Fopp, never bothered opening it.

Wonderful book, 45. I somehow missed the whole voting/noms process so choices like this - books I loved but haven't even thought of for 10 years - are a very pleasant surprise.

48. House Of Leaves - Mark Z Danielewski (2000)
(49 points, five votes)

http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/5382/houseofleaves.jpg

'House of Leaves' by Mark Z. Danielewski
ILB is too slow so let's have a thread about Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves

Reinvents the novel as we know it, whilst scaring you out of your skin for days.
― G Parkes, Sunday, April 8, 2001 12:00 AM (8 years ago)

...For the last several weeks I've been travelling across the upper United States--listening on the car CD player, coincidentally, to lots of flamenco and Greco, as well as Donizetti and Momus--and I'm struck by how many Amish and Mennonite (and related) colonies are still out there. These are people who very purposefully try to eradicate nearly all that is "modern" and "decadent" and "pop" from their lives, right down to eschewing buttons for toggles. No cars, no electricity, but even if TV were mule-powered they'd do a parental lock on every channel. They, too, want to create another year and another world to live in. At Niagara Falls I was followed for blocks by a whole gaggle of bearded (but not mustached) men in collarless shirts with suspenders and their "womenfolk" in aproned pinafores and bonnets--I looked to their feet, expecting high-laced boots, but to my astonishment saw they all wore black Reeboks. One wonders if the young boys among the clan were wearing Insane Clown Possee t-shirts under their gingham. All utopias have their rebels (just ask Lucifer). And I wondered what they thought of me with my digital camera and Tevas.
― X. Y. Zedd, Tuesday, June 12, 2001 12:00 AM (8 years ago)

Wow, XYZ, I really like your last contribution; I think you should check out House of Leaves by Mark Z Danielewski -- that is, if you haven't already. It sounds like the book you're trying to recall.
― suzy, Tuesday, June 12, 2001 12:00 AM (8 years ago)

Ik zal dat House of Leaves maar eens gaan proberen.
― Vasquesz, Saturday, February 1, 2003 3:35 PM (7 years ago)

House of Leaves is a book I picked up because the first conversation I had alone with this girl I'd met that didn't involve her pants was about the book. We're now moving in together, if I get into the school I want to get into, so we'll have two copies ... and I'm only just now getting around to reading it.
― Tep (ktepi), Wednesday, May 14, 2003 2:19 AM (6 years ago)

Oh ho, another of my picks. I always have to preface discussions about this by saying it is a VERY flawed boook, and there are certain bits of this that still make me cringe. On the other hand, I really rate it as an excellent horror story, and while the formalist aspects are gimmicky in a way that most authors I rate avoid, they are FUN, and they do make sense within the context of the book. Yes, it may be a case of function following form for much of the time, but when actually carried out in a way that works, there really isn't anything wrong with that.

Would still recommend this to anyone.

I don't think another book has scared me like House of Leaves although I stopped reading about halfway when the pages/story became too complicated to know what I was really following. It didn't help that I tried to start reading it leading up to my dissertation, I guess as I already had 2 or 3 or 4 books a week on the go already.

Another great book. A tremendous attempt to combine postmodern tricksiness with visceral scares.

Also one of the few 00s novels with a bona fide cult following. I could be wrong but I don't imagine it was met with adoring mainstream reviews.

Definitely hit a run of 4-5 books here that I'll be investing in

Yes, Netherland through to House of Leaves is gold - Gilead is the only one I haven't read. If only jed would tell me whether it was worth investigating.

47. The Yiddish Policemen's Union - Michael Chabon (2007)
(49 points, two votes, one first-placed vote)

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b210/coffee_milk/yiddish2.jpg

Michael Chabon

Alex in Montreal:
Chabon has a better handle on the plot of this than Kavalier and Clay, and his continued journey into the realm of literary takes on pulp conceits is rewarding, but there seems less at stake here - intellectually, emotionally, and thematically.

yiddish policeman's union is great and totally made me call everyone sweetness for like six months after.
― schlump, Friday, October 10, 2008 3:31 AM (1 year ago)

it's...strange. Not bad, but I think he overuses the alternate history motif until it becomes alien and difficult for me to read as anything but sci-fi. The premise of Israel losing the 1948 war and Jews relocating to Alaska as Roosevelt suggested is interesting, but there is an overload of details by attempting to translate 1930s Jewish life into a modern day setting, as if by losing Israel, culture is frozen in the ghettos of Lodz, the pale of settlement is just the pale of Alaska now, etc.
― jocelyn, Friday, May 4, 2007 4:14 AM (2 years ago)

Apart from the various Skull & Bones regalia lining the walls of the cabin, there isn't much in Castro's photos that you wouldn't encounter at a typical college house party. The alleged Skull & Bones members appear in the pictures along with discarded cans of Keystone Light, liquor bottles, and a copy of michael Chabon's The Yiddish Policeman's Union.
― Elvis Telecom, Monday, December 14, 2009 11:10 PM (1 month ago)

If only jed would tell me whether it was worth investigating.

LOL!

YPU got me through a tough period of baby-related sleeplessness - a hugely entertaining genre exercise but I'll be disappointed if (cf The Final Solution) that's all he's interested in now. Kavalier and Klay was more substantial and moving than that.

cf. also jews with swords, can't remember the actual title. plus the essays.

I was weighing up YPU vs K+K recently and chose the latter, but I hadn't appreciated YPU's premise and it sounds interesting. Liveblog: I'm sitting down for a coffee in waterstone's at the moment and have picked up that and Final Solution to flick through.

I set K+K aside after a chapter - I'd not long finished Fortress of Solitude and it was just a bit too slow getting going

I loved Kavalier & Klay...slow to start, but the payoff is worthwhile. I bought YPU and it's still sitting on my bookshelf, and everytime I see it I think 'Oh I should read that'...this list might be the kick in the pants that I need.

Definitely going to check out 45.

Amazon should be paying you a commission, Ismael!

If only I'd thought of that first - brought to you by amazon and prozac

I think I bought the wrong Chabon - YPU looks great

YPU's shallower but more of a page-turner, so it depends what you're in the mood for. And it's still great, vivid prose.

46. The God Delusion - Richard Dawkins (2006)
(50 points, four votes, one first-placed vote)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/Dawkinssouthpark.jpg

Richard Dawkins - Anti-Christ or Great Thinker?

LBS:
I think that this is a must read for anyone, loved the style - so much better than his TV shows which are just aggressive

Red Raymaker:
It's an entertaining read and, contrary to popular belief, Dawkins is not at all strident or aggressive in the writing of this book.  It is intelligently written but it is also humorous and entertaining.  There is also a lot of common sense in there.

Also reading Dawkins' _The God Delusion_, a book I had no intention of reading, but decided to give a shot when I received it as a birthday present. It doesn't hold any great surprises, but is better than I expected after reading some of the online discussions of it last year. I've been a bit sick of Dawkins after seeing a bit too many of his television appearances.
― Øystein, Monday, October 1, 2007 8:30 PM (2 years ago)

gross u guyz ;_;

For what it's worth, I wouldn't recommend the book at all.

45. The Complete Persepolis - Marjane Satrapi (2007)
(51 points, six votes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlIAmCfHzbg

Red Raymaker:
Entertaining and very insightful examination of the build up to and the results of the Islamic Revolution.  The most fascinating part for me was the depiction of how the Islamists mobilised the socialists, communists and many liberals to oust the Shah's regime but then liquidated them once the Shah's regime was defeated.  It underlined to me how cruel, untrustworthy and morally-corrput the Islamic Revolution had been from its genesis and that the repression we are seeing now is a logical development for a sadistic regime.

http://www.groonk.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/persepolis.gif
http://www.lambiek.net/artists/s/satrapi_marjane/satrapi_persepolis2.gif
http://www.24sevencities.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Persepolis3.jpg

Graphic Novels chart so far:

82. Fun Home - Alison Bechdel (2006) (30 points, three votes)
50. Colonel Sweeto - Nicholas Gurewitch (2008) (46 points, six votes)
45. Persepolis - Marjane Satrapi (2007) (51 points, six votes)

None of them picking up much in the way of comment. I liked Fun Home. With Persepolis I bought the book but decided to wait for the film, and then never got round to seeing it. Mrs K spent a couple of evenings with her nose in the book a couple of weeks back though, she seemed to enjoy it.

The book's much more striking than the movie, which doesn't add much at all. Strange that it was so acclaimed when it's basically just an animated comic book. Still think Fun Home is the decade's real graphic-novel masterpiece.

xp will be happy to comment dumbly on anything i've read, which isn't much so far. lol fantasy.

I really wish I'd seen the voting thread in time so I could have shouldered some of my favourites further up the list but on balance I can't quibble with the results so far.

Not whoring for comments - most things have picked up a decent bit of discussion. I just thought it curious that none of the cartoons had got much attention when they've been doing pretty well overall - Persepolis still isn't the graphic novel #1.

Can't see it being a superhero one (although I'd have voted for the Bendis Daredevil) so has to be Chris Ware and/or Daniel Clowes still to come?

I think Safe Area Gorazde could be the top comic.

44. Remainder - Tom McCarthy (2007)
(52 points, two votes, one first-placed vote)

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/8231/remainder.jpg

woofwoofwoof:
It's my number one for a lot of reasons: I liked it; I liked how it turned up (limited edition, looked like an old Olympia Press paperback, arthouse press funded by some combination of grants and philanthropy etc etc), which meant it appeared from the off to be playing a different and more interesting game than all other British novels; and I did like that it was British: I despair of this country plenty but feel excited and defensive when something good turns up.

The thing itself: I enjoyed its sense of restraint, that it didn't play obvious transgressive underground games; I liked its plain voice and plain observation, which fittingly slip into old Puritan trads of writing; I like how it follows an idea insanely and cleanly; how it's funny at times; how it likes images and moments and detail better than plot (I'm not a big novel reader tbh).

I like that other readers find different things in it - the theory boys can talk up the Deleuze & Blanchot & all that, but a romantic all-about-characters friend of mine saw it more as a book about a lonely man who can't find love and just wants to be somewhere happy.

She still liked it.

I haven't reread it. I thought back in the day that it might be a work that alters things, or marks a point where things are altering; a fresh flourishing outside the broadsheet-and-hardbacks world of publishing. I guess I still feel that world is dying, but I haven't seen anything else that convinces me the new thing is here.

As you saw from my comment above, I really enjoyed the Persepolis graphic novel. I preferred the book to the film. The only thing I didn't like about the story was the bit where the young girl grew up and went to Europe; I wasn't attracted to the woman the little girl became - she became quite an unsympathetic character by the end. However, I wouldn't let that over-shadow the positive attributes of the book as it is a brilliant depiction of what happened in that society in 1979. Having visited that country I know at first hand what wonderful people Iranians are; I just hope they manage to escape the repression they are currently experiencing.

YES. In your face everything at 45 and lower.

that blurb does make me want to read it

I have Persepolis from an old charity shop raid but never read it. (like oh so many books. one day I am just going to have stop buying anymore so I can read the ones I have.)

^ the man city of readers

Good strategy. I made myself do that while back when I realised how many classic novels my wife owned that I'd never bothered opening. But there's something about a new book that shouts "read me!" while something that's sat on the shelf for 10 years has a tendency to look forlorn.

I am still reading like a novel a week. It's just the Benjani's that look alright for the first 50 pages and then I forget to carry on...

43. Our Band Could Be Your Life - Michael Azzerad (2001)
(53 points, four votes)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3061/2678939672_177398f95c_o.jpg

Our Band Could Be Your Life : c/d?
OUR BAND COULD BE YOUR LIFE (the book) S or D?
Michael Azerrad - Our Band Could Be Your Life C/D?

Anyone read an advanced copy or whatnot yet? Sounds kinda good.
― Nude Spock, Tuesday, July 24, 2001 12:00 AM (8 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

I've read it already--it's quite good, well worth reading. The spread of facts is AMAZING; fans of those bands will gobble it up like a starving person let loose on a banquet. The writing's not as funny or sharp as Azerrad's Nirvana book. But that's a minor quibble in the face of the trove of great info and anecdotes.
― M. Matos, Tuesday, July 24, 2001 12:00 AM (8 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

HE FUCKIN LOVED IT is what he's sayin. ;)
― Josh, Tuesday, July 24, 2001 12:00 AM (8 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

*The writing's not as funny or sharp as Azerrad's Nirvana book...*
Jesus Christ man, where are you from - Salt Lake City? I've seen Michael's writing called many things, but funny?! Sharp?!
― Jerry, Tuesday, July 24, 2001 12:00 AM (8 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

I wouldn't say I loved it at all. I'd say it's very good and leave it at that. And the "funny"/"sharp" thing was purely by contrast--trust me on this one.
Besides, "Jerry," I've read you. And people who live in glass houses....
― M. Matos, Wednesday, July 25, 2001 12:00 AM (8 years ago)

harsh!

smackdown

42. Fooled By Randomness - Nasim Taleb (2001)
(53 points, three votes, one first-placed vote)

http://www.longtail.com/the_long_tail/WindowsLiveWriter/stat.png

Taleb's life tips

probably not as smart as he seems to think he is, but still manages to be provocative, if you have an interest in markets especially ... somewhat lazy and repetitive but makes a few worthwhile points ... I think he overstates his case a bit, but he does it with wit and is thought-provoking in a good way.
― o. nate, Tuesday, February 27, 2007 9:00 PM (2 years ago)

History has been extremely kind to the book: Of all the books published in 2001, it seems to be currently among the 2 or 3 highest selling ones, if not the highest (across all categories, fiction, nonfiction, etc.).
― and what, Thursday, June 5, 2008 5:44 PM (1 year ago)

So, you are wondering, who is this guy? He was born in 1960 in Lebanon, though he casts doubt on both these “facts”. The year is “close enough” – he doesn’t like to give out his birth date because of identity theft and he doesn’t believe in national character.
for a guy telling us to not be skeptical because everything is totally random this is crazy paranoid
― and what, Thursday, June 5, 2008 5:48 PM (1 year ago)

sounds liek a professional troll. would read.

Remainder looks v interesting.

Of this kind of pop-soft-science thing (ie Gladwell, Freakonomics) Taleb's the only one I'm tempted to read, mostly because a cursory reading of articles about him suggested that he is personally crazy & that his books are basically like some 'be not proud, for Fortuna will f*ck you up' c16th lecture-sermon. Prob shouldn't read them, likely to be a disappointment.

I was hoping that Remainder would place a little higher. My ballot was unordered, but I pretty much unhesitatingly chose it as the #1, and I know one other ilxor who would have placed it highly (later found he didn't vote). Maybe not for everyone, but there's a type who goes a bit mad for it. Here's Zadie Smith writing about Remainder and Netherland.

God I hate Taleb. Sure, it is better in some ways that Freakonomics and Gladwell, but that does make it a long way from being anything good. I guess Academia-lite books don't agree with me.

Yep, I would definitely have placed it highly (feeling slightly guilty about not voting now - partly a time thing and partly getting virtual gob-on, but should have made time dammit).

But yes, this - I like how it follows an idea insanely and cleanly

It's entertainingly inventive and impressively clear - ideas come tumbling out of it when you read. but it's not cluttered or laboriously referential. It's fun as well, and unusually for something that cd easily have been too abstract has lyrical feel. A clear voice as well, which is hellish difficult to do I think, especially with an idea like this.

It's a testament to McCarthy's skill that it all feels easy and unforced.

xpost sorry.

41. On Beauty - Zadie Smith (2005)
(54 points, five votes)

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Observer/Pix/pictures/2009/11/13/1258121787991/Zadie-Smith-001.jpg

Guayaquil (eephus!):
Less spectacular than White Teeth, but way more disciplined and not so obviously choreographed.

Zadie Smith: she's very, very bad
― the pinefox, Monday, February 23, 2009 2:00 PM (11 months ago)

White Teeth ... I don't think it's robotic and alien (Swedes are more likely to be that), but it is totally, incredibly, offensively abysmal, and having started badly it gradually gets worse and worse.
― the pinefox, Wednesday, February 25, 2009 12:14 AM (11 months ago)

I'm not really planning on reading more ZS after this one, but that's not because I don't like it. It's actually astoundingly good compared to her first novel - astoundingly, miraculously, because 5 years (2000 / 2005), or even more, if you want to push WT back into the 1990s, doesn't seem like enough time to have evolved so much. But she really did.
Then again I'm still only less than 50% through it, having had to stop for other things; quite possibly it goes downhill.
― the pinefox, Monday, March 9, 2009 11:37 PM (10 months ago)

what are your favourite novels post-2000?
Provoked suddenly by finishing Zadie Smith's On Beauty and wondering if it should be on such a list - of ten, say? I wondered what else would be on my list and realized it would be very mainstream indeed.
― the pinefox, Tuesday, March 17, 2009 1:14 PM (10 months ago)