Wherein We Elect Our Favourite Novels of 1997

The lone Natsuo Kirino vote is mine, edging out The Real Murakami and Pullman. Haven't read the other 47.

American Pastoral

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

I read Mason & Dixon without any joy. Inherent Vice reinvigorated me.

Didn't think Underworld that good either lol. Two major American novelists strike out.

American Pastoral wasn't bad.

Wherein We Elect Our Favourite Novels of 1998

missed this one, but:

i'm not saying Mason & Dixon is my favourite book because i can't keep scores but it might be my favourite book

― look on my guacs, ye mighty, and dis pear (Noodle Vague), Friday, October 1, 2021 10:01 AM (four days ago) bookmarkflaglink

So much fun: more momentum than GR, all the jaw dropping Pynchon set-pieces you could want, and a ton of heart as well.

I still haven't made it to the Stargazer's Stone marking the M&D winter camp, but I did go visit the line marker installed for Charles Mason in the Christ Church Cemetery in Philly where he is buried.

while i like GR, its one that i've appreciated more than i've loved. M&D on the other hand hits every button - all the high-wire pynchonalia acrobatics you want, but with a deep emotional core that i wasnt expecting

GR’s got a few heart-stopping emotional moments but it’s core is more slapstick

I've tried twice with M&D and both times I failed to get into the correct mental state to parse the syntax.

I liked Cold Mountain but couldn’t finish it, it got too brutally depressing. Underworld is great too, and I should really give Mason & Dixon another shot.