Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Friday, 3 December 2021 00:01 (two years ago) link
Wherein We Elect Our Favourite Novels of 2013
― Daniel_Rf, Friday, 3 December 2021 12:05 (two years ago) link
Write-in vote for The Flame Alphabet by Ben Marcus, a book that has only gotten more disturbing & relevant since its publication.
― Jimmy Iovine Eat World (bernard snowy), Friday, 3 December 2021 13:43 (two years ago) link
was orphan master’s son 2012?
― grove street (party) direction (voodoo chili), Friday, 3 December 2021 20:55 (two years ago) link
I have had that Marcus on my shelf since 2012, you're saying I should read it?
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Friday, 3 December 2021 21:01 (two years ago) link
You should read what you want to! But I happen to really enjoy The Flame Alphabet, as well as the two short story collections Marcus has since put out. Alphabet was something of an inflection point in his oeuvre, away from fragmentation and towards more accessible narrative forms.
― Jimmy Iovine Eat World (bernard snowy), Friday, 3 December 2021 22:19 (two years ago) link
Oh shit, yeah, I loved The Age of Wire & String and Notable American Women so so much when they came out. I forgot I had the Flame Alphabet, I need to track that down and read it.
― emil.y, Friday, 3 December 2021 22:27 (two years ago) link
away from fragmentation and towards more accessible narrative forms.
I think that's why I didn't get into it at the time, I was so so on fire for Age of Wire & String and it was.. not that
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Friday, 3 December 2021 22:30 (two years ago) link
There is some fragmentation as the book progresses, but yeah, it's certainly not going to scratch the same itch as AOWS
https://www.vqronline.org/fiction/2018/06/boys
This short story, from his most recent collection, is a pretty good litmus test (imo) for whether or not you're likely to get anything out of the latter-day Ben Marcus.
― Jimmy Iovine Eat World (bernard snowy), Sunday, 5 December 2021 21:04 (two years ago) link