Reading the Chunksters discussion

Please list your Modern classic and the reason you think it should be added to this list, for our reference when nominating our next Modern Classic Chunkster.

This list shall consist of books written after 1901 and before 2000.

I want to read Sophie's Choice by William Styron. It is considered one of the most influential books of the twentieth century. It is about our human tragedy, and I like books about inner struggles.

My other choice is The Man Without Qualities by Robert Musil because it is widely recognized as one of the most challenging novels of the twentieth century and one of best books written in German

I also want to nominate The Satanic Verses. It is a book of turbulent reputation, magical realism, cultural repercussions, and amazing literary power. It features in a number of lists 'Best Books of the Twentieth Century', published by reliable literary journals and newspapers like The Times (British newspaper), The Guardian, The Times Literary Supplement, etc.

I'd like to suggest Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany. I'll quote from the Amazon.com review:

Dhalgren is one of the greatest novels of 20th-century American literature. Dhalgren is one of the all-time bestselling science fiction novels. Dhalgren may be read with equal validity as SF, magic realism, or metafiction. Dhalgren is controversial, challenging, and scandalous. Dhalgren is a brilliant novel about sex, gender, race, class, art, and identity.

It's finally going to be available in e-book form next month, so I no longer have any excuse not to read it :)

Let me know if this would fit better in the "Contemporary" thread, I defer to the mods' judgement! :)

Yay! I wanted to nominate it yesterday, but was too tired. John, you are reading my thoughts.

Seven Pillars of Wisdom: A Triumph the famous autobiographical account from Lawrence of Arabia about his experiences leading the Arab revolt against the Ottoman Turks.

John wrote: "I'd like to suggest Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany. I'll quote from the Amazon.com review:

Dhalgren is one of the greatest novels of 20th-century American literature. Dha..."

It is a perfect modern classic book! Contemporary read is for mainstream/ enjoyable fiction regardless of its genre.

Modern classic is a demanding, challenging book that trumps simple interpretations and bends the rules of genre.

Deana wrote: "Seven Pillars of Wisdom: A Triumph the famous autobiographical account from Lawrence of Arabia about his experiences leading the Arab revolt against the Ottoman Turks."

Good choice, Deanna. The man who is more legend than the mortal man!

Ulysses. Okay, I admit, I have shied away from this book. If I ever read it, it will only be because it's chosen for a book group which has the members able to support each other through a challenging read. But there must be a reason it is considered one of the, if not the, most important novels of the 20th century.

Oooh, let's add Finnegans Wake for the same reason, Everyman. I don't know if I will ever be brave enough to attempt it without a group.

I have those two James Joyce books. But the others, no so. I've never even heard of Dhalgren.

What about some Ayn Rand?

Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead are both chunksters and well known, even by people who haven't read them. And they generate a lot of controversy and emotion among readers! I read Atlas Shrugged when I was too young to really understand the subtext and would love to tackle it again now that I'm older.

Doesn't Atlas Shrugged have a 70 page monologue? Blah.

Luffy wrote: "Doesn't Atlas Shrugged have a 70 page monologue? Blah."

It does. I'm glad I abandoned that book long before I got to that point. I didn't do much better on The Fountainhead. I've never understood how anyone enjoyed such poorly written books.

American big businesses donate thousands of these novels to business colleges yearly. The novels propound the idea of objective relativism that is related and justifies the idea of SOCIAL DARWINISM.

These novels can be good reading choices if one wants to know more about business figureheads and the power of corporations in our world. The work ethic of these companies relies on the philosophy proposed by Ayn Rand.

I am all for reading them, but I think for different reasons. I think they might shed light on the origin and problems of corporate America and the greed of big market powerhouses.

Anne : I've never understood how anyone enjoyed such poorly written books.


Amen sister. Sometimes I think there's a method to these books' madness, then I conclude they're just arrant nonsense. BUT...eye of the beholder and all that.

I have not read them and can not evaluate them, but I think we should read them just to know why they are popular.

Personally, as I stated in my earlier post, I want to read them to know why and how they can justify the modern evil of corporate greed and how Ayn Rand became the influential person among the supporters of trickle-down economics. Maybe, the connection is accidental and the novels contain different messages.

The nominations are excellent and controversial, so I am all for controversial stuff. Controversial novels sparks debates that usually tighten the group and build the chemistry within the group!

Zulfiya wrote: "I want to read them to know why and how they can justify the modern evil of corporate greed"

Corporate greed and the unleashing of aggressive business tactics may be interesting for people who like to watch Mad Men. As for me there's not any mood in which I'd be prepared to read about something like greed. Only my bizarro self would be interested, and even that's not sure.

I was wondering if anyone is going to nominate the Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. A book so mind-boggling in its complexity that it actually helps to develop a reading strategy -you can read it front to back, skip around, upside down, etc. Despite its size and its complexity, it is a masterful novel set in future about the pursuit of happiness and microcosm of human existence

Zulfiya wrote: "I was wondering if anyone is going to nominate the Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. A book so mind-boggling in its complexity that it actually helps to develop a rea..."

I flipped through a copy of this book yesterday and almost got it to have just in case I was in the mood to tackle it one day. But I kept putting it back, then picking it up again and reading bits and pieces here and there. Finally I ended up putting it back on the shelf for good. Something about the way it is written (the writing just seemed odd and not cohesive), I wasn't sure I would be able to actually make it through.

Now the way you describe it - being able to read it however you want - makes it seem even more odd. I would probably only tackle it if our group chose it, but you have definitely piqued my interest in it again.

Infinite Jest is going to be one of those books I'll hate for it's content and voluminous dimensions. Bring it on. I had the sentiment that it's actually funny. If it's pretentious then I'll hate with a vengeance.

I have definitely always wanted to tackle Infinite Jest...it's a little intimidating, and the time has not been right yet...but I would love to do it with a group.

Actually, I have the same sentiments about Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow, which I don't think has been mentioned here yet. That would probably make a good group slection.

I tackled Infinite Jest... took me almost a year to get through on my own. Crazy book! I decided I would have to read it again, knowing everything I know now that I've finished it... planned on waiting a few years but might be convinced to do it sooner if others were reading here.

John , I am all for Gravity's Rainbow. I love serious challenges!

V. by the same author Thomas Pynchon can also be shelved as modern classic. If we want to go really "literary", we should try JR by William Gaddis.

My personal favorite is definitely John Fowles and his two masterpieces The Magus and The French Lieutenant's Woman

I don't think anyone has mentioned The Executioner's Song, unless the group has previously read that. I read it a long time ago, but might be enticed to read it again. It was very good.

It might be the chunkiest of the Chunksters.

I'll suggest The Wings of the Dove by Henry James. I've read four other works by James, and thought a novel from his "major" phase would be perfect for this group.

So many great nomination ideas! The Wings of the Dove sounds very interesting.

I'd like to add The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann

I would second Atlas Shrugged, because I would love to discuss how vastly different the book is from what modern-conservative pundits spout on the news... they always seem to forget that Rand placed an artist, a composer, and a mother in her utopian society, *not* just businessmen. Or how the employers in the book actually strive to fairly compensate their workers, not threaten to move their jobs overseas. It would definitely be a good conversation starter.


If I am honest with myself I will have to admit that I will never read House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski if I don't do it with a group, and I'd really like to!

I would also like to nominate the Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon

E :) wrote: "I'd like to add The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann"

And Buddenbrooks. Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family

I would also love to read Buddenbrooks, but also The Old Wives' Tale Volume I Easyread Edition by Arnold Bennett

I may have linked the wrong one, doing this on a phone is killer.

The Gormenghast Novels by Mervyn Peake I don't know if this counts! :)

Loooovve Gormenghast. Yes yes yes!

John wrote: "Loooovve Gormenghast. Yes yes yes!"

It must be something. I only recently discovered the trilogy. Will have to try and read it post haste.

I'll also add these. I never read these but i heard they were good. I believe the first 5 are family dramas:

East of Eden

Sons and Lovers

The Man Who Loved Children

The Crow Road

A Suitable Boy

One more from india:

A Fine Balance

Look Homeward, Angel

"A legendary author on par with William Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor, Thomas Wolfe published Look Homeward, Angel, his first novel, about a young man's burning desire to leave his small town and tumultuous family in search of a better life, in 1929. It gave the world proof of his genius and launched a powerful legacy.

The novel follows the trajectory of Eugene Gant, a brilliant and restless young man whose wanderlust and passion shape his adolescent years in rural North Carolina. Wolfe said that Look Homeward, Angel is "a book made out of my life," and his largely autobiographical story about the quest for a greater intellectual life has resonated with and influenced generations of readers, including some of today's most important novelists. Rich with lyrical prose and vivid characterizations, this twentieth-century American classic will capture the hearts and imaginations of every reader."

I just found another to add to this list! This one sounds really interesting.
It's #43 on Le Monde's 100 best books of the 20th century :)

Life A User's Manual by Georges Perec

We will soon run a poll about out themed Asia/India read. So some of you have come up with pretty interesting ideas. Get ready to nominate them and and vote for them. As soon as Under the Dome is over, we shall read something Oriental:-)

John wrote: "I just found another to add to this list! This one sounds really interesting.
It's #43 on Le Monde's 100 best books of the 20th century :)

Life A User's Manual by [author:Georges Pere..."

That does look interesting! I've added it to my to-read list so I don't forget about it.

Hopefully I am posting these in the correct thread?? At some point I would enjoy reading The Prince of Tides and A Prayer for Owen Meany.

Roots: The Saga of an American Family - I read it recently and highly recommend it!