What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

I read this book before 2009. I seem to remember it more as an indie book, with a red cover.

It was set on earth, in the future. There was this quarantined zone that included a city. Something had happened to make the zone quarantined, and forced all of the law abiding people of the city to leave.

Our main character (I can't remember if we ever find out his real name) is drawn to this area, as many lost people or criminals are. On his way there, he winds up climbing into a cave and finding a chain of 'lenses' that he loops around his body.

Lots of people have these lenses, and everyone is reluctant to talk about them. They're kind of mysterious, where did they come from, and why do they attract us to them?

I'm pretty sure he's an amnesiac, and that he doesn't know what he's done to wind up in this god-forsaken area.

He gets to the city, and there winds up scratching out poetry on scrap pieces of paper, which wind up being published.

I can't remember much more, but it was definitely an adult book. I think it was published in the 90s or 2000s.


Solved!

Dylan wrote: "Dhalgren by Samuel Delany"

Possibly Zanesville: A Novel?

That sounds like a cool book, but isn't the one that I'm thinking of. Thanks for the suggestion!

This one wasn't humorous at all, it was really visceral.

Um... The pencil was described as a stump, like it was so short he had difficulty holding it. And there was sex in the book, I'm pretty sure.

Everything takes place in a very contained area, one that I think has been declared a disaster area or quarantined or something by the government. They can't stop everyone from getting in, and there are a bunch of people who are just drawn to the area.

I think it took place in the states.

Wulfae, are you still looking for this book?

Lobstergirl wrote: "Wulfae, are you still looking for this book?"

Yep. Any ideas?

Dhalgren by Samuel Delany

Dylan wrote: "Dhalgren by Samuel Delany"

THAT'S IT.

Thank you!!!