October 7th, 2009 / 12:34 pm
Web Hype

15 x 15

Not too long ago I posted by request a list of 15 ‘towering literary artists’ who personally and historically seem important. Most of them have published 8 books or more, most of which in each case I’ve read. Here are my favorites of each of those authors, for fun. Some are very close calls. What are yours?

David Markson, Wittgenstein’s Mistess
wittgenstein

William Gass, Omensetter’s Luck
omensetter

Thomas Pynchon, Gravity’s Rainbow
grcover4

Amy Hempel, At the Gates of the Animal Kingdom
hempel

Dennis Cooper, Period
period

William Vollmann, The Rifles
rifles

Cormac McCarthy, Suttree
suttree

Jose Saramago, The Double
double

Gordon Lish, Epigraph
epigraph

Barry Hannah, Ray
ray

Brian Evenson, The Wavering Knife
wavering_knife

Robert Coover, The Universal Baseball Association, Inc., J. Henry Waugh, Prop.
universalbaseball

Nicholson Baker, The Fermata
fermata

Diane Williams, Some Sexual Success Stories: Plus Other Stories in Which God Might Choose to Appear
williams

Don Delillo, End Zone
endzone

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92 Comments

  1. jereme

      ray blew the skin straight out my dickhole. fuck i am in love with that book.

  2. jereme

      ray blew the skin straight out my dickhole. fuck i am in love with that book.

  3. Blake Butler

      hell yes. awesome.

  4. Blake Butler

      hell yes. awesome.

  5. davidpeak

      i keep giving away copies of ray when i’m drunk. it’s a problem.

  6. davidpeak

      i keep giving away copies of ray when i’m drunk. it’s a problem.

  7. Drew

      New Baker is pretty rad. I liked it I guess better than the Fermata. All pretty impressive though.

  8. Drew

      New Baker is pretty rad. I liked it I guess better than the Fermata. All pretty impressive though.

  9. Dan Wickett

      Have to go think now. Would be even more curious to see a post about what it was about each of these that swung them beyond the rest of that author’s output. Of the above I’d be most interested in hearing what it was about End Zone for Delillo and your choice of Coover.

      Completely agree with you on Suttree for McCarthy. Would probably go with Underworld for Delillo if only for the inclusion of the previously published novella Pafko at the Wall as its preface – I liked the rest just fine, reminded me of a lot of his work, but that novella is one of my favorite pieces of writing ever.

      Haven’t read enough of Hannah’s books that I’m supposed to to make a good decision yet.

      Evenson is a killer to decide on, but after pondering for all of two or three minutes I’m going to have to go with The Open Curtain. I can’t think of a book that stayed in my mind for a longer period of time after reading it, while reading other works, trying to forget it, etc.

  10. David

      I’d give my Saramago trophy to All the Names.

  11. Dan Wickett

      Have to go think now. Would be even more curious to see a post about what it was about each of these that swung them beyond the rest of that author’s output. Of the above I’d be most interested in hearing what it was about End Zone for Delillo and your choice of Coover.

      Completely agree with you on Suttree for McCarthy. Would probably go with Underworld for Delillo if only for the inclusion of the previously published novella Pafko at the Wall as its preface – I liked the rest just fine, reminded me of a lot of his work, but that novella is one of my favorite pieces of writing ever.

      Haven’t read enough of Hannah’s books that I’m supposed to to make a good decision yet.

      Evenson is a killer to decide on, but after pondering for all of two or three minutes I’m going to have to go with The Open Curtain. I can’t think of a book that stayed in my mind for a longer period of time after reading it, while reading other works, trying to forget it, etc.

  12. David

      I’d give my Saramago trophy to All the Names.

  13. Blake Butler

      hi Dan, maybe i can do that post. some of the picks were based arbitrarily on influence on me, or etc., and could easily be argued in me for others. baker and vollmann were particularly hard to nail down.

      End Zone seems the most unique to me in Delillo setting, like it still surprises me he wrote that, and feels more impactful and interesting to me over books of his I could technically like more, such as Mao II.

      Coover too, that novel is such a weird setting in his group, and feel like he was really in a new mode. I can’t think of any other books like that one, but it’s still a coinflip with Pricksongs and Descants.

      Open Curtain is massive to me, and the only reason Wavering Knife stands above is for how much that particularly set of texts influenced me. Like i think if there is one book I have gone back to more than any other stylistically, it is that one. But Open Curtain, god, yes.

  14. Blake Butler

      hi Dan, maybe i can do that post. some of the picks were based arbitrarily on influence on me, or etc., and could easily be argued in me for others. baker and vollmann were particularly hard to nail down.

      End Zone seems the most unique to me in Delillo setting, like it still surprises me he wrote that, and feels more impactful and interesting to me over books of his I could technically like more, such as Mao II.

      Coover too, that novel is such a weird setting in his group, and feel like he was really in a new mode. I can’t think of any other books like that one, but it’s still a coinflip with Pricksongs and Descants.

      Open Curtain is massive to me, and the only reason Wavering Knife stands above is for how much that particularly set of texts influenced me. Like i think if there is one book I have gone back to more than any other stylistically, it is that one. But Open Curtain, god, yes.

  15. Blake Butler

      love all the names.

  16. Blake Butler

      love all the names.

  17. stu

      Vollmann is one of my favorites. He is perhaps a bit indulgent at times, but I have never not enjoyed his works. Good choice. “The Atlas”, “Whores for Gloria”, and “Butterfly Stories” are among my favorites.

      I’m glad you picked a Delillo that is NOT “White Noise.”

  18. stu

      Vollmann is one of my favorites. He is perhaps a bit indulgent at times, but I have never not enjoyed his works. Good choice. “The Atlas”, “Whores for Gloria”, and “Butterfly Stories” are among my favorites.

      I’m glad you picked a Delillo that is NOT “White Noise.”

  19. Blake Butler

      Rising Up and Rising Down almost beat the Rifles. but i think that thing is not a book, and more something else entirely. crazy man!

  20. Peter

      The Universal Baseball Association! Yes!

  21. Blake Butler

      Rising Up and Rising Down almost beat the Rifles. but i think that thing is not a book, and more something else entirely. crazy man!

  22. Peter

      The Universal Baseball Association! Yes!

  23. stu

      His scholarship is pretty thorough. But he’s very conscious of his fallibility, which I respect. I watched a video of him reading for “Imperial” and it was interesting that he prefaced the reading with a comment about the ‘facts’ within, and how he was open to correction, discussion.

      I haven’t had the guts to try and tackle “Rising Up and Rising Down” yet. Unfortunately.

  24. stu

      His scholarship is pretty thorough. But he’s very conscious of his fallibility, which I respect. I watched a video of him reading for “Imperial” and it was interesting that he prefaced the reading with a comment about the ‘facts’ within, and how he was open to correction, discussion.

      I haven’t had the guts to try and tackle “Rising Up and Rising Down” yet. Unfortunately.

  25. Michael Schaub

      Hell yeah, End Zone! Great call. I’m fucking psyched you did this; it’s very helpful.

  26. Michael Schaub

      Hell yeah, End Zone! Great call. I’m fucking psyched you did this; it’s very helpful.

  27. Blake Butler

      yeah, i kind of like the sprawl of it, and the indulgence. it’s one of the things that makes him truly great. and nice that he is open about it.

      you should really try RURD. it’s mega engrossing, esp the case studies

  28. Blake Butler

      yeah, i kind of like the sprawl of it, and the indulgence. it’s one of the things that makes him truly great. and nice that he is open about it.

      you should really try RURD. it’s mega engrossing, esp the case studies

  29. alec niedenthal

      i like you bright and risen angels the most. i feel like that novel is largely ignored.

  30. alec niedenthal

      i like you bright and risen angels the most. i feel like that novel is largely ignored.

  31. Dan

      the double is good i think, do people really like Saramago that much, I read his Jesus one and it was weird.

      also +1 for drunk book gifting problem

  32. Dan

      the double is good i think, do people really like Saramago that much, I read his Jesus one and it was weird.

      also +1 for drunk book gifting problem

  33. alec niedenthal

      i’d probably pick the tunnel over omensetter’s luck, but i don’t think i spent enough time with either reading. i think i’ll reread at least omensetter’s soon. my favorite is on being blue, if that’s an option.

  34. alec niedenthal

      i’d probably pick the tunnel over omensetter’s luck, but i don’t think i spent enough time with either reading. i think i’ll reread at least omensetter’s soon. my favorite is on being blue, if that’s an option.

  35. Blake Butler

      I haven’t read a Saramago i haven’t been really impressed by, that’s like 5 of them. his parapraphs are like walls

  36. Blake Butler

      that’s one i’ve owned for a long time and never gotten to. he just produces so fast. but it is high on my read soon list.

  37. Blake Butler

      I haven’t read a Saramago i haven’t been really impressed by, that’s like 5 of them. his parapraphs are like walls

  38. Blake Butler

      that’s one i’ve owned for a long time and never gotten to. he just produces so fast. but it is high on my read soon list.

  39. Blake Butler

      tunnel was hard to pass over for OL, but something about OL has always ridden on my back. they are so different. i love them both.

      on being blue, agreed. a wow.

  40. Blake Butler

      tunnel was hard to pass over for OL, but something about OL has always ridden on my back. they are so different. i love them both.

      on being blue, agreed. a wow.

  41. Shya

      I thoroughly loved End Zone too. Next to Underworld, it’s my favorite.

  42. Shya

      I thoroughly loved End Zone too. Next to Underworld, it’s my favorite.

  43. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      Dennis Cooper, “Guide”

  44. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      and “Closer”

  45. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      Dennis Cooper, “Guide”

  46. Tim Jones-Yelvington

      and “Closer”

  47. johannes goransson

      I like Great Jones Street for my Delillo. Or the first one. Or Running Dog.

      Johannes

  48. johannes goransson

      I like Great Jones Street for my Delillo. Or the first one. Or Running Dog.

      Johannes

  49. Damon

      I read Vox and The Fermata back to back over the summer (“beach reading” as they say)… good times. So many memorable scenes in The Fermata. I want to read his Updike book in the worst way.

  50. Damon

      I read Vox and The Fermata back to back over the summer (“beach reading” as they say)… good times. So many memorable scenes in The Fermata. I want to read his Updike book in the worst way.

  51. Catherine Lacey

      I loved the Fermata too.

  52. Catherine Lacey

      I loved the Fermata too.

  53. mike

      that cooper fucking kills. there is literally not a single other book that has had more of an influence on me-as-writer.

      the only thing that comes close is ‘the ash grey proclamation’ but that is not really a “book” on it’s own right, despite the fact it was initially published as the text with the dennis CD project.

  54. mike

      that cooper fucking kills. there is literally not a single other book that has had more of an influence on me-as-writer.

      the only thing that comes close is ‘the ash grey proclamation’ but that is not really a “book” on it’s own right, despite the fact it was initially published as the text with the dennis CD project.

  55. Caleb J Ross

      Yes, yes, yes. I’m glad to see another Evenson fan list Wavering Knife as his top. I’ve argued the merits of this book over his others (though all of his work if near perfect) to a lot of people, with only rare support. I haven’t read Fugue State yet, though, so perhaps my list will change.

  56. Caleb J Ross

      Yes, yes, yes. I’m glad to see another Evenson fan list Wavering Knife as his top. I’ve argued the merits of this book over his others (though all of his work if near perfect) to a lot of people, with only rare support. I haven’t read Fugue State yet, though, so perhaps my list will change.

  57. KevinS

      Lish’s book should be Dear Mr. Capote. Cooper’s book should be Closer. Replace Delilo with Lutz.

  58. KevinS

      Lish’s book should be Dear Mr. Capote. Cooper’s book should be Closer. Replace Delilo with Lutz.

  59. alec niedenthal

      and my loose thread

  60. alec niedenthal

      and my loose thread

  61. Jack Boettcher

      I agree with Alec. I’m not even close to finished with the Vollmann bibliography, but so far You Bright and Risen Angels is my favorite, and it does seem very much ignored. I think I’ve read, in separate interviews, that Vollmann has both sort of disowned the book but also said that he thinks he could rewrite a better version of it. But I thought it was amazing. It’s like this ridiculous cartoon that never reaches for the moral seriousness of some later Vollmann, but it gets at many of the same questions. I mean there are insects and their sympathizers revolting against the forces of commercial electricity, but to me the book is no less stirring in its account of large-scale conflict than Europe Central, a Vollmann book set in a real war.

  62. Jack Boettcher

      I agree with Alec. I’m not even close to finished with the Vollmann bibliography, but so far You Bright and Risen Angels is my favorite, and it does seem very much ignored. I think I’ve read, in separate interviews, that Vollmann has both sort of disowned the book but also said that he thinks he could rewrite a better version of it. But I thought it was amazing. It’s like this ridiculous cartoon that never reaches for the moral seriousness of some later Vollmann, but it gets at many of the same questions. I mean there are insects and their sympathizers revolting against the forces of commercial electricity, but to me the book is no less stirring in its account of large-scale conflict than Europe Central, a Vollmann book set in a real war.

  63. Lincoln

      Blood Meridian hasn’t been mentioned yet?

      I like Wavering Knife a lot, but I thought the collection was pretty uneven. I might even put fugue state over it, though the vest knife stories are amazing.

  64. Lincoln

      Blood Meridian hasn’t been mentioned yet?

      I like Wavering Knife a lot, but I thought the collection was pretty uneven. I might even put fugue state over it, though the vest knife stories are amazing.

  65. mark

      the abridgement of RURD is my favorite, though I don’t know if I’ll read the entirety of the unabridged. certainly i’d like to get to rest of the case studies.

      you bright and risen is number 2 for me — it *is* like a ridiculous cartoon, and it’s gorgeous and weird and completely different from anything else i’ve read. people turn into bugs, boys who are chasing after another boy in a high school swimming pool find themselves at the bottom of a deep sea, stuff like that, and we travel through the arctic, south america, half the US, etc., etc.. the ambition in that one is insane. first fucking novel, too. the sentences, though, are what really kill me. as a stylist, i think he’s lost several steps since, for i’m not sure what reason. tho i’ve read less than half his stuff, so maybe it’s just my sample is skewed.

  66. mark

      the abridgement of RURD is my favorite, though I don’t know if I’ll read the entirety of the unabridged. certainly i’d like to get to rest of the case studies.

      you bright and risen is number 2 for me — it *is* like a ridiculous cartoon, and it’s gorgeous and weird and completely different from anything else i’ve read. people turn into bugs, boys who are chasing after another boy in a high school swimming pool find themselves at the bottom of a deep sea, stuff like that, and we travel through the arctic, south america, half the US, etc., etc.. the ambition in that one is insane. first fucking novel, too. the sentences, though, are what really kill me. as a stylist, i think he’s lost several steps since, for i’m not sure what reason. tho i’ve read less than half his stuff, so maybe it’s just my sample is skewed.

  67. Angela Genusa

      Diane Williams’ “Excitability”!

  68. Angela Genusa

      Diane Williams’ “Excitability”!

  69. stu

      I must read both of these. The fact that he’s so prolific makes me laugh, because when I finish one book, it’s like he’s got five more that I need to read.

      I came across his stuff when I was a freshman in college, doing research for a paper on prostitution in the developed world vs the developing/third world. Been hooked ever since.

      And I agree somewhat with Mark… the earlier stuff seems a bit more stylistically fresh. That’s what I love about “Butterfly Stories.” The characterization as well. There’s something very sad and beautiful about the ‘boy who wanted to be a journalist/journalist’ and his quest.

  70. stu

      I must read both of these. The fact that he’s so prolific makes me laugh, because when I finish one book, it’s like he’s got five more that I need to read.

      I came across his stuff when I was a freshman in college, doing research for a paper on prostitution in the developed world vs the developing/third world. Been hooked ever since.

      And I agree somewhat with Mark… the earlier stuff seems a bit more stylistically fresh. That’s what I love about “Butterfly Stories.” The characterization as well. There’s something very sad and beautiful about the ‘boy who wanted to be a journalist/journalist’ and his quest.

  71. Blake Butler

      Dear Mr. Capote is the only Lish i’ve had to stop reading. I couldn’t stand it. and I love his other books, as undstandable as they can be.

      Cooper is across the board good. Period’s form and aura kill me though, even more.

  72. Blake Butler

      Dear Mr. Capote is the only Lish i’ve had to stop reading. I couldn’t stand it. and I love his other books, as undstandable as they can be.

      Cooper is across the board good. Period’s form and aura kill me though, even more.

  73. jereme

      i am curious how the first reading of an author fits into this list.

      like do you like suttree because that’s the first cormac book you read or does the cherry popping not factor in?

  74. jereme

      i am curious how the first reading of an author fits into this list.

      like do you like suttree because that’s the first cormac book you read or does the cherry popping not factor in?

  75. Tim Horvath

      I like The Double because the prose feels sort of archaic (perhaps wall-like) in tension with the contemporary feel of the subject matter (movies, school, etc.) I would guess Blindness is like this, too but I haven’t read it yet. Every Saramago I’ve read I liked more than the one before, and the starting point was pretty strong.

  76. Tim Horvath

      I like The Double because the prose feels sort of archaic (perhaps wall-like) in tension with the contemporary feel of the subject matter (movies, school, etc.) I would guess Blindness is like this, too but I haven’t read it yet. Every Saramago I’ve read I liked more than the one before, and the starting point was pretty strong.

  77. Ken Baumann

      yes, i wanna hear about this

  78. Ken Baumann

      yes, i wanna hear about this

  79. Blake Butler

      suttree i think might have been the last i read, besides the recent ones.

      dennis’s period was the first i read of his and was therefore important to me as him, but i also recently reread it and believe that it is huge in my mind and as an object

      i think maybe first experiences of an author have 10% involvement in the decision.

      in fact, none of these were the first by that author that i read besides dennis’s.

  80. Blake Butler

      suttree i think might have been the last i read, besides the recent ones.

      dennis’s period was the first i read of his and was therefore important to me as him, but i also recently reread it and believe that it is huge in my mind and as an object

      i think maybe first experiences of an author have 10% involvement in the decision.

      in fact, none of these were the first by that author that i read besides dennis’s.

  81. Landon

      i’m heavy into my own Lish phase, reading Arcade at the moment. and consequently i’m reading Diane Williams as well. their beautiful sentences are rearranging my life.

  82. Landon

      i’m heavy into my own Lish phase, reading Arcade at the moment. and consequently i’m reading Diane Williams as well. their beautiful sentences are rearranging my life.

  83. matthewsavoca

      i read an interview with markson in which he implied that the idiot by dostoevsky was a “botch” because it was trying to portray a ‘good’ person. markson was saying this in response to a question about how his own characters seem to be insane or on the brink of insanity. markson was saying that it’s just easier to write about people like that, and very hard to write about sane, ‘good’ people.
      overall, throughout the interview, markson stressed his personal laziness, which was really funny. and interesting.

  84. matthewsavoca

      i read an interview with markson in which he implied that the idiot by dostoevsky was a “botch” because it was trying to portray a ‘good’ person. markson was saying this in response to a question about how his own characters seem to be insane or on the brink of insanity. markson was saying that it’s just easier to write about people like that, and very hard to write about sane, ‘good’ people.
      overall, throughout the interview, markson stressed his personal laziness, which was really funny. and interesting.

  85. david erlewine

      arrived at my house a few days ago

      should be done tonight

      it’s hard to quantify how much i’m liking

  86. david erlewine

      arrived at my house a few days ago

      should be done tonight

      it’s hard to quantify how much i’m liking

  87. david erlewine

      Pafko at the Wall is one of the best things I’ve read too.

      I should have mentioned that last month about things that wanted to make us write. Have never been more excited leaving class than I did in college after finishing it. What Delillo did there, particularly b/w the older white guy and the black kid, fucking amazing. I still picture the street, the guy stalking him, the boy no longer a boy.

  88. david erlewine

      Pafko at the Wall is one of the best things I’ve read too.

      I should have mentioned that last month about things that wanted to make us write. Have never been more excited leaving class than I did in college after finishing it. What Delillo did there, particularly b/w the older white guy and the black kid, fucking amazing. I still picture the street, the guy stalking him, the boy no longer a boy.

  89. jereme

      ray was the whisper in a dream.

      i would kill all of you to ensure its existence.

      it is that rad.

  90. jereme

      ray was the whisper in a dream.

      i would kill all of you to ensure its existence.

      it is that rad.

  91. Matthew Simmons

      Yeah, I’m with you on Period. Hands down my favorite, though Closer comes close. In the end, Period has a haze over it—a haze created by tone, maybe—that makes it stand out.

  92. Matthew Simmons

      Yeah, I’m with you on Period. Hands down my favorite, though Closer comes close. In the end, Period has a haze over it—a haze created by tone, maybe—that makes it stand out.