Snippets
Earlier today, one of my favorite editors asked me to be part of a “best of the decade” theme issue his magazine is doing later this year. This wasn’t a proper assignment, he just wanted me to name some books–fiction or non-, but not poetry–that I thought were among the best published in the last ten years. I have no idea how many people he asked to do this, and I don’t know whether the nominations will be aggregated into a master “top however many” list. Or maybe we’ll each get one or two picks and a note explaining them. I’ll let you know when the issue comes out. But in the meantime, I thought it might be interesting and fun to pass the question along to all of you. What do you think are three of the best books published in the last ten years? Leave it in the comments section.
EVER
EVER
Waste by Eugene Marten
Waste by Eugene Marten
tranquility – attila bartis
paris review interviews volumes one and two
tranquility – attila bartis
paris review interviews volumes one and two
Heather Lewis, Notice
Sebald, Austerlitz
Heather Lewis, Notice
Sebald, Austerlitz
i loved austerlitz. still mad at whoever spilled coffee all over my copy
i loved austerlitz. still mad at whoever spilled coffee all over my copy
not necessarily in this order and just off the top —
Jamestown, by Matthew Sharpe
Homeland, by Sam Lipsyte
2666, by Roberto Bolano
but Waste is a nice dark horse — i’ve thought about it a ton since reading it.
not necessarily in this order and just off the top —
Jamestown, by Matthew Sharpe
Homeland, by Sam Lipsyte
2666, by Roberto Bolano
but Waste is a nice dark horse — i’ve thought about it a ton since reading it.
difficult, difficult…by the way, for shame poetry is disallowed. off the top of the head, and a list i’ll undoubtedly want to change, but one that at least are 3 books from the decade i enjoyed immensely.
bolano::2666
danielewski::only revolutions or house of leaves, take your pick
dewitt::the last samurai
a question is, are things like sebald (or much of bolano i.e. savage detectives) allowed even if they were originally published in their original language before this decade began? bolano i assume should count, but what about some big blast from the past like tanpinar::a mind at peace? just now translated in the last year, but originally published 60 years ago…
difficult, difficult…by the way, for shame poetry is disallowed. off the top of the head, and a list i’ll undoubtedly want to change, but one that at least are 3 books from the decade i enjoyed immensely.
bolano::2666
danielewski::only revolutions or house of leaves, take your pick
dewitt::the last samurai
a question is, are things like sebald (or much of bolano i.e. savage detectives) allowed even if they were originally published in their original language before this decade began? bolano i assume should count, but what about some big blast from the past like tanpinar::a mind at peace? just now translated in the last year, but originally published 60 years ago…
Hmm doubt i’ve read enough to give a real best. Some that stick out
pastoralia – saunders
homeland – lipsyte
yonder stands your orphan – hannah
i hate to see that evening sun go down – william gay
romancer erector – diane williams
true history of the kelly gang – carey
Hmm doubt i’ve read enough to give a real best. Some that stick out
pastoralia – saunders
homeland – lipsyte
yonder stands your orphan – hannah
i hate to see that evening sun go down – william gay
romancer erector – diane williams
true history of the kelly gang – carey
allan stein – matthew stadler
the end is the beginning – matt briggs
sea change – jorie graham
allan stein – matthew stadler
the end is the beginning – matt briggs
sea change – jorie graham
being a contrarian, and listing the savage detectives instead of 2666.
the other really big one i would vote would be denis johnson’s collection of nonfiction, seek.
some others i remember liking a fair amount:
middlesex – jeffrey eugenides
the quick and the dead – joy williams
last evenings on earth – bolano
being a contrarian, and listing the savage detectives instead of 2666.
the other really big one i would vote would be denis johnson’s collection of nonfiction, seek.
some others i remember liking a fair amount:
middlesex – jeffrey eugenides
the quick and the dead – joy williams
last evenings on earth – bolano
Savage Detectives wasn’t this decade duuuuuuuuuude
Savage Detectives wasn’t this decade duuuuuuuuuude
I read Danielewski’s book, thought that we had a disconnect on what was cool and what wasn’t cool, but that’s cool
I read Danielewski’s book, thought that we had a disconnect on what was cool and what wasn’t cool, but that’s cool
not doing your job for you sorry bro
not doing your job for you sorry bro
venus drive, lipsyte (2000)
brief interviews with hideous men, dfw (1999)
i looked alive, lutz (2004)
other electricities, monson (2005)
19 knives, jarman (2008)
scorch atlas, butler (2009)
la medusa, place (2008)
secret goldfish, means (2004)
dead fish museum, d’ambrosio (2006)
oblivion, dfw (2004)
venus drive, lipsyte (2000)
brief interviews with hideous men, dfw (1999)
i looked alive, lutz (2004)
other electricities, monson (2005)
19 knives, jarman (2008)
scorch atlas, butler (2009)
la medusa, place (2008)
secret goldfish, means (2004)
dead fish museum, d’ambrosio (2006)
oblivion, dfw (2004)
junot diaz – oscar wao
the known world
junot diaz – oscar wao
the known world
the known world is a good pick
american genius, lynne tillman
michael martone, michael martone
the last novel, d markson
the trouble with being born, jeffrey de shell
the known world is a good pick
american genius, lynne tillman
michael martone, michael martone
the last novel, d markson
the trouble with being born, jeffrey de shell
I love that someone listed “The Last Samurai” by Helen Dewitt – definitely a fave of the decade. 2666 and Pastoralia, indubitable definites. His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman (completed in 2000)? The Road? Last Night at the Lobster by Steward O’Nan? The Beauty of the Husband by Anne Carson? Platform by Michel Houellebecq? And how about semi-uncool yet definitely really very solid proper novels like The Plot Against America (Roth) and, um, maybe even The Corrections (Franzy Pants)?
I love that someone listed “The Last Samurai” by Helen Dewitt – definitely a fave of the decade. 2666 and Pastoralia, indubitable definites. His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman (completed in 2000)? The Road? Last Night at the Lobster by Steward O’Nan? The Beauty of the Husband by Anne Carson? Platform by Michel Houellebecq? And how about semi-uncool yet definitely really very solid proper novels like The Plot Against America (Roth) and, um, maybe even The Corrections (Franzy Pants)?
what are you talking about? when the original was published? or translated? the original was 1998, but the translation is 2007.
what are you talking about? when the original was published? or translated? the original was 1998, but the translation is 2007.
Austerlitz was a really tough call for me. I love all Sebald, and that was the only one of his masterpieces that fit the time-frame. But in the end I had to give it a pass. It’s weird that you can love something so much, but feel like you’re insulting it for not being in the top 3 picks of the decade. Went through the same thing with Hannah’s Yonder Stands Your Orphan, which I listed and de-listed several times. Ultimately, left it off. Not unregretfully, but still.
Austerlitz was a really tough call for me. I love all Sebald, and that was the only one of his masterpieces that fit the time-frame. But in the end I had to give it a pass. It’s weird that you can love something so much, but feel like you’re insulting it for not being in the top 3 picks of the decade. Went through the same thing with Hannah’s Yonder Stands Your Orphan, which I listed and de-listed several times. Ultimately, left it off. Not unregretfully, but still.
well if we are talking translations I guess I”ll put down Proust and Tolstoy
well if we are talking translations I guess I”ll put down Proust and Tolstoy
Austerlitz seemed to me like a weaker effort for Sebald – real good, sure, but not really in the same league as The Emigrants and The Rings of Saturn. Also maybe more of an overt Bernhard influence than something wholly its own.
Austerlitz seemed to me like a weaker effort for Sebald – real good, sure, but not really in the same league as The Emigrants and The Rings of Saturn. Also maybe more of an overt Bernhard influence than something wholly its own.
Where the Sea Used to Be, Rick Bass
Middlesex, Jeffrey Eugenides
Lighthousekeeping, Jeanette Winterson
Where the Sea Used to Be, Rick Bass
Middlesex, Jeffrey Eugenides
Lighthousekeeping, Jeanette Winterson
sebald is an odd case for me, since with most authors their more “difficult” work is what i would rate highest, whereas austerlitz is at once his most straightforward novel, and, for me, the strongest. (that said, all of his books are very great — this one just seems to push furthest into the beautiful/terrible world he built through his novels, maybe precisely because of the sustained narrative.)
all his books are certainly very much written under bernhard’s star, i’m not sure that this one’s biting tb’s style that much harder than the rest. it does have very long paragraphs, and makes more use of the “x said, y said” nested dialog style, but to my mind the surface bernhard-nods just underscore the syntactic and philosophical resonances that were always there.
sebald talks about bernhard’s influence on him in at least one interview, i should try to track that down.
sebald is an odd case for me, since with most authors their more “difficult” work is what i would rate highest, whereas austerlitz is at once his most straightforward novel, and, for me, the strongest. (that said, all of his books are very great — this one just seems to push furthest into the beautiful/terrible world he built through his novels, maybe precisely because of the sustained narrative.)
all his books are certainly very much written under bernhard’s star, i’m not sure that this one’s biting tb’s style that much harder than the rest. it does have very long paragraphs, and makes more use of the “x said, y said” nested dialog style, but to my mind the surface bernhard-nods just underscore the syntactic and philosophical resonances that were always there.
sebald talks about bernhard’s influence on him in at least one interview, i should try to track that down.
Sebald on Bookworm
http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/bw/bw011206w_g_sebald
Sebald on Bookworm
http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/bw/bw011206w_g_sebald
I like Cloud Atlas.
I like Cloud Atlas.
that’s my favorite bookworm interview — dude had one hell of a speaking voice.
that’s my favorite bookworm interview — dude had one hell of a speaking voice.
bests and favorites inevitably get conflated, and i’m not good at counting, but here goes:
fiction:
tree of smoke, denis johnson
against the day, thomas pynchon
amalgamation polka, stephen wright
poetry:
rising, falling, hovering, cd wright
the totality for kids, joshua clover
girls on the run, john ashbery
sky lounge, mark bibbins
deed, rod smith
angle of yaw, ben lerner
fuck you-aloha-i love you, juliana spahr
The Intuitionist (Colson Whitehead, 1999)
bests and favorites inevitably get conflated, and i’m not good at counting, but here goes:
fiction:
tree of smoke, denis johnson
against the day, thomas pynchon
amalgamation polka, stephen wright
poetry:
rising, falling, hovering, cd wright
the totality for kids, joshua clover
girls on the run, john ashbery
sky lounge, mark bibbins
deed, rod smith
angle of yaw, ben lerner
fuck you-aloha-i love you, juliana spahr
The Intuitionist (Colson Whitehead, 1999)
Period, or The Sluts, Dennis Cooper
Teatro Grottesco, Thomas Ligotti
Why Did I Ever, Mary Robison
Possibility of an Island, Michel Houellebecq
Period, or The Sluts, Dennis Cooper
Teatro Grottesco, Thomas Ligotti
Why Did I Ever, Mary Robison
Possibility of an Island, Michel Houellebecq
yes, Ligotti, yes
yes, Ligotti, yes
As much as I sincerely like Evenson (who I know is a biggie here), I really feel like Ligotti is a far more powerful writer, especially in terms of “literary horror.” Of course, I’ve read everything Ligotti’s written, whereas I’ve only read 2 of Evenson’s books so far, so this might be a snap judgment.
As much as I sincerely like Evenson (who I know is a biggie here), I really feel like Ligotti is a far more powerful writer, especially in terms of “literary horror.” Of course, I’ve read everything Ligotti’s written, whereas I’ve only read 2 of Evenson’s books so far, so this might be a snap judgment.
Moya – Senselessness
Eisenberg – Twilight of the Superheroes
Redhill – Fidelity
and a recent nonfiction book:
Filkins – The Forever War
Moya – Senselessness
Eisenberg – Twilight of the Superheroes
Redhill – Fidelity
and a recent nonfiction book:
Filkins – The Forever War
Yeah, American Genius is a good call.
The Open Curtain by Evenson. Iceland by Jim Krusoe. Things that Fall From the Sky by Brockmeier. I don’t know. Those three really got to me.
Here, Bullet by Brian Turner is a favorite book of poetry for me.
Yeah, American Genius is a good call.
The Open Curtain by Evenson. Iceland by Jim Krusoe. Things that Fall From the Sky by Brockmeier. I don’t know. Those three really got to me.
Here, Bullet by Brian Turner is a favorite book of poetry for me.
gilead – marilynne robinson
break every rule – carole maso
no one belongs here more than you – miranda july
gilead – marilynne robinson
break every rule – carole maso
no one belongs here more than you – miranda july
Homeland was another one that crossed my mind. In the end, not top 3 of the decade, but it did cross my mind.
Homeland was another one that crossed my mind. In the end, not top 3 of the decade, but it did cross my mind.
andrew- by my reckoning, yes, first english publication counts, because it’s a new experience for the english market. One of the books I did choose was a Collected Stories, which came out in 2007. Most of the stuff in it had first pubbed in the 20th, but the Collected itself is a new book.
re danielewski- hah! not on your life. but that’s just me.
andrew- by my reckoning, yes, first english publication counts, because it’s a new experience for the english market. One of the books I did choose was a Collected Stories, which came out in 2007. Most of the stuff in it had first pubbed in the 20th, but the Collected itself is a new book.
re danielewski- hah! not on your life. but that’s just me.
jeff- that stephen wright book is amazing, as all stephen wright books are.
re the poetry- that’s a a fascinating list. i thought about ben lerner, but didn’t pick him. but this is a great idea- we should totally do our own version of this just for poetry!
jeff- that stephen wright book is amazing, as all stephen wright books are.
re the poetry- that’s a a fascinating list. i thought about ben lerner, but didn’t pick him. but this is a great idea- we should totally do our own version of this just for poetry!
Mike, I did pick one of Coop’s novels, but it wasn’t either of those.
ooh, V. You nailed one of mine.
if collections count as new books, then didion’s collected non-fiction is a lock for my third slot.
re:re: danielewski: : )
Mike, I did pick one of Coop’s novels, but it wasn’t either of those.
ooh, V. You nailed one of mine.
if collections count as new books, then didion’s collected non-fiction is a lock for my third slot.
re:re: danielewski: : )
k, so through a process of deduction, justin’s list is:
1) cooper, my loose thread
2) gilead, marilynne robinson (probably? don’t think it’s the july, anyhow.)
3) collected stories of ? hmm, he says he had a pick that was a collected that came out in ’07. Could be Leonard Michaels, Amy Hempel, probably a few others… I’ll go with the Michaels, I guess.
amiright? do i win something?
k, so through a process of deduction, justin’s list is:
1) cooper, my loose thread
2) gilead, marilynne robinson (probably? don’t think it’s the july, anyhow.)
3) collected stories of ? hmm, he says he had a pick that was a collected that came out in ’07. Could be Leonard Michaels, Amy Hempel, probably a few others… I’ll go with the Michaels, I guess.
amiright? do i win something?
Collected works dont’ count though, do they?
Collected works dont’ count though, do they?
you know, i wanted to not like danielewski. but i just have a soft spot for anything to do with the labyrinth i guess…borges, eco, i mean for heaven’s sake i tracked down a copy of w.h. matthews’ history of the labyrinth to read!
i did think long and hard about pynchon::against the day, which though not the best-received pynchon i thought was wonderful and, if you have a second 6 weeks to dedicate, exceedingly rewarding for a second read…
you know, i wanted to not like danielewski. but i just have a soft spot for anything to do with the labyrinth i guess…borges, eco, i mean for heaven’s sake i tracked down a copy of w.h. matthews’ history of the labyrinth to read!
i did think long and hard about pynchon::against the day, which though not the best-received pynchon i thought was wonderful and, if you have a second 6 weeks to dedicate, exceedingly rewarding for a second read…
Fun! I’m going to steal and alter a few of Jeff picks, and add one of my own. These poetry books stick out the most in my mind. Not-so-coincidentally, all pass over genre boundaries & present strongly voiced documentary visions of “post-9/11 America”:
Juliana Spahr–This Connection of Everyone With Lungs
C.D. Wright–Rising, Falling, Hovering
Ben Lerner–Angle of Yaw
Claudia Rankine–Don’t Let Me Be Lonely
Fun! I’m going to steal and alter a few of Jeff picks, and add one of my own. These poetry books stick out the most in my mind. Not-so-coincidentally, all pass over genre boundaries & present strongly voiced documentary visions of “post-9/11 America”:
Juliana Spahr–This Connection of Everyone With Lungs
C.D. Wright–Rising, Falling, Hovering
Ben Lerner–Angle of Yaw
Claudia Rankine–Don’t Let Me Be Lonely
which one was it? those are, I feel, two of the finest books ever— not only my favorite of cooper in the 21st century, but cooper throughout his entire career.
which one was it? those are, I feel, two of the finest books ever— not only my favorite of cooper in the 21st century, but cooper throughout his entire career.
i dont think the first translation of proust or tolstoy was in the last decade
i dont think the first translation of proust or tolstoy was in the last decade
dennis cooper – my loose thread
roberto bolano – 2666
tom mccarthy – remainder
wallace shawn – grasses of a thousand colors (play, but still)
dennis cooper – my loose thread
roberto bolano – 2666
tom mccarthy – remainder
wallace shawn – grasses of a thousand colors (play, but still)
2666 – Bolano
Louis Riel – Brown
The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac – Free Darko
ZIP ZIP ZIP ZIP ZIP
2666 – Bolano
Louis Riel – Brown
The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac – Free Darko
ZIP ZIP ZIP ZIP ZIP
justin–i’d certainly love to compare lists of poetry. i could have thought about it for hours before commenting (and it’ll be at the back of my mind for a while).
and i agree with you about stephen wright, of course. all of his books are great, and his word-by-word writing is so good it transcends genre.
justin–i’d certainly love to compare lists of poetry. i could have thought about it for hours before commenting (and it’ll be at the back of my mind for a while).
and i agree with you about stephen wright, of course. all of his books are great, and his word-by-word writing is so good it transcends genre.
c–i almost listed that rankine book, which made such an impression on me when i read it. i figured i need to read it again before i can make any sort of critical call on it. same goes for kristin prevallet’s terrific i, afterlife.
other shortlisters i’d need to think more about: graham foust, necessary strangers, michael palmer, company of moths. and for fiction, brian evenson’s wavering knife and fugue state.
c–i almost listed that rankine book, which made such an impression on me when i read it. i figured i need to read it again before i can make any sort of critical call on it. same goes for kristin prevallet’s terrific i, afterlife.
other shortlisters i’d need to think more about: graham foust, necessary strangers, michael palmer, company of moths. and for fiction, brian evenson’s wavering knife and fugue state.
I think any new translations should be eligible. They are new material, after all. New books.
I think any new translations should be eligible. They are new material, after all. New books.
NEW BOOKS HAPPEN EVERY DAY. NEW EDITIONS OF OLD ENGLISH BOOKS.
BUT ZIP AGREES. ZIP IS TEN YEARS OLD. THEREFORE ALL BOOKS ZIP READS ARE OF “THE LAST TEN YEARS”.
NEW BOOKS HAPPEN EVERY DAY. NEW EDITIONS OF OLD ENGLISH BOOKS.
BUT ZIP AGREES. ZIP IS TEN YEARS OLD. THEREFORE ALL BOOKS ZIP READS ARE OF “THE LAST TEN YEARS”.
The three best books of the last ten years were all written before 1999.
The three best books of the last ten years were all written before 1999.
Justin.
Justin.
i 2nd ‘oscar wao’
scott mclanahan’s ‘stories’
i 2nd ‘oscar wao’
scott mclanahan’s ‘stories’
Hello all, and can I add
Dogwalker by Arthur Bradford
My Life in CIA by Harry Mathews
Hello all, and can I add
Dogwalker by Arthur Bradford
My Life in CIA by Harry Mathews
My Life in CIA was awesome, and for some reason one of those books that gets me writing every time I pick it up.
My Life in CIA was awesome, and for some reason one of those books that gets me writing every time I pick it up.
Lee Abbott’s collected stories — must be mentioned, that voice!
Lee Abbott’s collected stories — must be mentioned, that voice!
Vanishing Point – Markson
Zeroville – Erickson
Europeana – Ourednik
Jimmy Corrigan – Ware
Sacco and Vanzetti Must Die! – Binelli
Sports – Goldsmith
Oracle Night – Auster
Samuel Johnson is Indignant – Davis
Notable American Women – Marcus
Three to See the King – Mills
Thom Paine – Will Eno
The Collected Plays – Richard Maxwell
The Colossus of New York – Whitehead
Mediated – De Zengotita
The Psychic Soviet – Svenonius
Halls of Fame – D’Agata
Vanishing Point – Markson
Zeroville – Erickson
Europeana – Ourednik
Jimmy Corrigan – Ware
Sacco and Vanzetti Must Die! – Binelli
Sports – Goldsmith
Oracle Night – Auster
Samuel Johnson is Indignant – Davis
Notable American Women – Marcus
Three to See the King – Mills
Thom Paine – Will Eno
The Collected Plays – Richard Maxwell
The Colossus of New York – Whitehead
Mediated – De Zengotita
The Psychic Soviet – Svenonius
Halls of Fame – D’Agata
yes i agree with you
yes i agree with you