Another list. Another round of should reading. Another pile to add to the pile to add to the pile. New York Magazine gives us sixty-one underrated titles in their "The Best Novels You've Never Read" piece. Usually these things fall flat for me. Make me roll my eyes as I gear up to say something inane like "duh, this has been done before and better" or sigh under the pressure of all these books I've not read weighing down upon me. Instead, this list feels fresh. It's long - especially when I frequently say a list of 25 is long. It doesn't focus on writers, but on specific novels, which provides some room to rally. Freshens them up. Makes it seem somewhat manageable. Not everything an author has written, just this one book.
The main reason this list has street cred for me: Benjamin Kunkel's mention of Norman Rush's Mortals. Which, I 100% agree, is overlooked. Under-discussed. Under-appreciated. All of that and more. I also agree with Kunkel that Mating is even better. I've always marveled at Rush and his seeming lack of appeal among the reading audience. Why don't more people talk about these books? With all they have to say about setting up new civilizations and all the problems inherent within such grand plans? Is he not prolific enough? Not a media darling? I've never been able to figure it. These two books are dense, intense, grand in scope, yet minute in detail. Superb writing, wonderful characterization - you get the big sweeping themes but the intimate details of personal insight are perfectly rendered as well. Few books have blown me away in quite the fashion that Rush's books have and I'm glad to see he warranted a nod. His short story collection, Whites, is also excellent.
Other picks I was delighted to see & whole-heartedly vouch for: By The Lake by John McGahern, The Debt to Pleasure by John Lanchester, Do Everything In the Dark by Gary Indiana, anything by David Markson and of course, my true love, Last Night by James Salter.
Picks that I will simply HAVE to add immediately: Winner of the National Book Award by Jincy Willett, Grief by Andrew Holleran, Experience by Martin Amis, Mariette in Ecstasy by Ron Hansen, Samedi The Deafness by Jesse Ball, Stranger Things Happen by Kelly Link, What Salmon Know by Elwood Reid, The Amalgamation Polka by Stephen Wright and of course, The Last Novel by David Markson.
