- Choke by Chuck Pahlaniuk – you need a strong stomach to read this book (as with any of Pahlaniuk’s stories, quite frankly), but even despite all the depravity and bizarreness, I dare say I liked this book more than Fight Club (blasphemy, I know). It’s difficult to get on-board with the main character, but if you’re able to, the book will surprise you…in a good way, I think (amazon link).
- Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris – this author may very well write the funniest short stories I’ve ever read. He is beyond witty, cynical and snarky, and his prose is just fantastic (amazon link).
- Torture the Artist by Joey Goebel – this author is actually a friend of a friend (he’s from Kentucky), so I bought the book originally just to show support…but then I ended up really liking it. The pacing is a little difficult at times, but the story is good, and it’s thought-provoking. See? Good things can come from Kentucky (amazon link).
- The End of the Affair by Graham Greene – oh man. This book is intense. Took me two reads – right in a row – to really wrap my brain around all the underlying commentary going on between the lines, but I like it a lot. It was later made into a movie, which I saw accidentally and did not like…but the book is amazing. But hey, if you don’t like my recommendation, here’s another one for you: “One of the most true and moving novels of my time, in anybody’s language.” -William Faulkner (amazon link)
- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith – c’mon. The title speaks for itself (amazon link).
- The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami – this book is eerie, in the best possible way. It’s a mystery, in a way, but also a commentary on morality and a lesson in responsibility. This author is really intense, but I like a lot of the stuff he’s written, even when it gets violent and uncomfortable. This, however, is the best of his books, I think (amazon link).
