No doubt you have a copy of the book 500 Essential Cult Books the Ultimate Guide by Gina McKinnon. Each book gets a synopsis and a review. A nice touch is suggested further reading. The book was published in London and New York at the same time, but was conceived in the UK. In many instances, you see both the UK and US covers.
I'm surprised at how many I've read (about 20); although as soon as I saw the old reliable standbys, Catcher in the Rye and Atlas Shrugged, I was face-palming. My favorite cult novel is singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen's halloucinatory mid-sixties novel, Beautiful Losers.
Ice by Anna Kavan (which is on the list) is also very good. Bizarre in an intriguing, as opposed to frustrating way. In addition, Kavan also lived a very strange life (including being a long-functioning heroin addict).
I've also read 20. Of those, NIGHTWOOD was the hardest to get through. I've read a few of them more than once, including V., which is a favorite of mine.
But only one created an actual cult, Dianetics. According to his son, Hubbard tapped out that crock of shit in a two week period while high on cocaine.
I ditto Jeff about "cultish" stuff. I almost passed on Catch-22 because of all the hype, but I'm glad I read it anyway 8-) I doubt that I would have read Confederacy of Dunces without Walker Percy's intro.
15 comments:
Hum, gotta check this one out.
I've read a surprising number of these. Well, maybe it's not so surprising.
I guess I'm not a very cult-y guy, as I've onlty read ten or so. If something is considered "in" and "trendy" I am usually against it.
Jeff
I've read about all the SF and a few others. Atlas Shrugged is one.
No doubt you have a copy of the book 500 Essential Cult Books the Ultimate Guide by Gina McKinnon. Each book gets a synopsis and a review. A nice touch is suggested further reading. The book was published in London and New York at the same time, but was conceived in the UK. In many instances, you see both the UK and US covers.
Kent, I don't have that book, but I should have it.
Jeff, believe me, a lot of the books on this list are anything but "in."
I'm surprised at how many I've read (about 20); although as soon as I saw the old reliable standbys, Catcher in the Rye and Atlas Shrugged, I was face-palming. My favorite cult novel is singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen's halloucinatory mid-sixties novel, Beautiful Losers.
Uh oh, I've only read one of them.
Ice by Anna Kavan (which is on the list) is also very good. Bizarre in an intriguing, as opposed to frustrating way. In addition, Kavan also lived a very strange life (including being a long-functioning heroin addict).
I've also read 20. Of those, NIGHTWOOD was the hardest to get through. I've read a few of them more than once, including V., which is a favorite of mine.
But only one created an actual cult, Dianetics. According to his son, Hubbard tapped out that crock of shit in a two week period while high on cocaine.
There's no danger that I'll ever read that one.
Read 19. Don't believe I would consider crap like Clan of the Cave Bear or Valley of the Dolls for this list.
They do kind of screw it up.
I ditto Jeff about "cultish" stuff. I almost passed on Catch-22 because of all the hype, but I'm glad I read it anyway 8-) I doubt that I would have read Confederacy of Dunces without Walker Percy's intro.
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