I recall a number of series, where as it gets weirder, fans say it gets better. There's something about going all out in that direction that is oddly appealing.
I feel like those weird books always stick with you for so long, for better or worse hahah. Cassandra Khaw is still an author I want to try, but it's good to know what to expect lol. I think some of the weirdest books I have read are Vita Nostra by Sergey and Marina Dyachenko (loved it on audio), The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, Earthlings by Suyaka Murata and Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica. And Piranesi is also quite weird, tbh.
The weirdest books I have read, in no particular order (although I think Flann O'Brien is the weirdest by a magnitude of a lot): "The Last Days of New Paris" and "This Census-Taker" by China Mieville, The Fifth Head of Cerberus by Gene Wolfe, every Flann O'Brien novel (but I would only recommend The Third Policeman and The Dalkey Archive), L'Emprièr's Dictionary by Lawrence Norfolk, Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace, and as mentioned by others: House of Leaves, Geek Love, Gormenghast. Honorable mention to Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield and If On a Winter's Night a Traveller by Italo Calvino. Edit: I nearly forgot! Helen Oyeyemi. I've read two of her books, but I'm sure they are all equally weird so take your pick. Edit 2: Oh, wait: Ice by Anna Kavan. (I read a lot of weird literature, alright? 😅
Very interesting take on Jaws. I've watched the movie (obviously) but did not read the book. It sounds like this may be the perfect example of the movie being better than the book.
Some very interesting titles here! Further to your list, I can recommend the Korean sci-fi novel 'The Cabinet' by Un-su Kim for a bizarre but very entertaining read. And if you really want your mind blown, check out Flann O'Brien's 'The Third Policeman', a humorous and surreal philosophical novel that is probably the weirdest thing I've read.
I'd say In Watermelon Sugar is more about the 60s/70s counterculture vibe than a narrative. (I went to a grad school where some of Brautigan's friends were teachers.)
Weirdest for me is probably “Dhalgren”. I still have no idea what it was about. “Wicked” is also extremely bizarre. I still don’t know what I think about it. I don’t know if I liked it or hated it, but it’s weird. I never saw the Broadway play and never will, but I can’t imagine it’s the same at all. The weirdest western I’ve read is a Brautigan: “The Hawkline Monster”.
The only Silverberg I've read so far was Dying Inside and it IS weird but it was also so profound do me. It left me reeling. Highly recommend. And it may also involve LSD... at least a little bit. haha
Cassandra Khaw is an author i really want to read more from. Loved her Vampire the Masquerade Fine Print novella (narrated by the amazing narrator Neil Kaplan).
That's an impressive list. But I'm afraid it's incomplete. And that is because you didn't mention A Voyage to Arcturus. By far the weirdest thing I've ever read. The main character goes to another planet where there are new primary colors and he grows new organs from his body that give him new sensory experiences. And that's where it STARTS to get weird. BTW do you do debut authors? Is there a way to contact you for a possible ARC of a newly published book? Thanks--great stuff.
I’ve not heard of that one! It does sound very weird. I have an email in the description you can reach out to. My general policy is I’m more than happy to talk about a book from any author in my monthly wrap ups but no promises about reading it.
Hahahah honoured to have inspired you, hopefully no long term damage was done with the book
Haha no at all!
I recall a number of series, where as it gets weirder, fans say it gets better. There's something about going all out in that direction that is oddly appealing.
I’m not against weird at all! Like you said sometimes as a series explores more and becomes its own thing it gets better
Jaws 🤣 The shark is symbolic of looming middle age mundania 🤪
That’s a fair point
Salt Grows Heavy broke my heart.
I can totally understand why
I feel like those weird books always stick with you for so long, for better or worse hahah. Cassandra Khaw is still an author I want to try, but it's good to know what to expect lol. I think some of the weirdest books I have read are Vita Nostra by Sergey and Marina Dyachenko (loved it on audio), The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, Earthlings by Suyaka Murata and Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica. And Piranesi is also quite weird, tbh.
Tender is the Flesh has been on my tbr for years!
The weirdest books I have read, in no particular order (although I think Flann O'Brien is the weirdest by a magnitude of a lot): "The Last Days of New Paris" and "This Census-Taker" by China Mieville, The Fifth Head of Cerberus by Gene Wolfe, every Flann O'Brien novel (but I would only recommend The Third Policeman and The Dalkey Archive), L'Emprièr's Dictionary by Lawrence Norfolk, Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace, and as mentioned by others: House of Leaves, Geek Love, Gormenghast. Honorable mention to Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield and If On a Winter's Night a Traveller by Italo Calvino. Edit: I nearly forgot! Helen Oyeyemi. I've read two of her books, but I'm sure they are all equally weird so take your pick. Edit 2: Oh, wait: Ice by Anna Kavan. (I read a lot of weird literature, alright? 😅
Nothing wrong with reading weird stuff!
I love weird books!!
Majestic 311
The Library at Mount Char
Leap to mind 🤔
Fun video 🎉
Thanks for the suggestions!
Geek Love by Katherine Dunn. About circus folk... Ever see the movie Freaks? (It'll be on around Halloween.)
I’ve not seen it but I have heard about that movie. I actually have another book on the tbr that is also about the same kind of thing!
Geek Love is one of the best books I’ve ever read. What a story!
Very interesting take on Jaws. I've watched the movie (obviously) but did not read the book. It sounds like this may be the perfect example of the movie being better than the book.
The movie is so much better than the book
When it comes to weird books I think House of Leaves clears
Is that the one that the print is different depending on the pages.
@@TomOrange yes
Some very interesting titles here! Further to your list, I can recommend the Korean sci-fi novel 'The Cabinet' by Un-su Kim for a bizarre but very entertaining read. And if you really want your mind blown, check out Flann O'Brien's 'The Third Policeman', a humorous and surreal philosophical novel that is probably the weirdest thing I've read.
Thank you for the suggestions! I’ll look into them
I'd say In Watermelon Sugar is more about the 60s/70s counterculture vibe than a narrative. (I went to a grad school where some of Brautigan's friends were teachers.)
I believe you are correct. From the research i did on the book after the fact it is suppose to be about counter culture
Weirdest for me is probably “Dhalgren”. I still have no idea what it was about. “Wicked” is also extremely bizarre. I still don’t know what I think about it. I don’t know if I liked it or hated it, but it’s weird. I never saw the Broadway play and never will, but I can’t imagine it’s the same at all. The weirdest western I’ve read is a Brautigan: “The Hawkline Monster”.
I have not heard of most of these. Ill have to investigate
The only Silverberg I've read so far was Dying Inside and it IS weird but it was also so profound do me. It left me reeling. Highly recommend. And it may also involve LSD... at least a little bit. haha
I would like to read some more his writing
First time I see someone talk abt Watermelon Sugar who isn’t Harry Styles haha
Its some of my favorite trivia. Everyone is so surprised by it.
Dino book is on the list 🤓
I own but haven't read Employees or Watermelon 🤔
Whenever you read them let me know what you think!
Cassandra Khaw is an author i really want to read more from. Loved her Vampire the Masquerade Fine Print novella (narrated by the amazing narrator Neil Kaplan).
I kind of do want to read more from her
Interesting list! Some of these sound super interesting, I'll have to check them out! Have you tried Gormenghast as yet?
I have not tried that one
@@TomOrange definitely one to look at for weird fiction. It's a classic of the genre.
That's an impressive list. But I'm afraid it's incomplete. And that is because you didn't mention A Voyage to Arcturus. By far the weirdest thing I've ever read. The main character goes to another planet where there are new primary colors and he grows new organs from his body that give him new sensory experiences. And that's where it STARTS to get weird. BTW do you do debut authors? Is there a way to contact you for a possible ARC of a newly published book? Thanks--great stuff.
I’ve not heard of that one! It does sound very weird. I have an email in the description you can reach out to. My general policy is I’m more than happy to talk about a book from any author in my monthly wrap ups but no promises about reading it.
@@TomOrange Fair enough. I'll shoot you an email and give you my best pitch lol.
Thomas Pynchon is probably fuming that he didn’t get a spot on this list.
I need to google this person
Jaws actually doesn't sound weird, but very boring
some of it is boring
sending love from Pakistan Tom
Glad you are here!
The Fifth season was hot garbage.
It was not my favorite either