In the anonymous questions, some kind person asks for good, non-woke book recommendations similar to Franzen’s Crossroads.
Thank you, the person who asked. I love the anonymous questions.
In recent years, the best books I have read in English in the realist tradition (which I’m guessing is what you prefer based on the mention of Franzen) are Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver and Ohio by Stephen Markley. I’m looking very hard, believe me, and the moment there’s anything else of value, I’ll mention it.
Last week, I plowed through the opening pages of at least 15 recent releases. None of them remotely attracted me. But I’ll keep looking, I promise.
Recently, I’ve been getting into Australian literature. It has a flavor all its own among Anglo literatures. Madelaine Lucas, Helen Garner – the writing is so bare, so austere, so absolutely controlled. Unadorned, direct, and somber. You’d think, from that writing, that not a ray of sunshine ever broke through the iron-grey skies. And most importantly, nobody is trying to be funny.
I like books that are the exact opposite of my personality, which is actually well in keeping with the theory of self-presentation. (Which is, briefly, that your biggest strength is the opposite of what you show to the world).
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