mobile
michel butor

this text is subtitled “a study for a representation of the united states”. considered a fictional work, this is a far better exploration than baudrillard’s pompous text america. butor manages to weave historical writings with culled fictional snippets, advertising pamphlets, and atmospheric tableaux. in terms of approach, this text could be called a collage or a work of appropriation. the skill of the composition and the syntax of the organization creates a very spatial textual experience; one feels as though they are roving the united states upon their own whimsy. this is a vast deployment of the written word.

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guns, germs, and steel
jared diamond

this is the standard by which i judge all histories. as i carefully select the texts that i have time to read in the remainder of my life, i attempt to make sure that they will enlighten me on their subject to the extent that this tome does on everything – that is to say, why this world exists as it does. no other non-fiction has made me weep with such pleasure; i hope this book is true.

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gravity’s rainbow
thomas pynchon

i tried to read this book in highschool when i bought it from the now defunct ‘annies books’. i got discouraged and traded it back in for heart of darkness. in college i bought it again after learning how to read dull books in the ulysses course at georgia tech and read pynchon’s text in its entirety while visiting graduate schools in seattle and los angeles. this is the only book that has ever made me laugh out loud.

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addendum: i have now laughed out loud at dan wakefield’s going all the way.