it's an absolute masterpiece, you're gonna love it -- he spent 20 years on it and it it shows. but yea, it barely got any press and i'm sure that's why. as far as i can tell he's always had pretty good politics, but he's definitely developed some...reactionary instincts, some geniuses are better encountered offline
Almost 10 years old and Private Citizens still remains hard-hitting and fresh. Much more so than a lot of newer novels. Cory's interactions with Roopa are so good.
it's so gruesome in ways that feel discordant with its peer group of MFA fiction but that's what sets it apart -- there's no other way to make that statement. once i started thinking about my top 10 i realized this was my top pick by a long shot
A lot of great tips here for future reads. For whatever reason I started with the last book in that McInerney trilogy—Bright Precious Days—and really liked it. I’ll have to hit Brightness Falls this winter. The PowerPoint at the end of Goon Squad almost ruined it for me. Future editions should leave that out. Any thoughts on Pynchon’s latest books, or Sam Lipsyte?
If I had to recommend one Lipsyte book, I’d go with Home Land, which is one of the few novels from this era that compares favorably to the great black comedies of the 60s.
Very fun to read this (and thank you for the kind shoutout!)…I find lists like this (deeply personal and idiosyncratic; not necessarily what's "best" but was the most psychologically/aesthetically significant) really fun to read.
I started reading Private Citizens when I moved back to San Francisco, but it hit too close to home—I do want to go back to it at some point. Also found your comment about Irish novels ("It just feels incurious to cite these when I’ve read so few others, like telling a Thai person your favorite dish is pad thai") quite funny. As it happens, Claire-Louise Bennett's Pond or Checkout 19 (or both?) would 100% be on my list of top 10 novels of the 21st century, but my Irish lit credentials still quite sparse (Sally Rooney + Naoise Dolan + Rachel Connolly + Colin Walsh + Rob Doyle). I think I'll eventually need to read Megan Nolan, Paul Murray, Colm Tóibín to get a sense of whatever the Irish literary zeitgeist is (and Claire Keegan?)
I didn't know that Passaro had a newish novel out. Will get it. That dude is so bitter in real life! I hope his novel is, too
Ordered it! It's on the way. Thanks!
it's an absolute masterpiece, you're gonna love it -- he spent 20 years on it and it it shows. but yea, it barely got any press and i'm sure that's why. as far as i can tell he's always had pretty good politics, but he's definitely developed some...reactionary instincts, some geniuses are better encountered offline
Almost 10 years old and Private Citizens still remains hard-hitting and fresh. Much more so than a lot of newer novels. Cory's interactions with Roopa are so good.
it's so gruesome in ways that feel discordant with its peer group of MFA fiction but that's what sets it apart -- there's no other way to make that statement. once i started thinking about my top 10 i realized this was my top pick by a long shot
A lot of great tips here for future reads. For whatever reason I started with the last book in that McInerney trilogy—Bright Precious Days—and really liked it. I’ll have to hit Brightness Falls this winter. The PowerPoint at the end of Goon Squad almost ruined it for me. Future editions should leave that out. Any thoughts on Pynchon’s latest books, or Sam Lipsyte?
thanks for reading! Brightness Falls is incredible. afraid i’ve never read pynchon or lipsyte!
actually i lied -- i read No One Left to Come Looking for You last year, thought it was really kitschy
If I had to recommend one Lipsyte book, I’d go with Home Land, which is one of the few novels from this era that compares favorably to the great black comedies of the 60s.
Nice to see Vince’s book getting some love.
it’s a masterpiece, deserved better
A lot of great recs on this list. I'm going to look up Lit Life
oh ross you'll love it — great beach read too
Very fun to read this (and thank you for the kind shoutout!)…I find lists like this (deeply personal and idiosyncratic; not necessarily what's "best" but was the most psychologically/aesthetically significant) really fun to read.
I started reading Private Citizens when I moved back to San Francisco, but it hit too close to home—I do want to go back to it at some point. Also found your comment about Irish novels ("It just feels incurious to cite these when I’ve read so few others, like telling a Thai person your favorite dish is pad thai") quite funny. As it happens, Claire-Louise Bennett's Pond or Checkout 19 (or both?) would 100% be on my list of top 10 novels of the 21st century, but my Irish lit credentials still quite sparse (Sally Rooney + Naoise Dolan + Rachel Connolly + Colin Walsh + Rob Doyle). I think I'll eventually need to read Megan Nolan, Paul Murray, Colm Tóibín to get a sense of whatever the Irish literary zeitgeist is (and Claire Keegan?)
yours was so great! felt fully justified in skipping the NYT's list after reading yours...
i'm trying to get into keegan/nolan/dolan this year too, they just feel like such cold-weather reads so i keep putting them off!