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All That Is is a novel written by James Salter and published in 2013. The story follows Philip Bowman, a book editor, as he navigates the landscape of love and the world of publishing. The novel runs from the end of World War II through the latter half of the 20th century. As Bowman moves through different phases of his life, he encounters various women. Each represents different facets of love and desire. From his first love to his failed...
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Pynchon’s Mason & Dixon follows the adventures of two historical figures, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon. The two were surveyors and astronomers tasked with establishing the boundary line between Pennsylvania and Maryland in the 18th century. Pynchon employs the language of the Enlightenment period helping to recreate the atmosphere of that era. From the novel’s first page: Snow-Balls have flown their Arcs, starr’d the Sides of Outbuildings, as of Cousins, carried Hats away into the brisk Wind off Delaware,— the...
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What would any of our high school educations be without Mr. Vonnegut, a ubiquitous favorite among our English teachers. Breakfast of Champions is set in the fictional town of Midland City. It’s where Dwayne Hoover’s life begins to unravel as he becomes increasingly unstable and delusional. Kilgore Trout, unaware of his importance to Dwayne’s situation, arrives in the same city. He’s there for an arts festival. Vonnegut explores a wide range of themes, including free will, mental illness, capitalism, and...
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Walter Mosley wrote and published Devil in a Blue Dress in 1990. It is the first book in the Easy Rawlins noir detective series. Set in Los Angeles in the 1940s, the story revolves around the protagonist, Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins, as he becomes entangled in a web of crime and corruption. The novel begins with Easy Rawlins, a Black American World War II veteran, who is recently laid off from work. Desperate for money to pay his mortgage, he accepts...
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Cormac McCarthy published Blood Meridian in 1985. Set in the mid-19th century, the story follows a runaway known as “the Kid” who joins a band of ruthless scalp hunters. The narrative centers around the Kid’s experiences with the gang, led by the enigmatic and brutal Judge Holden. As they venture into the lawless violent frontier they take part in relentless acts of violence. They engage in massacres, scalping, and other atrocities committed against Native Americans and Mexican settlers. Blood Meridian...
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Thomas Pynchon wrote V. in 1963. The narrative follows two interconnected storylines that unfold across time and continents. The first storyline of Pynchon’s V. centers around Benny Profane, a disenchanted sailor. Benny becomes entangled in the lives of a group of eccentric individuals known as the Whole Sick Crew. Profane navigates a chaotic and absurd world filled with bizarre characters and strange occurrences. He often finds himself in peculiar and humorous situations. The second storyline revolves around Herbert Stencil, an...
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The Martian Chronicles is a collection of interrelated science fiction short stories written by Ray Bradbury and published in 1950. The book presents a series of loosely connected narratives that depict humanity’s colonization and exploration of Mars, as well as the complex interactions between humans and the native Martians. The stories in The Martian Chronicles span a wide range of themes and periods, creating a tapestry of Martian history. Bradbury explores topics such as the allure of space exploration, the...
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Philip K. Dick wrote Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? in 1968. Set in a post-apocalyptic future where most of Earth’s animal species have become extinct, the novel . Humans have emigrated to other planets. The remaining inhabitants on Earth strive to own and care for live animals as a status symbol. The central protagonist is Rick Deckard. Deckard is a bounty hunter who retires rogue androids, known as replicants. The replicants have escaped from off-world colonies and returned to...
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The Moviegoer is a novel written by Walker Percy and published in 1961. It tells the story of Binx Bolling, a young man living in New Orleans who is grappling with a sense of alienation and a search for meaning in his life. Binx Bolling, the protagonist and narrator, comes from a privileged Southern family but feels disconnected from the world around him. He finds solace in going to the movies, seeking refuge in the fantasy world of the silver...
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T.C. Boyle published The Road to Wellville in 1993. Set in the early 20th century, it explores the eccentric and often controversial practices of health enthusiasts in the pursuit of well-being. The story revolves around two main characters. Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, a real-life figure and the inventor of corn flakes and Will Lightbody, a fictional character seeking a cure for his chronic digestive issues. Dr. Kellogg runs the Battle Creek Sanitarium, a health resort promoting holistic healing and physical...
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Carlos Ruiz Zafón published The Angel’s Game in 2008. It is set in 1920s Barcelona. It is a prequel to Zafón’s earlier work, The Shadow of the Wind , but can be read as a standalone story. The novel delves into themes of love, obsession, and the blurred lines between reality and fiction. The story follows David Martín, a young writer struggling to make ends meet as a journalist. He receives an offer from a mysterious publisher named Andreas Corelli...
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Philip Roth wrote American Pastoral in 1997. Set against the backdrop of post-World War II America, the story explores the disintegration of the American Dream through the lens of one family. American Pastoral centers around Seymour “Swede” Levov, a successful Jewish-American businessman and former star athlete. Swede seemingly embodies the American Dream, with a beautiful wife named Dawn and a daughter named Merry. However, the tranquil façade of Swede’s life is shattered when Merry becomes involved in radical political activities...
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Elizabeth Strout wrote Olive Kitteridge in 2008. It is a collection of interconnected stories that revolve around the complex and often prickly character of Olive Kitteridge. Olive is a retired schoolteacher living in the small coastal town of Crosby, Maine. The novel delves into the lives of the residents of Crosby, with Olive serving as the thread connecting the narratives. Through a series of episodic chapters, the reader gains insight into Olive’s struggles. Olive is depicted as a strong-willed and...
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Thomas Pynchon published Inherent Vice in 2009. Set in 1970s California, the story follows private detective Larry “Doc” Sportello as he becomes caught up in a complex and psychedelic web of mystery, conspiracy, and counter cultural chaos. The novel unfolds in the made-up Gordita Beach, where Doc leads an easy and mostly aimless existence. When Doc’s former girlfriend Shasta Fay Hepworth shows up one day seeking help, his life takes an unexpected turn. She knows of a plot to kidnap...
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A few topics covered in Consider the Lobster : Do lobsters feel pain? Did Franz Kafka have a funny bone? What is John Updike’s deal, anyway? And what happens when adult video starlets meet their fans in person? David Foster Wallace answers these questions and more in essays that are also enthralling narrative adventures. Whether covering the three-ring circus of John McCain’s 2000 presidential race, plunging into the wars between dictionary writers, or confronting the World’s Largest Lobster Cooker at...
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