Top Ten Tuesday: My Favorite Topic


As per the regularly scheduled programming on this blog, this is Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. The topic this week is: Top Ten Underrated Books (books you can't believe aren't more popular, books that are more obscure, etc.)  I'm totally into this topic, and I think I've answered it a couple of times for the Literary Blog Hop, but I'm always happy to bring attention to my favorite literary underdogs.

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10.  I am not finished with this book, but I wanted some new blood on my top ten, so I think that more people should read this book. I will give the disclaimer that it is definitely not for everyone, so be sure to read some finished reviews before checking it out.  But, when I do get around to writing my review, I will likely be saying that this is one of the freshest voices I've read in quite a while.





9. DeLillo is my favorite author, or at least that is what I tell people.  I almost chose White Noise for the list because I don't see much of it around the blogosphere, but I think this is actually one of his most under-read and underrated.  It is about football like the more popular, and much longer, Underworld is about baseball: kind of, but not really at all.




8. I read a lot of classics blogs and don't see much of McTeague.  This novel is not very long, but is kind of epic in scope.  It verges on the ridiculous and the melodramatic, but it isn't like anything you've read before, I promise.







7. This one is for the dystopian fans.  I'm not sure why more people don't read this since it is such a popular genre.  Zamyatin's book has much in common with 1984 and Brave New World.  I read it in a class called Satire in Literature and Film and I remembered liking it as much as those other more popular dystopias.






6. Anne Carson got some attention for her book Nox, which was part of the 2010 Morning News Tournament of Books.  I reviewed this earlier book in May and I know that it is going to be on my top books of the year list.  It is experimental and wonderful and playful and more people should read it.







5. Defoe's Moll is more fun than Robinson Crusoe  in my humble opinion, although they are good read as a pair.

4. So, TS isn't good, like, "I really want to cuddle up with a blanket a read this book because it is so good."  It's more like, "Holy cows!  Are you sure this isn't some kind of brilliant postmodern masterpiece examining the nature of subjectivity and the role of reproduction? It was written in 1759? Say what?"


3. Maira Kalman is good like, I wish I could eat the book good, because I'm sure it would taste like cream puffs and rainbows and hugs.  All that, and she is really thoughtful.  And quirky.  Here is my gushy review of this one.





2.  I know, I know.  Moby Dick underrated?  Don't I mean overrated?  No, I do not.  Melville's crazy whaling book might be one of the most difficult and trying reading experiences a person can have (I said might).   However, I really believe that the pay off is worth.  I'm not sure I want to read it again (I kind of do), but I almost always want to talk about it.

1.  Just trust me.  So good.

Comments

  1. I've heard of We before, but only because it came up in a class. And even then I didn't actually read it; another student was writing his paper on it and I did some peer reviewing with him. It sounded interesting then but I forgot about it so thanks for the reminder!

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  2. We is a great read. I'm glad you picked it!

    Check out my Top 10!

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  3. Moll Flanders is on my TBR! I have picked it up sooooo many times but never got around to reading it.

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  4. Moby Dick is one of those books that gets such a bad rap I want to pick it up and read it already just to see what all the fuss is about. Great list :)

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  5. Wow, love your list! And so happy to discover a new blog. Thanks for commenting on mine. :-)

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  6. So much to say about your list! Tristram Shandy is one of the only books that I just couldn't bring myself to finish because it was too awful, BUT I was reading it in the second week of my English degree, a harsh and unfair book to assign to scare the little freshers. Also, I know what you mean about Moby Dick, I found it amazing when I read it, took reams of notes on it and everything, and I love to be able to say now that I've read Moby Dick! AND I've had White Noise to read for a really long time now (it was assigned in the same unit as Tristram Shandy, and I somehow never got round to reading it...)
    So- you could say I liked your list a fair bit! Hehe

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  7. Great list! [: I have only read one on your list, but they all sound really good, so I have to add some to my to be read pile.

    Erin @ Let's Evaluate

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  8. Hey, I'm trying to pick one book from everyone's top ten today and I'm going to have to go with We.

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  9. Yes, I should have included a Maira Kalman. I love her work.

    Here's my Top Ten post for this week: Top Ten Underappreciated Books
    And don't forget to stop in and sign up to win in the Readerbuzz August Giveaway!

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  10. Unfortunately, I had a rather unpleasant experience with Moby Dick, and by unpleasant I actually mean that I never plan to read it again... Although, I do appreciate it’s literary significance and that’s great that you think it’s underrated!!!

    Also, thanks for the tip on McTeague. I’ve never heard of this one, but I love to try new classics!

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  11. Great list! White Noise is also one of my favorites of DeLillo's, though I haven't read underworld yet.

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