Okay, I'm looking for some works which fit one or more of the below criteria:
- Modern American social commentary - Satire - Witty humor, but with substance - Stupid and risque things that happen in a New York City - Fresh ideas and themes Any suggestions appreciated.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Define "modern," please. Would something like The Jungle qualify (if it had the other qualifications)?
Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :
New York City is a weirdly specific request. Take that out, and I could name half a dozen books right now. For example, have you read 'A Confederacy of Dunces'?
Posted by Celaeno (Member # 8562) on :
I just finished A Confederacy of Dunces last night. It was absolutely fantastic.
Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
Anything by Arthur Nersesian (if modern can include books set in the 80s) should serve your purpose.
Posted by The White Whale (Member # 6594) on :
Kurt Vonnegut.
Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
Too bad you want American. "How to Be a Canadian" and "Why I Hate Canadians" are awesome books that would fit if you subbed in Canada and Toronto.
Posted by nathannathan (Member # 10587) on :
If you want to hear all about the stupid and risque things that happen in a New York City limo, buy “Tales of a New York Limo Driver” by Nicky Testaforte.
Not only does the author tell amazing stories of sex, excess and stupidity, he also offers up a bunch of driving and travel tips, some very sarcastic and scathing. Typical New York attitude, excerpt at nylimotales.com/stories.html
Posted by Javert (Member # 3076) on :
"The God Delusion". It's a modern American social commentary (well, global, but it includes the US) and it is quite witty with a lot of substance.
Posted by Architraz Warden (Member # 4285) on :
"Bobos in Paradise" by David Brooks?
I think it matches most of the criteria.
Posted by vonk (Member # 9027) on :
Anything by Tom Robbins would fit the bill, except maybe the New York thing. I think only one or two mention stupid or risky (is that the same as risque?) things going on in the city. Other than that, though, I can almost guarantee that everything else on the list is more than well represented in all of his fiction.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
For New York, a horrid and popular novel by Jay McInerney: Bright Lights, Big City. Written in second person. (shudder)
Posted by Shmuel (Member # 7586) on :
David Rakoff has a couple of essay collections.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Also, for satire and humor, there is no one better(to me) than Evelyn Waugh. His novel "The Loved One" would also count as modern social commentary, but of the early Nineteenth Century, not too recent.
Posted by vonk (Member # 9027) on :
I would like to expand on my earlier suggestion by adding Skinny Legs and All, which has everything you're looking for in spades. By that I mean that there's lots of it. And it's fantastic. And you should read it. And one of the main characters is a sock. And he's my favorite.
Posted by Artemisia Tridentata (Member # 8746) on :
I just finished a "complete" colllection of Evelyn Waugh short stories. I thought I had an English F. Scott Fitzgerald. No American, No New York. But, certainly great satire and humor.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Actually, The Loved One is about Hollywood, and American culture. Pet cemetaries. Loads of fun!
Also, for dark humor(very dark) which is about new York State, is T.Corraghassen Boyle's "World's End."
Also, "Tortilla Curtain" is about the lives of Mexican immigrants who are trying to survive in posh California suburbs. Very depressing, but darkly funny, but a tough read for me.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I'm thinking there's a book by Chitra Bannerjee Divakaruni that meets those critera but can't remember which one. Or maybe it was by another Indian-American author and I happened to be reading it at the same time as I read a bunch of her books. Grrr, why can't I remember what it was?
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
You didn't specify Fiction or Non-Fiction
Posted by MattP (Member # 10495) on :
America (The Book) by Jon Stewart is pretty funny and it's somewhat educational
Posted by otterk10 (Member # 10463) on :
What about The Great Gadsby?
Posted by Earendil18 (Member # 3180) on :
America by Jon Stewart: Teacher's Edition has added funniness of a professor "correcting" his mistakes.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
You might enjoy anything by Christopher Moore. His stuff is somewhat satirical. I really liked his book Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
You know, I had a vague notion that the OP was a spammer, but I thought I was being paranoid. I decided to overcome my suspicions and welcome the new member. Hah!