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Hands-down the most deranged and hilarious book Iâve ever read. Vidalâs style and his mind are unmatched! Structurally itâs very unique and he called it âaprès post-structuralismâ
Dec 21, 2024
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Oh I am so due to read Gore Vidal, this is exactly where I am going to start
Dec 21, 2024
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If you know me you know I am Gore Vidalâs number one fan but for somebody who was known for being so coldly and precisely self-aware, he was often simultaneously totally lacking in self awareness. He created elaborate copium narratives about himself just as much as if not more than the people he accused of doing so and seemed to exist in a perpetual and unyielding state of self-deception and repression, with a very interesting definition of what it means to be truthful. Thatâs a major part of what makes him so fascinating to me.
I love his hateration towards Henry Miller because half of it is real and accurate and half of it reads like narcissistic projectionâcritiquing Miller for his arrogance and elaborate self-mythologizing when his own biography ended up being entitled Empire of the Selfâand all of it is hilarious and cutting in his typical fashion.
âYet Henry never seems to do anything for anyone, other than to provide moments of sexual glory which we must take on faith. He does, however, talk a lot and the people he knows are addicted to his conversation. âDonât stop talking nowâŚplease,â begs a woman whose life is being changed, as Henry in a manic mood tells her all sorts of liberating things like âNothing would be bad or ugly or evilâ if we really let ourselves go. But itâs hard to make people understand that.â To which the only answer is that of another straight man in the text who says, âYou said it, Henry. Jesus, having you around is like getting a shot in the arm.â For a man who boasts of writing nothing but the truth, I find it more than odd that not once in the course of a long narrative does anyone say, âHenry, youâre full of shit.â It is possible, of course, that no one ever did, but I doubt it.â
I love his hateration towards Henry Miller because half of it is real and accurate and half of it reads like narcissistic projectionâcritiquing Miller for his arrogance and elaborate self-mythologizing when his own biography ended up being entitled Empire of the Selfâand all of it is hilarious and cutting in his typical fashion.
âYet Henry never seems to do anything for anyone, other than to provide moments of sexual glory which we must take on faith. He does, however, talk a lot and the people he knows are addicted to his conversation. âDonât stop talking nowâŚplease,â begs a woman whose life is being changed, as Henry in a manic mood tells her all sorts of liberating things like âNothing would be bad or ugly or evilâ if we really let ourselves go. But itâs hard to make people understand that.â To which the only answer is that of another straight man in the text who says, âYou said it, Henry. Jesus, having you around is like getting a shot in the arm.â For a man who boasts of writing nothing but the truth, I find it more than odd that not once in the course of a long narrative does anyone say, âHenry, youâre full of shit.â It is possible, of course, that no one ever did, but I doubt it.â
Feb 12, 2025
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đstories over time of a cast of characters loosely linked through the music industry
In a post-modern style like not too dissimilar to vonnegut
each chapter can be seen almost as a stand alone vignette
edit: after re-reading your ask, Iâll admit not the weirdest book, but itâs also definitely not run of the mill narrative fiction.
If you want weird, read Naked Lunch by William Burroughs. One of the most banned books of all time for a reason, grotesque, obscene, challenging, but imo definitely worth the read and Iâll be rereading it sometime. Helps to read along with a study guide to make sure youâre following whatâs going on.
In a post-modern style like not too dissimilar to vonnegut
each chapter can be seen almost as a stand alone vignette
edit: after re-reading your ask, Iâll admit not the weirdest book, but itâs also definitely not run of the mill narrative fiction.
If you want weird, read Naked Lunch by William Burroughs. One of the most banned books of all time for a reason, grotesque, obscene, challenging, but imo definitely worth the read and Iâll be rereading it sometime. Helps to read along with a study guide to make sure youâre following whatâs going on.
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đgreat book if you're a freak like me. little horror fiction novel about gay serial killers and their intertwining love lives in 90's new orleans. people call this novel one of the grossest most shocking books of all time, so naturally i had to read it. i devoured the book in the span of three days and loved every second of it (despite how scary it is haha). super interesting commentary about living with aids and fascinating portrayals of the psyche of a serial killer. wouldn't read this one if you are at all squeamish, it's very descriptive in its gore and unflinchingly real. this book reminded me of if an ottessa moshfegh novel had a fucked up gorey baby with a gregg araki movie.
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It lends a reflective and wistful tone to written communications imoâŚ
Jul 10, 2025
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My dad teases me about how when I was a little kid, my favorite thing to do when I was on the landline phone with somebodyâbe it a relative or one of my best friendsâwas to breathlessly describe the things that were in my bedroom so that they could have a mental picture of everything I loved and chose to surround myself with, and where I sat at that moment in time. Perfectly Imperfect reminds me of that so thanks for always listening and for sharing with me too đ
Feb 23, 2025
3d ago