Books matching: absurdities of american society
4 result(s)
- #1
'The Masters of Atlantis' by Charles Portis is a humorous and eccentric tale about the Gnomon Society, a fictional 20th-century initiatory order that arrived in the US following World War I. The story follows the adventures and misadventures of Corporal Lamar Jimmerson, who becomes involved with the society after being entrusted with a sacred text from Atlantis. As Jimmerson spreads the teachings of Gnomonism, he recruits new adherents like Sidney Hen and Austin Popper, leading to a series of comical and absurd situations. The writing style of the book is described as consistent, engaging, and masterful, with a tone that balances humor and satire.
YOUNG LAMAR JIMMERSON went to France in 1917 with the American Expeditionary Forces, serving first with the Balloon Section, stumbling about in open fields holding one end of a long rope, and then lat... - #2
'Hocus Pocus' by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. is a novel that follows the story of Eugene Debs Hartke, a Vietnam veteran caught up in a series of events at an odd college adjacent to a massive prison. The narrative is a first-person account filled with cynical outlooks, dark humor, and social commentary. The story jumps around in time, focusing on Eugene's life, observations, and interactions with a slightly anti-establishment perspective. Vonnegut's writing style in this book is described as circular storytelling, filled with random humor and subtle creativity, keeping readers engaged and on their toes.
The plot of 'Hocus Pocus' delves into themes of satire, social commentary, and intellectual musings, exploring the absurdities and inadequacies of society. The narrative evolves through various threads and locations, centered around Tarkington Prison, with a complex and somewhat hard-to-get-into structure initially. As the story progresses into a disastrous prison riot overtaking the college and town, the rhythm of storytelling becomes clear, revealing Vonnegut's trademark wry commentary on human nature, making the book funny, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking.
MY NAME IS Eugene Debs Hartke, and I was born in 1940. I was named at the behest of my maternal grandfather, Benjamin Wills, who was a Socialist and an Atheist, and nothing but a groundskeeper at Butl... - #3
"IQ84" by Mike Dickenson is a satirical novel that delves into a chaotic world where a deadly virus spreads during the Presidential campaign, causing those with an IQ over 84 to have their heads explode. The plot follows a diverse cast of characters including a stoner, stripper, FBI agent, preacher, geek, Satan worshipper, and more as they race to Washington D.C. amidst the pandemic. The writing style is described as madcap humor akin to the film 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World', filled with zany antics and sharp satire on American politics and culture.
- #4
Trout Fishing in America is a unique and unconventional book that intertwines tales of trout fishing with reflections on American society in the 1960s. The narrative style is fragmented, mixing prose poetry with fictional autobiography, creating a surreal and dreamlike reading experience. The book explores themes of nature, countercultural critique, and the collision of frontier archetypes with market consumerism, all presented with humor and sarcasm.
Around the base of the statue are four words facing the directions of this world, to the east WELCOME, to the west WELCOME, to the north WELCOME, to the south WELCOME. Just behind the statue are three...