Sam Lipsyte’s latest novel, Home Land, is the story of an underachiever New Jerseyite. Here, the author of The Subject Steve chooses some favorite works by more accomplished Garden Staters.
Sabbath’s Theater by Philip Roth (Vintage, $15). There are Sabbath’s Theater–type people and Human Stain–type people. I count myself among the former. Most of Roth’s novels take you to the edge of some kind of philosophical/cultural/emotional abyss. Sabbath’s Theater, the story of a lecherous, failed puppeteer (he was offered Big Bird), shoves you in.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
My Cousin, My Gastroenterologist by Mark Leyner (Vintage, $11). This gripping tale of “an infinitely hot and dense dot” broke the land speed record for American fiction back in the late ’80s with its lightning prose and genre-breaking (as opposed to -bending) design. Leyner, a true innovator, remains one of the funniest writers around.
Cutty, One Rock by August Kleinzahler (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $19). This is a beautiful new collection of personal essays by one of our country’s best poets. The famous title piece recounts the story of his charismatic, doomed older brother. Another essay includes a terrifying cameo by Kleinzahler’s boyhood neighbor in Fort Lee, N.J., comedian Buddy Hackett.
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume (Laurel Leaf, $6). “We must, we must, we must increase our bust.” Like many of my generation, I grew up reading Judy Blume novels. I loved them, and they made me the 13-year-old girl I am today.
The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane (Tor, $4). It might not be a bad time to revisit this granddaddy of the grunt’s-eye-view war novel, where the grandiose notions of politicians and generals fall by the wayside. Crane is also a testament to the dictum: Write what you don’t know. Bonus: This Jersey boy, like the true rock star he was, died at 28 in an English castle.
An American Dream
-
‘The worry is far from fanciful’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
How are Americans bracing for the end of SNAP?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Millions depend on supplemental federal food funds that are set to expire this month, as the government shutdown begins to be acutely felt
-
Book review: ‘Joyride: A Memoir’Feature A journalist’s story of how she chased and accomplished her dreams
-
Gilbert King’s 6 favorite books about the search for justiceFeature The journalist recommends works by Bryan Stevenson, David Grann, and more
-
Nathan Harris’ 6 favorite books that turn adventures into revelationsFeature The author recommends works by Kazuo Ishiguro, Ian McGuire, and more
-
Marisa Silver’s 6 favorite books that capture a lifetimeFeature The author recommends works by John Williams, Ian McEwan, and more
-
Lou Berney’s 6 favorite books with powerful storytellingFeature The award-winning author recommends works by Dorothy B. Hughes, James McBride, and more
-
Elizabeth Gilbert’s favorite books about women overcoming difficultiesFeature The author recommends works by Tove Jansson, Lauren Groff, and more
-
Fannie Flagg’s 6 favorite books that sparked her imaginationFeature The author recommends works by Johanna Spyri, John Steinbeck, and more
-
Jessica Francis Kane's 6 favorite books that prove less is moreFeature The author recommends works by Penelope Fitzgerald, Marie-Helene Bertino, and more
-
Keith McNally's 6 favorite books that have ambitious charactersFeature The London-born restaurateur recommends works by Leo Tolstoy, John le Carré, and more
