This week’s book chat topic is “what is the strangest book you’ve ever read?”
Without a doubt, the strangest book I have ever read is Naked Lunch by William Burroughs.
The one word that aptly describes this book is: disturbing.
For a couple of years, I was on this huge kick of reading works by the Beat Generation authors. It all started when I read Howl as an undergrad, then tore into works by Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. They added the fuel to my post-adolescent/early adult existential crisis.
I was just about done with this stage when I decided to read Naked Lunch. It had much acclaim and my interest was peaked.
This book made no kind of sense. It is non-linear and extremely disturbing. There is graphic violence, drug use and pedophilia.
I keep a pretty open mind about what I read. I do not shy away from gruesome material, I figure there is always something to be learned. Although I generally like some sort of structure to what I read, I can appreciate the stream of consciousness and untraditional flow.
However, this book is just a drug-induced prattle. It was as frustrating as listening to a meth addict, schizophrenic or anyone else not in a logical frame of mind, ramble on and on about their paranoid delusions.
I barely made it through the whole book, and when I did, I announced to no one in particular, that I was done reading books written by people who were high and I was finally over the Beat Generation.
I really liked this post on Your Favorite Book Sucks, it sums up my opinon pretty well on the book, especially this quote,
“Never have I felt so violated after reading a book—and I pride myself on being open-minded. Creepy, prostitute sex? Sure. Shooting heroin into your eyeballs and killing people who turn into insects? Why not. As long as there’s some tangible point to what you’re trying to say, then say it. There’s not a lot that’ll shock me, but even my warped mind started to beg for mercy after just a few chapters of Burroughs’s aimless, drug-fueled nightmares.”
What is the strangest book you have ever read?
Angie Eats Peace 
Hmmmm…now I almost want to read it just so I know!
Morbid curiosity! I would love to know what you think though, if you do happen to read it.
Yikes! This sounds very strange. But like Jessica said, i almost want to read it just because I’m curious.
I am definitely interested to hear others’ opinions on it, so let me know if you do end up reading it.
It does sound weird! I started to read a book once about a woman in a mental hospital that kind of reminds me of this It was so confusing and plot-less that I had to stop reading it.
I hear ya! I don’t usually quit books, but I don’t think I would spend my time on another one like this, again.
I would agree with “Naked Lunch,” except that I didn’t finish it! But I do find “House of Leaves” bizarre. Brilliant. But bizarre.
I was pretty close to quitting it, too!
Mine was Geek Love. It was soooo weird. But it was also awesome. I loved it!
I may need to check that out!