intimidating books project

[jinian]

Now that finals are over, it's time for me to -- well, first it's time for me to eat chocolate, try my new nose spray, and loaf about a lot, but then it's time for me to read dense, intimidating books. So far, the list is:
Moonwise, Greer Ilene Gilman
Dhalgren, Samuel R. Delany
Ulysses, James Joyce

(There seems to be something about intimidating books and one-word titles.)

So, what should I add to my list? Nominees should be at least novel-length and difficult to read in a short period of time due to sheer richness, like those vegan brownies Wim gets, or due to thoroughly unnerving language use.

Comments

[eub.livejournal.com]

More than one word: The Secret Service, Wendy Walker.

Dictionary of the Khazars intimidated me due to its structure.

Appleseed is linguistically dense enough so far. I'll tell you how it goes.

[rysmiel.livejournal.com]

Geoff Ryman's The Child Garden, definitely, if you've not already read it.

I've read both Moonwise and Dhalgren, and both were experiences I appreciated more than I enjoyed. Glad I read them, and may well read them again at some point, but I have no overwhelming urge to do so any time soon. I've not otoh read Ulysses yet, which considering what day it was yesterday I really should get around to. [ "Hi. I'm Leo Bloom. The next 24 hours are going to be the best documented in my life.. " ]

How are you with Umberto Eco ?

[jinian.livejournal.com]

The Child Garden is on my "eventually" list, but if it's intimidating I'll move it up. :)

I've liked Eco in the past, but haven't read any in a while. It seems like I must've been too young for it at the time, actually. Maybe I should reread Foucault's Pendulum.

[firecat]

One of the classics of said genre is Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon.

And one of the classic "dense, intimidating" authors is Gene Wolfe.

Neal Stephenson's The Diamond Age is pretty chewy but also moves along. As are China Miéville's Perdido Street Station and Neil Gaiman's American Gods.

Or if you want a really big challenge, there's always Proust...

[jinian.livejournal.com]

I've read The Diamond Age, and like it a lot. I am considering trying to tunnel into Quicksilver again, actually.

Which Wolfe would you recommend? I think Wim has several. And I know nothing about Proust.

[firecat]

Wolfe: I've read The Book of the New Sun series, but none of his other stuff yet.

Here is what looks like a good article on Proust. I haven't read him, he is just sort of a symbol of long, dense prose.

[joxn.livejournal.com]

Georges Perec's Life: A User's Manual. (Or if you read French, La vie: mode d'emploi -- and triple the intimidation factor :-7)