The book follows the lives of two Jewish cousins, one a skilled escape artist and the other a talented artist, before, during, and after World War II. They create a popular comic book superhero, which brings them fame and fortune. However, their success is complicated by personal struggles, including the escape artist's attempts to rescue his family from Nazi-occupied Prague and the artist's struggle with his sexuality. The narrative explores themes of escapism, identity, and the golden age of comic books.

The book follows the life of Calliope Stephanides, a Greek-American hermaphrodite, who narrates her epic story starting from her grandparents' incestuous relationship in a small village in Asia Minor to her own self-discovery in 20th century America. The novel delves into themes of identity, gender, and the American dream, while also providing a detailed history of Detroit through the eyes of three generations of an immigrant family.

"A Visit from the Goon Squad" is an interconnected collection of stories about a group of characters whose lives intersect in the music industry. The narrative spans several decades, tracing the characters' journey from their youth to middle age. It explores themes of time, change, and the impact of technology on human relationships and the music industry. The novel is known for its experimental structure, including a chapter written as a PowerPoint presentation.

The novel is set in a graveyard over the course of a single night and is narrated by a dazzling chorus of voices. The story is centered around the death of President Lincoln's 11-year-old son Willie, who resides in the Bardo, a transitional state between life and rebirth in Tibetan tradition. As Willie interacts with the other spirits stuck in this realm, his father visits the crypt to mourn, causing a struggle among the ghosts over the boy's soul. The narrative explores themes of grief, the impermanence of life, and the unresolved issues that keep us from moving on.

This novel follows a successful African-American academic and author who, frustrated by the publishing industry's expectations and stereotypes around black literature, pens a satirical novel under a pseudonym. The novel becomes a huge success, forcing him to grapple with the unexpected consequences of his critique on the industry. He is also dealing with personal issues, including the disappearance of his sister and his mother's declining health. It's a complex exploration of identity, race, and the literary world.

The novel is a sprawling epic that spans the period from the 1893 World's Fair to the years following World War I. It follows the stories of several characters including the anarchist Traverse family, a group of balloonists, a detective, and a mathematician. The book explores themes of anarchism, capitalism, and technology, and incorporates elements of science fiction, adventure, and historical fiction. It is noted for its complex structure and dense, multifaceted narrative.

"Oblivion: Stories" is a collection of eight thought-provoking short stories that delve into the complexities of the human mind and the struggle to understand reality. The stories explore a range of themes, from corporate culture and advertising to insomnia and existential dread, often blurring the line between reality and illusion. The characters are often trapped in their own minds, wrestling with their perceptions and struggling to make sense of their world. The narratives are filled with intricate details, complex narratives, and challenging themes, reflecting the author's unique style and keen insight into the human condition.

"Chronic City" is a novel by Jonathan Lethem that follows the life of Chase Insteadman, a former child actor who has become a socialite in Manhattan. The story takes place in a surreal version of New York City where a mysterious fog has settled over the city and strange events occur. Along with a cast of eccentric characters, including a cultural critic, a reclusive author, and a giant tiger, Chase navigates the complexities of love, friendship, and the meaning of reality in a world that seems to be constantly shifting.

"Meteor in the Madhouse" is a posthumously published collection of interconnected novellas that delve into the complexities of African American life and identity. The narrative weaves through the experiences of various characters, primarily focusing on the protagonist's reflections on his life, his relationships with others, and his quest for understanding amidst the chaos of the world around him. The book explores themes of memory, history, and the interplay of reality and fiction, all set against the backdrop of the civil rights movement and the rich cultural tapestry of African American heritage. Through lyrical prose and a non-linear structure, the work challenges readers to contemplate the nature of storytelling and the power of the human spirit to endure and make sense of life's tumultuous journey.

The novel follows a young American poet on a prestigious fellowship in Madrid, Spain, where he grapples with his work, relationships, and sense of self. He struggles with his own perceptions of authenticity, both in his poetry and his personal life, while navigating the cultural and language barriers of a foreign country. The protagonist's experiences are marked by a constant tension between reality and artifice, as he questions the value and impact of his own art in the face of world events.

This novel is a satirical look at modern-day America, focusing on a tech mogul who purchases a large portion of the state of Michigan to create a utopia for the wealthy. The narrative is told through the perspectives of a variety of characters, including the mogul's personal assistant, a porn star, and a teenage girl. The novel explores themes of capitalism, technology, and the American dream, all while presenting a critique of the extreme wealth and power held by a select few in society.

"Vanishing Point" is a novel that defies traditional narrative structure, presenting a stream-of-consciousness collage of anecdotes, quotes, biographical sketches, and philosophical musings. The book, devoid of a conventional plot, follows an unnamed protagonist, referred to as "Author," who is compiling a manuscript of historical and literary trivia, personal reflections, and a medley of obscure facts. As the protagonist grapples with themes of mortality, art, and the act of writing itself, the novel becomes a meditation on the human condition and the elusive nature of meaning in a seemingly disconnected world. The fragmented style challenges readers to piece together coherence from the disparate elements, mirroring the protagonist's own quest for understanding and significance.

In "Telephone," a narrative unfolds around a man named Zach Wells, a geologist and college professor whose life is disrupted by a series of personal crises, including his daughter's rare genetic disease. As he grapples with the emotional and financial toll of his daughter's illness, Zach purchases a jacket on eBay that contains a note pleading for help, believed to be from a woman in a factory in New Mexico. This discovery leads him on an unexpected journey, compelling him to take action and confront ethical dilemmas that challenge his previously stable existence. The novel explores themes of communication, connection, and the impact of seemingly small, random events on our lives.

This novel follows a young writer living in New York City who is struggling with drug addiction and emotional disconnection. He embarks on a series of failed relationships and travels to Taipei, Taiwan to visit his parents. Throughout the book, he tries to find meaning and purpose in his life, exploring themes of identity, memory, and the digital age. Despite his struggles, the protagonist's journey is filled with humor and insight, providing a unique perspective on modern life.

This book is an unconventional narrative that eschews traditional plot and character development, instead presenting a stream of anecdotes, quotes, and musings on mortality, art, and literature. The protagonist, an elderly author, contemplates his life and the looming presence of death as he works on what he believes will be his final novel. Through a collage of fragmented thoughts and intellectual references, the text explores themes of creativity, the challenges of writing, and the solitary nature of the artistic endeavor, all while blurring the lines between the author's reality and the literary world he inhabits.

In this introspective novel, the protagonist, a writer living in New York City, grapples with the concept of time and the potential of art amidst personal and global uncertainties. As he navigates a series of transformative experiences, including a potential medical diagnosis, the prospect of fatherhood through artificial insemination with a close friend, and the impact of Hurricane Sandy, he reflects on the intersections between his life, his work, and the socio-political climate. The narrative weaves between reality and fiction, exploring the fluidity of relationships, the anxiety of living in a world on the brink of climate catastrophe, and the role of literature in shaping human experience.

"Call Me Zebra" is a novel about a young woman, who is the last in a line of self-proclaimed "anarchists, atheists, and autodidacts," embarking on a grand intellectual journey. After her father's death, she retraces the path they took as refugees from Iran to New York, immersing herself in literature and philosophy to cope with her grief. The protagonist's eccentric perspective and her passionate, often humorous, engagement with the works of literature make for a unique exploration of exile, art, and identity.