The Greatest American "Postmodern" Books of All Time

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This list represents a comprehensive and trusted collection of the greatest books. Developed through a specialized algorithm, it brings together 305 'best of' book lists to form a definitive guide to the world's most acclaimed books. For those interested in how these books are chosen, additional details can be found on the rankings page.

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Postmodern

Postmodernism is a literary movement that emerged in the mid-20th century, characterized by a rejection of traditional narrative structures and a focus on self-reflexivity and intertextuality. Postmodern literature often features fragmented narratives, unreliable narrators, and a blurring of the lines between reality and fiction. It is a genre that challenges the notion of a single, objective truth and instead embraces the idea of multiple perspectives and interpretations. Postmodern literature is often seen as a response to the modernist movement that preceded it, and it continues to be a popular and influential category for contemporary writers.

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  1. 26. The Hours by Michael Cunningham

    The novel is a reimagining of Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway" and follows three women from different time periods, each of whom are profoundly affected by Woolf's work. The narrative alternates between Virginia Woolf as she writes "Mrs. Dalloway" in 1923, a 1950s housewife who is reading the novel, and a contemporary woman who is essentially living the life of the titular character. These three storylines eventually converge in a powerful exploration of mental illness, sexuality, and the transcendent power of literature.

    The 1187th Greatest Book of All Time
  2. 27. Speedboat by Renata Adler

    This novel follows a young woman reporter in New York City during the 1970s, as she navigates her professional and personal life. The book is written in a non-linear style, consisting of a series of vignettes, observations, and reflections, rather than a traditional narrative. The protagonist's experiences and thoughts on subjects such as race, politics, and the media form the core of the book, providing a snapshot of the social and cultural landscape of the time.

    The 1226th Greatest Book of All Time
  3. 28. In the Heart of the Heart of the Country by William H. Gass

    The book is a collection of short stories exploring the lives of ordinary people in the Midwest. The narratives delve into the human condition, examining the complexities of relationships, the nuances of emotion, and the struggles of existence. The stories capture the essence of Midwestern life, painting a vivid picture of the landscape and its people, while also exploring themes of isolation, disillusionment, and the search for meaning.

    The 1265th Greatest Book of All Time
  4. 29. Pricksongs and Descants by Robert Coover

    This book is a collection of short stories that blend elements of American folklore, historical realities, and contemporary life into a unique, surreal, and often disturbing narrative. The author uses a mix of traditional and experimental storytelling techniques to explore themes such as love, death, and the nature of reality. The stories often feature bizarre, dreamlike scenarios and characters, challenging readers to question their assumptions and perceptions.

    The 1419th Greatest Book of All Time
  5. 30. Blood and Guts in High School by Kathy Acker

    "Blood and Guts in High School" is a postmodern feminist novel that follows the life of a young girl named Janey Smith, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery after being sexually exploited by her father. The narrative, fragmented and nonlinear, explores themes of sexual liberation, identity, and rebellion against societal norms. The protagonist's experiences are depicted through various forms of writing such as dream sequences, drawings, and plagiarized texts, blurring the line between reality and fiction.

    The 1441st Greatest Book of All Time
  6. 31. JR by William Gaddis

    The novel is a satirical critique of capitalism, narrating the story of an 11-year-old boy who builds a vast financial empire from his school's payphone. Using the adults around him as pawns, he manipulates the system to his own advantage, turning junk bonds into high profits. The narrative unfolds almost entirely through dialogue, making it a challenging but rewarding read. The book is a commentary on the American dream, exploring themes of greed, exploitation, and the dehumanizing effects of capitalism.

    The 1495th Greatest Book of All Time
  7. 32. Sixty Stories by Donald Barthelme

    "Sixty Stories" is a collection of short narratives that use unconventional, experimental structures to explore a range of themes. The book is known for its absurdist and postmodern style, and the stories often feature elements of parody, surrealism, and satire. The tales cover a wide array of topics, including art, literature, philosophy, and the human condition, all presented with a unique blend of humor, wit, and intellectual depth.

    The 1533rd Greatest Book of All Time
  8. 33. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

    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.

    The 1585th Greatest Book of All Time
  9. 34. The Female Man by Joanna Russ

    "The Female Man" is a thought-provoking science fiction novel that explores the lives of four women from different dimensions and time periods. As they navigate their respective worlds, the women confront gender inequality, societal expectations, and the limitations imposed on them by a patriarchal society. Through their encounters and conversations, the novel challenges traditional gender roles and offers a powerful critique of sexism and discrimination.

    The 1632nd Greatest Book of All Time
  10. 35. Peace by Gene Wolfe

    The book is a complex and multi-layered narrative that weaves together the memories of an elderly man named Alden Dennis Weer. As he reminisces about his life in a small Midwestern town, the story unfolds in a non-linear fashion, revealing a tapestry of seemingly mundane events that are imbued with subtle supernatural elements and dark undercurrents. The protagonist's recollections are filled with enigmatic characters and incidents, and as the narrative progresses, it becomes apparent that Weer's memory may be unreliable, leading the reader to question the nature of reality and the veracity of his account. The novel blends elements of fantasy, horror, and mystery, creating a haunting meditation on memory, mortality, and the human condition.

    The 1746th Greatest Book of All Time
  11. 36. Sleepless Nights by Elizabeth Hardwick

    "Sleepless Nights" is a novel that weaves together memories, reflections, and fictionalized episodes to paint a portrait of a woman's life. The narrative is fragmented and non-linear, reflecting the protagonist's introspective journey through her past relationships, experiences, and observations. Set against the backdrop of various American and European backdrops, the book delves into themes of love, loss, identity, and the complexities of the human condition. The protagonist's musings are interlaced with vivid character sketches of the people who have drifted in and out of her life, creating a tapestry of poignant and evocative vignettes that capture the essence of her restless, contemplative existence.

    The 1780th Greatest Book of All Time
  12. 37. World's End by T. C. Boyle

    "World's End" is a multigenerational saga that takes place in upstate New York. The narrative alternates between the 17th century, where a Dutch estate is the setting for a brutal power struggle between a master and his rebellious servant, and the 1960s, where a young man struggles with his family's past and his own place in the world. The book explores themes of power, class, and the cyclical nature of history.

    The 1805th Greatest Book of All Time
  13. 38. Mason & Dixon by Thomas Pynchon

    "Mason & Dixon" is a postmodern historical novel which follows the story of the 18th-century British astronomers and surveyors Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, who are known for the Mason-Dixon line. The novel is written in a complex, digressive style, and it includes numerous sub-plots and a wide range of themes. It explores the scientific, philosophical, and sociopolitical issues of the Enlightenment era, as well as the personal lives and friendship of the two title characters.

    The 1852nd Greatest Book of All Time
  14. 39. Two Serious Ladies by Jane Bowles

    Two Serious Ladies is a novel that follows the lives of two women, Christina Goering and Frieda Copperfield, who are both on their own personal journeys of self-discovery. Christina, a wealthy spinster, decides to abandon her comfortable life to explore the darker side of society, while Frieda, a married woman, leaves her husband during a trip to Panama to pursue a relationship with a teenage prostitute. The novel explores themes of identity, sexuality, and societal norms, challenging traditional notions of femininity and respectability.

    The 1927th Greatest Book of All Time
  15. 40. The Last Gentleman by Walker Percy

    "The Last Gentleman" is a novel about a disoriented and confused man from the South who suffers from a "nervous condition" that causes him to forget who he is. When he meets a young man dying from a brain tumor, he decides to leave his home in New York and travel with the man and his family back to the South. Throughout his journey, he attempts to discover his own identity and grapples with existential questions about life, love, and death.

    The 1946th Greatest Book of All Time
  16. 41. Myra Breckinridge by Gore Vidal

    This novel follows the story of Myra Breckinridge, a transgender woman who moves to Hollywood with the plan of both achieving stardom and challenging traditional gender roles and sexuality. The protagonist uses her wit, charm, and sexual appeal to manipulate those around her to further her own ambitions. The book is a satirical exploration of gender, sexuality, and the American Dream, set against the backdrop of 1960s Hollywood.

    The 1981st Greatest Book of All Time
  17. 42. The Dead Father by Donald Barthelme

    The book is a surreal, postmodern narrative following a group of characters as they drag the physical manifestation of their dead father across a variety of landscapes. The characters grapple with their relationships to the father figure, exploring themes of authority, control, and the nature of storytelling itself. The novel is known for its experimental style, blending a range of literary techniques and genres to create a unique, fragmented narrative.

    The 2027th Greatest Book of All Time
  18. 43. Moon Palace by Paul Auster

    "Moon Palace" tells the story of Marco Stanley Fogg, an orphaned young man in New York City who embarks on a journey of self-discovery. As he ventures into the American West and delves into his family's past, he encounters a series of adventures and misadventures that challenge his understanding of identity, love, and the very nature of reality. The novel is a complex and symbolic exploration of American mythology, weaving together themes of solitude, survival, and the pursuit of the American Dream.

    The 2170th Greatest Book of All Time
  19. 44. Wittgenstein's Mistress by David Markson

    The novel is a stream-of-consciousness narrative from the perspective of a woman who believes she is the last human on earth. She shares her thoughts, memories, and experiences in a non-linear and often confusing manner. The narrative is filled with cultural and historical references, creating a haunting and profound exploration of loneliness, memory, and the human condition.

    The 2197th Greatest Book of All Time
  20. 45. The Anatomy Lesson by Philip Roth

    The book centers on a once-successful writer who, plagued by chronic pain and unable to continue his literary work, experiences a profound identity crisis. As he grapples with his physical agony and the disintegration of his personal life, he embarks on a desperate quest for a cure and a new sense of purpose. This leads him to consider a drastic career change, which takes him on a darkly comic journey through the medical community and his own tortured psyche. The narrative delves into themes of mortality, the meaning of suffering, and the search for redemption in the face of overwhelming despair.

    The 2318th Greatest Book of All Time
  21. 46. Cities of the Red Night: A Novel by William S. Burroughs

    "Cities of the Red Night: A Novel" is a surreal, hallucinatory narrative that intertwines three storylines: an 18th-century pirate crew seeking utopia, a detective investigating a series of grotesque murders, and a pandemic causing spontaneous orgasms. The novel explores themes of homosexuality, anarchism, and the occult, using its disjointed narrative structure to challenge traditional understandings of time, space, and reality.

    The 2351st Greatest Book of All Time
  22. 47. Mao II by Don DeLillo

    "Mao II" is a novel that explores the life of a reclusive novelist who hasn't been seen in public for many years. The protagonist is drawn out of his seclusion when he becomes involved in an international crisis involving a hostage situation in Beirut. The book delves into themes of terrorism, mass culture, and the power of the written word, while examining the relationship between the individual artist and the collective society.

    The 2366th Greatest Book of All Time
  23. 48. Operation Shylock by Philip Roth

    In this intriguing novel, the protagonist, a famous writer, travels to Israel to cover the trial of a former Nazi war criminal. While there, he encounters a man who is his doppelgänger and who has been using his fame to promote a controversial political agenda, including the idea that Jews should abandon Israel and return to Europe. The narrative explores themes of identity, Jewish history, and the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, all while blurring the line between fiction and reality.

    The 2371st Greatest Book of All Time
  24. 49. Erasure by Percival Everett

    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 2384th Greatest Book of All Time
  25. 50. Giles Goat-Boy by John Barth

    The novel is a satirical epic that tells the story of George Giles, a boy raised as a goat, who discovers his true identity as the Grand Tutor, the prophesied savior of the world. He embarks on a journey to the university, a microcosmic representation of the world, where he must navigate through complex political and social structures, engage in philosophical debates, and confront his own identity and destiny. The narrative is filled with allegorical interpretations of religious and mythological themes, and explores various philosophical and existential questions.

    The 2441st Greatest Book of All Time

Reading Statistics

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If you're interested in downloading this list as a CSV file for use in a spreadsheet application, you can easily do so by clicking the button below. Please note that to ensure a manageable file size and faster download, the CSV will include details for only the first 500 books.

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