21st Century Literature discussion

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Question of the Week > What Are some Of Your Favorite Novels That Have Very Liittle Plot/Action? (8/7/22)

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message 1: by Marc (new)

Marc (monkeelino) | 3455 comments Mod
Which novels with very little plot/action are your favorites?


message 3: by Robert (new)

Robert | 524 comments Jim Dodge's Fup


message 4: by Jennifer (new)

Jennifer | 121 comments People have complained about Zone One, being to literary....I thought is was excellent and I could not put this down. Stuff happens, but its not an onslaught.


Nadine in California (nadinekc) | 545 comments Dipping into another century...... Tristram Shandy.


message 6: by Lark (new)

Lark Benobi (larkbenobi) | 729 comments With some books the languid nothing-happens, no-forward-motion stuff is the point.

One of my favorites: Timothy, or Notes of an Abject Reptile by Verlyn Klinkenborg.


message 7: by Hugh (new)

Hugh (bodachliath) | 3095 comments Mod
Ducks, Newburyport - not quite no plot but not much in the first three quarters. A Line Made by Walking and Seven Steeples. A Musical Offering.


message 8: by Alwynne (last edited Aug 08, 2022 01:38PM) (new)

Alwynne | 239 comments I'd second Hugh on Sara Baume, my list is far too long and I could still add to it, so have to conclude this is a genre that has a definite appeal for me.

In no particular order:

A Voice Through a Cloud Denton Welch

Nowhere Ending Sky Marlen Haushofer

The Wall Marlen Haushofer

Sleepless Nights Elizabeth Hardwick

Woman Running in the Mountains Yuko Tsushima

Maud Martha Gwendolyn Brooks

Open City Teju Cole

Cold Enough for Snow Jessica Au

The Trick is to Keep Breathing Janice Galloway

Requiem Shizuko Go

August Christa Wolf

Drifts Kate Zambreno

To the Lighthouse Virginia Woolf

Chinatown Thuan


message 9: by Jennifer (new)

Jennifer | 121 comments Oh, I just thought of The Drowned World. Its a slow meander....


message 11: by Alwynne (new)

Alwynne | 239 comments Thanks Vesna, lots of titles to pursue!


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