Jean in Newcastle Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 (edited) I mean highly imaginative books like "Alice in Wonderland". And it doesn't have to be lately. I'm reading a strange but interesting book right now called "Un Lun Dun" by China Mieville. It is about an alternative unLondon with a strange landscape and population. It is British. Which leads to another musing - why are so many of these books British? http://www.amazon.com/Un-Lun-Dun-China-Mieville/dp/0345495160 Edited March 9, 2010 by Jean in Newcastle added a link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan in TN Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers. Picture this - ancient Egyptian tomb raids, Werewolves, a beggars guild, insane clowns, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and time travel. Anyone who can weave these things into a fascinating and seamless story is a genius in my book. I've heard Declare is even better, but I haven't read it yet. Another favorite of mine is The Last Coin by James Blaylock - a good friend of Tim Powers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 The Gallery of Regrettable Food. The commentary is sometimes in rather bad taste, but after all, this is satire, and it's often very funny. I found it in the library. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellifera Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 The Rutabaga Tales by Carl Sandburg. It's a bunch of short stories and they are very strange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted March 9, 2010 Author Share Posted March 9, 2010 Don't get mad at me but one odd book that was recommended on here and I did not like at all was "The Magic Pudding". The pudding was way too surly for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bug's Mom Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 The Gallery of Regrettable Food. The commentary is sometimes in rather bad taste, but after all, this is satire, and it's often very funny. I found it in the library. I love this book! Here's a link to the website for those who dare...http://www.lileks.com/institute/gallery/ I was just looking for my copy the other day and couldn't find it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 One of the more unusual books I've read is "The High House" by James Stoddard. It's fantasy, and is about a mansion that runs the universe, from what I remember... very strange, but in a good way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikeBookBread Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 (edited) The Tuesday Next series is somewhat odd. Starts with "The Eyre Affair". I love that they require a knowledge of literature to fully understand the humor. I think there are 5 or 6 of them now. Edited March 9, 2010 by BikeBookBread fixed the link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KristineinKS Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 Not necessarily *so* odd, but here are 3 favorites that came to mind immediately: The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories by Susanna Clarke (also, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, but I had a harder time getting through this for some reason) The Gormenghast Trilogy by Mervyn Peake - a classic! Oh, also, Kelly Link definitely fits the bill. Here are two of hers that I've read: Stranger Things Happen & Magic for Beginners Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secular_mom Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 Hmmmm, strange books... Hexwood by Dianna Wynne Jones (sp?), I thought that book was a bit of a trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Atl Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 Not necessarily *so* odd, but here are 3 favorites that came to mind immediately: The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly This is one of my favs as well! One I read last year, some would say is odd, but I loved it was Kafka On the Shore by Haruki Murakami. http://www.amazon.com/Kafka-Shore-Haruki-Murakami/dp/1400079276/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268169819&sr=8-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted March 9, 2010 Author Share Posted March 9, 2010 I'm going to have fun looking for these books.:) I found "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell" to be an excruciatingly boring book. I could not finish it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan in KY Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 I thought the ubiquitous Diary of a Wimpy Kid was odd when I previewed it for dd (after ds told me not to bother, it was *that* bad—shoulda listened to him, he knows from good books! :001_smile:), but it falls far short of "oddly imaginative". I thought it was oddly awful. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted March 9, 2010 Share Posted March 9, 2010 Very fun thread! I'm reading "The City of Dreaming Books" by Walter Moers. His books are so highly imaginative, it's a treat to read them. I'm totally loving it. I also loved his book "The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear". One I read many, many years ago that was really unique (and that I also loved) was "Sleeping in Flame" by Jonathan Carroll. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen in VA Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 One of the oddest books I've ever read is The Glass Bead Game: Magister Ludi by Herman Hesse. I remember getting lost in it and loving every minute. Not my usual cup of tea, but mind stretching and memorable nevertheless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddhabelly Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 "Sum" by Eagleman. Subtitle is something like "40 Tales of Afterlives." It is forty different scenarios of what happens in the afterlife. In some scenarios there is a god (God), in others there is not (or God simply doesn't give a hooey). Quite amusing. It is an adult book, but my 11-year-old liked it too. Julie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted March 10, 2010 Author Share Posted March 10, 2010 A children's classic : The Phantom Tollbooth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy in NJ Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 I wasn't initially attracted to the book but decided to read it along with ds as he began LL from LOTR. I really enjoyed it and am re-watching the movies and looking for discrepancies.:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen in VA Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 A children's classic : The Phantom Tollbooth Loved this one :-). If children's books are allowed, then I will suggest The Mennyms by Sylvia Waugh. A story about a family of rag dolls living in a house in London. Odd premise to be sure and a delightful read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mothersweets Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 The Gallery of Regrettable Food. The commentary is sometimes in rather bad taste, but after all, this is satire, and it's often very funny. I found it in the library. This is one of the funniest books I've ever read! It gets me giggling like nothing else will! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rene Austen Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul by Douglas Adams (of the Hitchhiker's Trilogy fame). London with the old Norse gods running amuck, but losing power badly because no one believes in them anymore. Thor, for instance, really, really needs to get back to Norway but has to resort to Heathrow and commercial airlines. OK, that description does NOT do this book justice: it's a very odd book, and very hilarious. I laughed hysterically. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Virginia Dawn Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 Foucault's Pendulum. I'm 5 chapters in and I'm still not sure what's actually going on. Not to mention you need to keep a dictionary on hand when you read a book by Umberto Eco. It's a challenge that I'm not giving up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 Only Begotten Daughter by James MorrowOh, I love James Morrow. I'm currently reading The Cloven Viscount and just finished The Nonexistent Knight by Italo Calvino. Highly unusual. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 "Soulless". :) A bit Victorian mystery/romance, a bit Steam Punk... Werewolves! Vampires! Dirigibles! Corsets! (And a Scotsman. Of course.) I'll also second the Thursday Next series... :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted March 10, 2010 Author Share Posted March 10, 2010 Oh - and I'm thinking most if not all of Roald Dahl's books would qualify as odd. James and the Giant Peach especially! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 Terry Pratchett's works too. His stuff is awesome, imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIch elle Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 Dracula and now Rebecca Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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