- Confederacy of Dunces, John Kennedy Toole :: If you haven't read this comic masterpiece consider yourself lucky. But don't wait another moment to savor the journeys of Ignatius Reilly in New Orleans. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize.
- The Restraint of Beasts, Magnus Mills :: Often overlooked tale of a Scottish fencing crew sent to England with the best laid plans and hapless consequences. No less than Thomas Pynchon calls it "a demented, deadpan-comic wonder".
- Flashman Papers, George MacDonald Fraser :: Follow Harry Flashman, cad extrodinaire, as he stumbles through the great moments of the 19th century. You love him and hate him at the same time.
- Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams :: About to smash on to the mainstream cultural radar as a series of films, this first book in the trilogy will make you laugh until your belly hurts. Really.
- Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter S Thompson :: Another great author who kills himself (and the second on this list along with Toole) which isn't funny. But this book, his classic text, has taken on its own cultural presence and a thorough read will still leave you shaking your head and opening your eyes wide.
Labels: literature
