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Adam C's avatar

Thanks for the Clarice quote at the end, I consider her one of the greats and it looks like she made this list in one way or another.

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Thomas O’Dare's avatar

Bro who the fuck is PP Von Soldierberry

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HAROLD's avatar

🧐

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Thomas O’Dare's avatar

On some nazi lit in the americas shit… had my dumbass scouring the internet

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Bruna Kalil Othero's avatar

Now I want to read all the ones I didn't read yet! Love this idea and you made me want to write my own list, but man, what a task! Feliz aniversario🎂

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Tilly Vercoutre's avatar

Ok ok I haven’t read the whole thing yet but I think I like it already. I nudge head here in hope of coming back later.

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Alex's avatar

Thanks for making this list, looking forward to checking out some of these I've never heard of before!

I remember reading Absalom Absalom in my mid-20s and it absolutely melted my fucking brain 🔥

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Todd Clay Stuart's avatar

Great list here, Harold! I'm curious if you meant Richard Zenith's translation of The Inquisitors Manual though. I have not been able to find a translation of this particular work by Gregory Rabassa, but if one exists, I'd love to read it!

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HAROLD's avatar

Yes good call! It is Richard Zenith. I just default assume Rabassa translated everything from portuguese in that time period since he was so prolific.

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ish's avatar

Do you know of an English translation of ANATOMIA DO PARAÍSO? It sounds amazing

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HAROLD's avatar

I'm not sure if someone is working on it, but there is a translation of her book ANTONIO out from New Directions which I highly recommend.

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Luis Campagnoli's avatar

Cara, I couldn’t even pay proper attention in the top ten because of the damned Penght Limbus. All I wanted to do was comment a stolen and a burned copy? Não é possível. But then you got me.

Cool post. I’ll now click the links about Machado, Sterne, and another one I can’t remember.

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💖SparkleSauce💖's avatar

I haven't heard of many of these but they sound really interesting- saving this for future reference

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Brent Robbins's avatar

Any list that puts Tristram Shandy in the top 5 is automatically a good list

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Rip Dipple's avatar

A wonderful and deeply fun list.

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Trey S's avatar

what! i can't believe you're a fan of PP von Soldierberry too, that book seriously changed the nature of my consciousness. My scrotum tattoo is inspired by him -- "Saudade" -- talk about a man who really licked the sweat off of life's legs

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HAROLD's avatar

I am always thrilled to encounter a kindred spirit. LONG LIVE PP!

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Elliot Peters's avatar

Great list! I read the Pevear/Volokhonsky translation of Anna Karenina earlier this year and was absolutely blown away. Incredible novel, incredible translation, all-around masterwork.

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ELLIOT JOSEPH BURR's avatar

i must read VASTLANDS

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Kathryn Collins's avatar

Okay, i looked up the Pength Limbus. Nothing. I looked up Soldierberry. Nothing. Is this a joke?

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HAROLD's avatar

I think it's an indictment on literary culture at large that we've forgotten P.P! What a shame!

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Eric Graap's avatar

Really nice list. Nice mix of my favorites with those unknown to me.

Some others to consider:

INVISIBLE MAN - Ellison

THINGS THEY CARRIED - O’Brien

ANGLE OF REPOSE - Stegner

A LOST LADY - Cather

THE HOUSE OF MIRTH - Wharton

CATHEDRAL - Carver

SING, UNBURIED, SING - Ward

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