Why I like absurd stories on occasion…

Last post I talked about some weird and wonderful books I love- so today I’m talking more about why I’m consistently drawn to unusual stories. From Alice in Wonderland to Endgame, these are the stories with staying power. I’m drawn to them for some inexplicable reasons… and some reasons I’m going to try and explain right now! Here’s why I enjoy some wacky stories…

They’re unexpected! And who doesn’t love *surprises*! (okay, I don’t always love surprises, but they can sometimes be a good thing- like a surprise puppy or a book you didn’t expect to be quite that good rocking your world).

 

Because they’re so different and stand out from the crowd, they’re all the more memorable. I read plenty of books I can’t place and don’t remember all that well- but unusual stories stick in my mind more (hopefully for a good reason 😉).

 

They take you out of this world- and isn’t that half the point of losing yourself in a book? One of the things I love about absurd or weird or strange books is how they force you to lose yourself in a truly fantastical reality. You have to forget what you know- or what you think you know- and accept the world the author is presenting you with.

 

And because of that, they make you see things from an entirely new perspective. When books are different, it’s a special opportunity to see the world from a whole new angle. It’s an opportunity to think and reflect on our own reality.

 

All this gives us greater clarity about the world we live in. Sometimes it takes seeing our world from the strangest of viewpoints to fully understand what’s going on around us (and then we realise everything’s just a bit nuts!)

But what do you think? Do you enjoy absurd stories? Or are they not for you? Let me know in the comments!

Weird Books and Plays I Like

Cos I’m a great big weirdo 😉

Book of Hidden Things– this is easily the most unpopular book on this list and yet I absolutely love this odd story set in southern Italy. Four friends meet up every year for a pact with a dark origin. Devilish and superbly strange, I recommend this for anyone looking for a book with a bit of atmosphere and a lot of weird goings-on.

Wolf in the Whale– another book that may not be particularly well-known (and yet is totally worth checking out), this historical fiction with a magical-bent imagines what happened when the Vikings invaded Inuit land (hint: it’s grim and fascinating)

Coraline– dark as hell, this parent-swap story will give you nightmares (if you’re like me and easily scared that is 😉)

Alice in Wonderland– the classic weird book!! I’d be remiss not to mention Carroll’s masterpiece. Fun and more than a little peculiar, Alice is a delightful (and sometimes scary) vision of a mad world… but then, we’re all a little mad here 😉

Waiting for Godot– it was a toss up between this and Endgame, as both fit the bill of being exceptionally weird! Of course, it’s all a metaphor for life and god and yada yada yada… but you can’t avoid the fact it’s an odd play!! Especially thanks to Beckett’s trademark trick of having you laugh in the midst of all the dark chaos.

The Rhinosaurus– Eunesco’s theatre of the absurd isn’t all that absurd given the society we live in. When you think about the society we live in, it’s hardly unusual for people to be wondering if the random rhino waltzing across the stage has one horn or two.

The Trial– the expression Kafkaesque exists for a reason- and yet this novel is the least odd on the list (considering how close to reality it can be). 

The Stranger– well, it’s no surprise that a book with this title is a little strange- but then Camu’s existential tale of murder was hardly going to be straightforward, right?

Alright, that’s all for now! Do you have anymore weird and wonderful suggestions for me? And have you enjoyed any of these books too? Let me know in the comments!