Most ancient and modern literature focuses on the tone of writing rather than its content. When you set out to read a particular book, the tone of writing defines its genre. Based on the genre, you will have some expectations from the book. However, some novelists break conventional writing rules and play with different writing styles. Such literature is called ‘experimental literature’, and the writers are called experimental novelists.
Here are the top 6 books that follow the style of experimental literature, which people of all age groups can enjoy.
Telegrams of the Soul by Peter Altenberg
Altenberg’s collection of mini-essays is surreal and gets the reader hooked to their seats with exciting styles and textures in his essays. Since his collection of books was released in 1890, it has a slightly medieval touch that can be enjoyed by many.
The Lulu Plays by Frank Wedekind
This novel was published in 1894, with two separate parts and five stunning acts. He writes about Lulu, an inexperienced, murderous prostitute waiting for freedom. This novel comprises some of the literature’s baffling murder scenes with a high emotional intensity that can touch its readers’ sympathetic nerves.
The Other House by Henry James
This book was published in 1896 by Henry James, one of the season’s famous experimental novelists. The book has a fast pace, which gives a sense of reading from a movie script rather than from a novel. The fact that the book does not follow interminable sentences or other endless paragraphs of texts makes it interesting for the readers and gives a fresh perspective on experimental literature.
Mysteries by Knut hamsun
Like all other novels by Knut Hamsun, Mysteries also follows a thriller plot published in 1892. Although according to various reviews from critics, the book does not justify the title, Hamsun has still managed to keep his readers hooked to their seats with the gripping storyline and style of narration. Critics also state that Hamsun has managed to keep his magic recessive, which is one of the primary reasons for the cookbook’s success.
La Bas by Joris-Karl Huysmans
Many adjectives are used to describe the book’s narration – surreal, repugnant, dense, raw, wild, and intoxicating- representing the social world we live in today. Although the book was published in 1891, its resemblance to today’s society is astonishing. This novel also proves that people of the 80’s also demanded some edgy stories.
The Thief of Talent by Pierre Reverdy
This novel looks like a book of poetry but is an emotionally engaging story that has gained territory among poets. Despite its publication in 1917, the novel feels like it was published out of time because the narration is dated in tone. If you read the novel, you will feel like it was written yesterday, but in reality, it was published almost 100 years ago.