This Is Not a Novel is a "novel" like none ever written, with the possible exception of David Markson's own Reader's Block (1996), which Ann Beattie has labeled "a work of genius."
This Is Not a Novel is a highly inventive work which drifts "genre-less," somewhere in between fiction, nonfiction, and psychological memoir. In the opening pages of the "novel," a narrator, called only "Writer," announces that he is tired of inventing characters, contemplating plot, setting, theme, and conflict. Yet the writer is determined to seduce the reader into turning pages-and to "get somewhere," nonetheless.
What follows are pages crammed with short lines of astonishingly fascinating literary and artistic anecdotes, quotations, and cultural curiosities. This Is Not a Novel is leavened with Markson's deliciously ironic wit and laughter, so that when the writer does indeed finally get us "somewhere" it's the journey will have mattered as much as the arrival.
This Is Not a Novel is a highly inventive work which drifts "genre-less," somewhere in between fiction, nonfiction, and psychological memoir. In the opening pages of the "novel," a narrator, called only "Writer," announces that he is tired of inventing characters, contemplating plot, setting, theme, and conflict. Yet the writer is determined to seduce the reader into turning pages-and to "get somewhere," nonetheless.
What follows are pages crammed with short lines of astonishingly fascinating literary and artistic anecdotes, quotations, and cultural curiosities. This Is Not a Novel is leavened with Markson's deliciously ironic wit and laughter, so that when the writer does indeed finally get us "somewhere" it's the journey will have mattered as much as the arrival.
Similar Books by other authors...
Used availability for David Markson's This Is Not a Novel
See all available used copies of this book at: Abebooks UK or Abebooks US
Hardback Editions
2001 : Hardback
| Title: This is Not a Novel Author(s): David Markson Publisher: COUNTERPOINT Availability: Amazon More details... |
Paperback Editions
February 2010 : Paperback
| Title: This is Not a Novel Author(s): David Markson ISBN: 0-9561073-3-8 / 978-0-9561073-3-6 (UK edition) Publisher: CB editions Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
March 2001 : Paperback
| Title: This is Not a Novel Author(s): David Markson ISBN: 1-58243-133-7 / 9781582431338 (USA edition) Publisher: Counterpoint Press Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
© 2012 FantasticFiction
Questions? Comments? Corrections? Please email webmaster@fantasticfiction.co.uk
Questions? Comments? Corrections? Please email webmaster@fantasticfiction.co.uk

