One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kesey (1962)
I've never heard anyone say a negative thing about the novel or film edition of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, so my expectations were high. Not only was I not let down, but those expectations were exceded by a long shot. A prisoner fakes insanity to serve the rest of his sentence in an asylum as opposed to jail, and ends up causing many a ruckus while encouraging and convincing the other patients to stand up to the institutional process. There are almost too many characters to keep track of, but it helped that they are all so likable and interesting. Ken Kesey's writing is straightforward but intricate, which is a great combination. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is equally funny and sad, and its complex character studies and stunning ending definitely solidify its classic status.
Battle Royale - Koushun Takami (1999)
Since late college, I had heard so much about both novel and film versions of Battle Royale. I knew what to expect, and yet I was still completely shocked by how brutal this novel is. In case you didn't know, Battle Royale is about a government program that forces an entire classroom of middle school students into an enclosed area (usually a small island) to fight and kill until there is only one left standing. There are more complex specifications to the "game," as it's referred to, but you get the idea. I will admit that the U.S. translation is a tiny bit week. Koushun Takami's descriptive language and dialogue are mind-numbingly simple, and even too cute at times. Maybe that's just how he writes, but I have a feeling that his actual style was lost a little bit in the translation. Other than that, Battle Royale was pretty great. With so many characters, it was incredibly difficult to keep track of everyone and to know who exactly is involved with what event. In spite of that, these characters are surprisingly deep, even the ones that Takami doesn't spend much time on. Each character is likable in his or her own way, even the villains. The gruesomeness of all the violence and gory details is magnified thanks to that fact that it is kids brutally killing each other, but in some twisted way, I think that's why this novel works. Sure, it's pure pulp, but the critiques of tyranny and dictatorship are not very well hidden either. If you can stomach the idea that it is children creating all this gore (let alone the gore itself) as well as technical, straightforward writing that isn't necessarily the best, I encourage you to read Battle Royale for all the emotional pull and brilliant twists and turns within.
Winter's Bone - Daniel Woodrell (2006)
Winter's Bone is a short, surprisingly fast paced novel considering how much meandering occurs in the plot. Daniel Woodrell writes in an Old Testament/Southern Gothic style, akin to Cormac McCarthy and especially Charles Portis. Main character Ree's father skips bail on charges that he ran a crystal meth lab, and if he doesn't turn up for his court date, the family will lose their house. Thus, Ree embarks on a mission to locate the whereabouts of her dad and save her family. In a sense, Winter's Bone is an adventure novel in the vein of True Grit, but very subtly so. At 16 years old, Ree is a gritty heroine with inspiring characteristics and relatable flaws, and all the minor characters mesh together well. Woodrell's descriptive language is simple and cryptic yet equally beautiful. While I wasn't blown away by Winter's Bone, I enjoyed its dark tones, build-up and overall mystery.
