Surreal books?

[scentednappyhag]

I'm looking for some suggestions for fiction that makes you concentrate IYSWIM?
My favourite books over the last year have been The House of Leaves and The Raw Shark Texts, and I've enjoyed books by Jasper Fford- looking for something along these lines... Aware this is probably a bit vague, but any suggestions would be highly appreciated!

How about surreal science fiction? Anything by Greg Egan does my head in for weeks. They are brilliant but mentally very hard work to keep up.

Oooh, sounds brilliant he's been added to my google list, thank you!

Gaarder's Sophie's World is a good one - philosophy-heavy - will make you doubt your very existence!

Just had a quick look at that one, sounds exactly what I'm looking for
God bless MN, sometimes I forget how bloody brilliant you all are!

Haruki Murakami's "Wild Sheep Chase" is brilliant, wild and weird!

Haruki Murakami's Kafka on the Shore

Iain M Banks usually is quite bizarre as well.

Alasdair Gray?

Iain Banks "The Wasp Factory"

You might like Angela Carter's Nights At The Circus.

I was also going to say Alisdair Gray or Angela Carter.

The Third Policeman - Flann O Brien. I hated it, but it is most definitely surreal.

Patrick Tilley's The Mission?

Just a heads up, NOT a good read if you're particularly religious. Stonking ending.

The Magus by John Fowles. It's like a surreal painting only in book form; a really interesting story but you never know what's coming next.

My favourite book ever.

Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban. It's stayed with me for over 20 years now.

I should have added Geek Love as well.

Oyster by Janette Turner Hospital was just plain weird. I hated it, but it would certainly fit the surreal bill.

Tom Robbins - Skinny Legs and All. One of those that most things make sense by the end of the book, except the bits that are just plain odd.

Have you read Jasper Fforde's latest offering, Shades Of Grey? It's a bit different to his other stuff but very very good.

I don't remember house of spirits being surreal, it was very fantastical though.
Anything by Murakami tends to be very off the wall, my personal favourite is the wind up bird chronicle.

Thomas Pynchon - all excellent but The Crying Of Lot 49 is a good place to start
Kurt Vonnegut - Sirens of Titan
Jim Dodge - Stone Junction
Philip K Dick - The Man In The High Castle

Anyone mentioned Jasper Fforde???? Great books.

Ummm not sure if it'd count as surreal but I've just finished American Gods by Neil Gaiman & really enjoyed it.

The Master and Margerita (Bulgakov (sp?)
The Tin Drum (Grasse)