A piece of good literature is always appreciated, be it for a recreational read or a teaching tool. Every so often, though, a book comes along that is useful for one mystifying read and is then delegated to evening out the balance of the kitchen table. Here are some of the strangest books ever published.
The Case of the Crazy Corpse, by Harry Keeler
Harry Keeler, who lived from 1890-1967, is the author of a series of over 70 mystery novels. His works are remembered not for their poignancy, but for their absurd complexity. In The Case of the Crazy Corpse, which was written in the 1930s, a coffin is dredged from Lake Michigan. Inside is a naked corpse. The torso of the corpse is that of a Chinese woman, and the bottom half is a black man. To complete the insane coupling, the corpse was sealed with green gum. Thus begins one of the most winding, convoluted, rambling mystery books in print.
The Last Valkyrie, by R. L. Fanthorpe
R. L. Fanthorpe, born in 1935, has produced more novels in a year than many novelists do in a lifetime, partly due to his use of a recorder to "write" his novels, which are then transcribed by paid typists. The downside of this method is that his plots are often rambling, forgetful, and bizarre. He has even been known to resurrect a character that was killed a few chapters prior. In The Last Valkyrie, written in 1961, Daedalus and his son Icarus are summoned by King Minos to make the Colossus of Rhodes for defense against the attacking Saharan (as in the desert) navy. The King of Rhodes is killed by the robot, which goes on a rampage, and to make a point, Daedalus destroys Atlantis, drops nuclear bombs, and builds the Minotaur’s Labryinth. He and his son attempt to escape, but Icarus dies in the attempt. Daedalus swears vengeance, bonds with a destructive god, and is eventually (and accidentally) killed by archaeologists in the present day.
Codex Seraphinianus, by Luigi Serafini
Written from 1976 to 1978 by Italian artist and architect Luigi Serafini, the Codex is 360 pages of what seems to be an encyclopedia, written in an unknown language, of an unknown world. The book is divided into eleven chapters, and covers the usual encyclopedic topics, with the exception being that they are completely unreadable and show things such as bipedal creatures and flora or tools being grafted directly into the human body. One illustration shows a lovemaking couple morphing into a crocodile.
The Third Policeman, by Flann O’Brien (Brian O’Nolan)
Brian O’Nolan, using the pen name of Flann O’Brien, wrote this book during the years of 1939 and 1940. It was first published in 1944, and introduced the world to a story unlike any other. A nameless narrator opens up the story, told in Ireland, in which he reveals that he has killed and robbed for the sake of publishing his criticism of a demented philosopher. He then finds himself in another dimension where policemen are convinced that citizens are slowly turning into bicycles. A surprise ending leads the narrator to a surprising truth about his own condition – or, at least, what people so far think might be a surprising truth.
The Secret, by James Drought
Hailed as the "raw, defiant novel" of the sixties (and self-published in 1962), the book is an "oratorio", following a life similar to that of the author from the outskirts of Chicago to final family settlement. Filled with disturbing allusions and the final life-secret that the world is out to kill and destroy the individual, the oratorio-biography makes for an interesting, if alarming, read. James Drought, who was born in 1931 and died in 1983, was raised on the outskirts of Chicago and served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg from 1952 to 1954.
Everything I Ate: A Year in the Life of My Mouth, by Tucker Shaw
Published in 2005 and written by author and culinary chef Tucker Shaw, Everything I Ate is a comprehensive compilation of everything the author ate in one year – quite literally, the book is comprised of photographs of every piece of food the author ate.
Elvis: The Messiah?, by Jack D. Mallay and Warren Vaughn
This book is written about exactly what the title suggests – it is a case examining whether or not Elvis Presley might have been the Messiah. Through methods such as numerology, Biblical references, and alien abduction, the authors work their way through the question of whether or not the King was really the King of Kings.
The Cardinal’s Mistress, by Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini (yes, the leader of the Fascist party) wrote this book in 1928. The book follows a fictional cleric named Emanuel Madruzzo and his eventually doomed relationship with his mistress, Claudia Particella. The book also contains strong anti-clerical undertones, which seem to dominate most of the text. It is the unusual author and the unusual-for-that-author material that combine to make this one of the oddest books ever penned.
House of Leaves, by Mark Danielewski
Released in 2000, House of Leaves contains numerous footnotes, some to fictional sources, and has the text aligned in ways that mirror the message and story of the text to the point where the text may be only readable in a mirror. The book follows a man named Johnny Truant who discovers an academic study of a film, written by a man named Zampanò. From there, the text evolves into several different viewpoints.
Finnegans Wake, by James Joyce
James Joyce was an Irish author, and Finnegans Wake was published two years before the author’s death, in 1939. The plot synopsis, due to its many characters and varying plot points, is not definitive. The book is comprised of seventeen chapters, and is written in an idiosyncratic language with extensive linguistic and storytelling experiments.
Waterland, by Graham Swift
Graham Swift, a British author, wrote this book in 1983. It follows a history teacher through his life and the lives of some of his ancestors. Throughout the course of the book, it follows a tragedy, love story, social history, and murder. It also covers why eels should be killed. The book was adapted to film in 2002, and, as it is one of the more easily read books on the list, is generally well-received by the public.
How the Devil Spread AIDS to Woods Valley, by Frank Aymer
In the shortest book on the list, a mere 34 pages long, Frank Aymer tells the story of "King Seed", who takes advantage of the population of Woods Valley and spreads AIDS among them. Eventually, a few concerned citizens take it upon themselves to correct the problem, and King Seed finally leaves with a promise to return. The language is as amusing as the plot sounds, and while the book is not long, it is certainly memorable.
Additional information on these books and more:
The Case of the Horrifying History Writer - Harry Keeler
R. L. Fanthorpe Bibliography
A Short Reading list including Codex Seraphinianus
The Funniest and Scariest Book Ever Written
Drought, James - Summary of "The Secret"
Review of "Everything I Ate"
Printer Ink Cartridges
Finnegan's Wake - Resources
Waterland: An Overview
The Harry Keeler Society
Judge a Book by it's Cover
Lionel Fanthrope Appreciation Page
Collecting Paperbacks
Weird Travel Books
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