Books about being mad at the world?

[spookymulder93]

I've been feeling kinda down lately and I was wondering if anyone could recommend me some books where the character just feels separated from everyone else and is angered by it. I don't want anything soft though.

I've read Catcher in the Rye and that was pretty soft.

[sixsmith]

Sabbath's Theatre - Philip Roth

[Scheherazade]

Give Wasp Factory by Iain Banks a try or wait couple of months for me to finish the book I am working on!

:p

[Virgil]

Try some of the works by Allan Sillitoe, especially The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner.

[kasie]

Camus: The Outsider, perhaps?

[sixsmith]

Camus: The Outsider, perhaps?

I don't read Meursault as being angry at the world. I believe him to be indifferent to it and alienated by it, but not angry at it.

[mal4mac]

Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Titus Andronicus - William Shakespeare

[PeeSlowlyAndSee]

Sabbath's Theatre - Philip Roth

I looked this up online, and I must say, this book intrigues me.

[I_like_books]

Hi! This is my first post! I would recommend Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison or Metamorphosis by Kafka.

Enjoy!

[Satan]

Exley's A Fan's Notes, Malamud's The Assistant, Updike's Rabbit Run are worth a look. If you are looking for something like Catcher in the Rye, try William Gaddis' The Recognitions.

[The Comedian]

How about J. O'Barr's "The Crow"? It's the graphic novel upon which the movie was based. It's dark, depressing, and filled with external and internal rage. And, personally, I find the art beautiful, yet undisciplined at the same time. . . . sort of like The Ramones.

[Veva]

Some long time ago I read Keep the Aspidistra flying by Orwell ... and I remember it was about a man who hated the society.. give it a go:thumbs_up

[kelby_lake]

I don't read Meursault as being angry at the world. I believe him to be indifferent to it and alienated by it, but not angry at it.

Dissatisfaction then.

Hmm...Richard III or Othello, lol?

[Michael T]

Hmm...Richard III

Good call! :thumbs_up

[wlz]

'Gordon Ramsay Makes It Easy' by Gordon Ramsay.

[spookymulder93]

Thanks for your suggestions. I take it I'm not the only one here who's been "mad at the world" so to say.

[Mariamosis]

Many novels by Dostoevsky

Dicken's Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" is an obvious example.

Sinclair Lewis's "Main Street". Although the main character didn't hate the entire world, only small town psychology and the monotony of it all.

[spookymulder93]

Sabbath's Theatre - Philip Roth

Looked it up on Amazon. Sounds hardcore. Will check it out.

[pains of sleep]

"Les Chants de Maldoror" by Comte de Lautréamont

also, "Notes From Underground" was a good suggestion

[Aragorn Elessar]

I would think that if you were feeling resentful you would prefer some suggestions of books that provoke happiness. Although it may help to read books in which you can easily sympathize with the characters, it might be healthier to generate bliss rather than further your resentment...unless, of course, that resentment has reason; for without reason, there can be no knowledge, and without knowledge, there is only ignorance, and ignorance is the root and stem of all evil.

As for the book suggestions, I can't think of any that involve characters that are mainly "mad at the world" so to speak throughout the story. But then I guess we need to define that phrase, don't we? You probably don't mean that you are angry at the physical world; I doubt it has done anything to provoke you. I can see a few probable meanings, though: Perhaps you are mad at the people in the world, or more specifically politicians or government, or maybe even close friends or family. Or you could be angry with God, or gods, if you have any (not to get into religion too deeply, though). I suppose there is always that ambiguous psychological tendency to be angry without reason; you might not know what you're mad at, or who. You might simply be angry, but likely this hollow emotion would not last long. The mind, though, is incredibly susceptible to confusion.

Sorry for getting so philosophical; you didn't ask for it, but when I read "mad at the world" I couldn't help but ask a few questions.

[JZD]

Notes from Underground obviously popped into my head immediately.

[Scheherazade]

Wasp Factory is a bizarre one.

[Lykren]

The Castle, by Kafka.

It's the only Kafka I've read, but from what I hear, all his work is suitable for your predicament.

Also, I totally sympathize - when I am in your condition (I know you weren't asking for music but I can't help it) I listen to the early work of a musician called Elliott Smith. Sorry to go off topic.

I'll get back on topic by suggesting Tropic of Cancer, by Henry Miller. It's not exactly angry, but it's very 'outsider', chaotic and freewheeling.

[mal4mac]

Victory by Joseph Conrad - if Schopenhauer had a son he would be Axel Hyst. He can't be bothered doing anything, so he drifts around the world until he drifts into running a mining company on a desert island. The company collapses, everyone leaves, except him! Separate enough for you? Actually he seems reasonably content on his island, it only gets really bad when a woman and four nasty villains get involved...