Seeking Book Recommendations

[Dark Muse]

I am struggling with some personal stuff right now, and of course me being me, I do not get cheered up by reading happy, fluffy, light-hearted books, but I prefer to journey deeper into the darkness. I want to read something that I feel I can relate to in my current mood, so I am seeking something of the dark and brooding nature.

When I think of the sort of thing I feel like reading at this moment these are the books which spring into my mind:

The Stranger
Notes from Underground
Steppenwolf

And while I could reread any of these I rather delve into something new which may be equally rewarding, oh, I also I forgot to mention I would prefer the books also be around the same length as those above. I do not want to tackle anything too long.

[Sancho]

Heart of Darkness? - Conrad

how about: Fight Club - Palahnuik

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

[Dark Muse]

I have actually read Heart of Darkness before, but I am intrigued by Fight Club, maybe I will give that one a try, and I love the Russians so I will have to further look into the other of which I have not heard of before.

[MystyrMystyry]

Perhaps some black comedy by Celine?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis-Ferdinand_C%C3%A9line

or Bulgakov

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Works_by_Mikhail_Bulgakov

[Dark Muse]

I do want to read Journey to the End of the Night, though that one is a tad longer than what I am seeking right now, maybe I will bump it up highter on my to be read list

[Sancho]

Oh-Oh-Oh!

How about Flannery O'Connor's - A Good Man is Hard to Find

It's a short story in a collection by the same name. Or you may like Wise Blood, a novel by the same author.

[Desolation]

I do want to read Journey to the End of the Night, though that one is a tad longer than what I am seeking right now, maybe I will bump it up highter on my to be read list

I couldn't recommend Journey highly enough. Sounds like about what you're looking for.

If you want something shorter, how about Nightwood by Djuna Barnes?

[Charles Darnay]

"The Double" by Dostoevsky is along the same lines as "Underground" - it's good for when you just want to hate humanity! (also a very good/short read)

[Dark Muse]

"The Double" by Dostoevsky is along the same lines as "Underground" - it's good for when you just want to hate humanity! (also a very good/short read)

haha Dostoevsky and hating humanity are to of my favorite things

[Pierre Menard]

The Fall by Camus has many similarities to Notes From Underground. Decent read.

[/dev/null]

Kierkegaard is the quintessential existentialist. "Either/Or" and/or "Fear and Trembling" are a good place to start.

[TheFifthElement]

Fight Club is a good read, I'd recommend that. Have you read Nausea by Jean Paul Sartre? If not that's a good one. And Hunger by Knut Hamsun, or maybe The Collector by John Fowles?

[aliengirl]

I'd suggest Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak if you want to read something Russian. But it is not a short read.

[Dark Muse]

Fight Club is a good read, I'd recommend that. Have you read Nausea by Jean Paul Sartre? If not that's a good one. And Hunger by Knut Hamsun, or maybe The Collector by John Fowles?

I love Sartre's plays and I have been wanting to read Nausea by him, I will have to bump it up in my lest. Also I would love to read The Collector, I am a Fowles fan and I have heard that one is dark, which I also love. I have heard good things about Hunger, I have one of Hamsun's books Pan, but I have not read it yet.

[tscherff]

read almost any play of eugene o'neill

[Des Essientes]

I do want to read Journey to the End of the Night, though that one is a tad longer than what I am seeking right now, maybe I will bump it up highter on my to be read list

You really should read Journey to the End of the Night. It is an experience you will never forget, but if you are new to Celine I suggest that you read his Death on the Installment Plan first. It is as enthralling as Journey and although it was written after Jourey, it is the story of Journey's protagonist Ferdinand's childhood, and youth, making it the prequel to Journey. Read them both Dark Muse. You won't regret it.

[hawthorns]

I'd actually recommend something that might both satisfy and inspire. Try the Ernest Shakleton books South and Endurance.

[Dark Muse]

I'd actually recommend something that might both satisfy and inspire. Try the Ernest Shakleton books South and Endurance.

I am actually really into nautical themed works so this might have an extra bonus.

[hawthorns]

I am actually really into nautical themed works so this might have an extra bonus.

Good deal. The Antarctic explorers gave us the most harrowing, awe-inspiring stories I've ever read. It's not short, but here's what will really blow your hair back:

http://www.amazon.com/Worst-Journey-World-Apsley-Cherry-Garrard/dp/0786704373

[Seasider]

You've probably read it but for darkness and depression Tess of the D'Urbevilles is hard to beat.