Transgressive fiction - Chuck Palahniuk, Brett Easton Ellis, Irvine Welsh, etc

[tituspowell]

I've discovered several books I really like fall under the somewhat obscure category of "Transgressive Fiction". Examples of authors linked to it are Chuck Palahniuk, Brett Easton Ellis and Irvine Welsh.

Wikipedia defines it as:

"Transgressive fiction is a genre of literature that focuses on characters who feel confined by the norms and expectations of society and who break free of those confines in unusual and/or illicit ways. Because they are rebelling against the basic norms of society, protagonists of transgressional fiction may seem mentally ill, anti-social, or nihilistic."

There are a few other authors mentioned on the Wikipedia article, but can any of you recommend other authors and specific books you've read that fit this genre? (And which you'd recommend?)

[Geoffrey]

I never thought to lump these authors into their own sub-genre before, but I can see it.   Trainspotting, Porno, Pygmy, Invisible Monsters, American Psycho, Less Than Zero, .... its a great body of work by some, arguably, disturbed authors


I would include Scott Heim in this list with Mysterious Skin and We Disappear - both fantastic and more than a little disturbing.  Maybe early Poppy Z. Brite with things like Exquisite Corpse.  I might also include Bart Yates with The Brothers Bishop ...

[nomesque]

Interesting! I can see the logic, too. *ponder*

This might suit:


I loved it.

[tituspowell]

Some great suggestions there of books I haven't read yet but look promising; I will slowly work my way through them!

Anyone else have any book recommendations in this genre?

[genevieveaclark]

I was going to suggest Kathy Acker, but I see that Wikipedia beat me to it. She's totally different in tone, but I think better than, say, Chuck, who seems to have written the same book over and over again, a little bit? I'd also recommend Mary Gaitskill - her short story "Secretary" was the basis for the movie of the same name, included in the collection Bad Behavior, although the movie is basically puppy dogs and rainbows compared to the story. (Gaitskill is the author who, after Bad Behavior was published, had an interviewer ask, "have you ever turned a trick?" and she responded, "yes, have you?") Bad Behavior is probably more transgressive in the sense you mean it than the later works that I've read.

And now I'm wondering if Hubert Selby, Jr. is the mystery author I couldn't remember the other day...

[jherrick]

Would Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney fit? Another nice treasure (different author) from the Less Than Zero '80s era.

[James Everington]

William Burroughs would seem the obvious 'big' name not mentioned yet - Junky, Naked Lunch etc...

I'd also recommend Marion Stein and her book Loisaida - some drugs and debauchery in there for sure.

[tituspowell]

William Burroughs would seem the obvious 'big' name not mentioned yet - Junky, Naked Lunch etc...

I'd also recommend Marion Stein and her book Loisaida - some drugs and debauchery in there for sure.

Thanks guys! I've just bought Loisaida and will try that one next.

I've heard "Last Exit to Brooklyn" mentioned as Transgressive Fiction; haven't read that one yet either though.

[nogdog~6op6ou]

...
Wikipedia defines it as:

"Transgressive fiction is a genre of literature that focuses on characters who feel confined by the norms and expectations of society and who break free of those confines in unusual and/or illicit ways. Because they are rebelling against the basic norms of society, protagonists of transgressional fiction may seem mentally ill, anti-social, or nihilistic."
...

When I read that, I thought it could include a lot of fiction. The choices become significantly trimmed down when you read the next few paragraphs:

The genre of "transgressive fiction" was defined by Los Angeles Times literary critic Michael Silverblatt.[1] Rene Chun, a journalist for The New York Times, described transgressive fiction thus:[2]

"A literary genre that graphically explores such topics as incest and other aberrant sexual practices, mutilation, the sprouting of sexual organs in various places on the human body, urban violence and violence against women, drug use, and highly dysfunctional family relationships, and that is based on the premise that knowledge is to be found at the edge of experience and that the body is the site for gaining knowledge."
...
Transgressional fiction shares similarities with splatterpunk, noir, and erotic fiction in its willingness to portray forbidden behaviors and shock readers. But it differs in that protagonists often pursue means to better themselves and their surroundings—albeit unusual and extreme ones. Much transgressional fiction deals with searches for self-identity, inner peace, or personal freedom. Unbound by usual restrictions of taste and literary convention, its proponents claim that transgressional fiction is capable of pungent social commentary.

[JRTomlin]

Geek Love by  Katherine Dunn.

[Richardcrasta]

I may be out on a limb here, but would expand this to include:

Marquis de Sade
The story of O ??
Nabokov's Lolita
Notes from the Underground
Kafka's books
Catch-22 (Screw War, the whole capitalistic system is a madhouse and a ripoff, and only one who opts out of society is sane)
Kurt Vonnegut (??)

Richard Crasta

[BenCheetham]

Pretty much anything by William Burroughs, of course.

It's not fiction but George Orwell's 'Down and out in Paris and London' is a wonderful account of his experiences willfully living on the outer fringes of society.

[Jon Olson]

Would Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney fit? Another nice treasure (different author) from the Less Than Zero '80s era.

Hm. I find this sorta mainstream, hip, coming-of-agey, not so much transgressive.

[Julia March]

I'd also recommend Mary Gaitskill

Definitely Mary Gaitskill. I would also mention Two Girls Fat and Thin and Veronica, her 2 novels. In the longer works you get so many more details that sometimes show you why what looks transgressive is not, or conversely.

These are obviously written from a female point of view.

[Adam Pepper]

I've heard "Last Exit to Brooklyn" mentioned as Transgressive Fiction; haven't read that one yet either though.

Last Exit to Brooklyn definitely sounds like it would be up your alley.  Or any other Selby book for that matter.  He is one of my all time favs.

[tituspowell]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys... I have a quite a backlog of books to look forward to now!

[JChris]

"Transgressive fiction is a genre of literature that focuses on characters who feel confined by the norms and expectations of society and who break free of those confines in unusual and/or illicit ways. Because they are rebelling against the basic norms of society, protagonists of transgressional fiction may seem mentally ill, anti-social, or nihilistic."

I've read Easton and Palahniuk, but I never knew there was a sub genre for these kinds of books. Based on your definition, I think Choke could possibly be the best example. That's one my favorites. I thought the movie botched the novel's ending about the looking past the confines and expectations of society. I thought the novel's ending with the castle of rocks was more uplifting. Anyone else read this book?

[Steve Silkin]

i highly recommend 'eustace chisholm and the works' and 'in a shallow grave' by james purdy.

[Steve Silkin]

Geek Love by  Katherine Dunn.

Great book.

and by the way:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grady_Stiles

[Libby13]

I'm a fan of all three authors you mentioned and I would second you trying Last Exit to Brooklyn.  Just a wonderful wonderful book and in line with the others you've read.  

This is the first time I've heard of the genre.  I have a few recs but am not 100% sure if they fit:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The Arsonist's Guide to Writers Homes In New England - gentler tone then those mentioned


And would Catcher in the Rye count?  I feel like it must.

[youngadultfiction]

perks of a wallflower would definitely fit in, although it's more subtle and slower that say Less than zero. 'Apples' by Richard Milward was an amazing read, dark teenage and dirty, and also 'Before i Die' by Jenny Downham, These i would definitely recommend.

[genevieveaclark]

And would Catcher in the Rye count?  I feel like it must.

South Park has something to say about that. (I gotta say, I had the same reaction as the South Park kids when I had to read it in school: "this? really?")

I will say that as a result of this thread I picked up Geek Love, and whoa, immediately uncomfortable! I did not know what a "geek" was. Apparently. And just the first few pages are a writer's seminar in dramatic pacing and verb choice. Seems like it's gonna be a fantastic book that will make me feel totally squicked out until the overwhelming humanity or whatever it is dawns.

[tituspowell]

Thanks everyone. I've checked out every one of your recommendations. I don't think I can bring myself to read Geek Love based on the Amazon description, but have added Apples, Before I Die and Last Exit To Brooklyn to my 'to read' list. Several others sound interested too. I just stared reading Loisaida from earlier in this thread.

[JimJ]

Not long after I got into reading Chuck Palahniuk, someone recommended The Contortionist's Handbook by Craig Clevenger.  It's been a long time since I read it and I don't remember much about it (my memory of books is pretty terrible) but I do remember enjoying it.  May reread now that this thread got me thinking about it.  It's 6.99 on Kindle but I see that they also have a bundle with the author's second book, Dermaphoria, which I've never read, for 3 bucks more:


Also, I think Donald Ray Pollock would probably apply.  I just read his collection of linked short stories called Knockemstiff and there's some really gritty, ugly stuff in there.  He also has a novel out called The Devil All The Time, which I have from Audible but haven't listened to yet.:

[Debra Purdy Kong]

I've discovered several books I really like fall under the somewhat obscure category of "Transgressive Fiction". Examples of authors linked to it are Chuck Palahniuk, Brett Easton Ellis and Irvine Welsh.

Wikipedia defines it as:

"Transgressive fiction is a genre of literature that focuses on characters who feel confined by the norms and expectations of society and who break free of those confines in unusual and/or illicit ways. Because they are rebelling against the basic norms of society, protagonists of transgressional fiction may seem mentally ill, anti-social, or nihilistic."

There are a few other authors mentioned on the Wikipedia article, but can any of you recommend other authors and specific books you've read that fit this genre? (And which you'd recommend?)

I might be missing the mark, but wouldn't Catcher in the Rye? fit that description? There's probably a few classics that kind of launched that whole rebellion thing, unless transgressive specifically refers to modern works??