World, Other World - Simon Just

fourteen short stories in a book with two covers - no, seriously. the book flips over, with half normal fiction - half 'speculative fiction' (read science fiction). this was a fun book, flipping back and forth. great stories, and I'm not just saying that because I got an advanced copy.
just go buy it.

Automated Alice - Jeff Noon

Noon's continuation of the Alice series by Lewis Carroll, reads kinda silly/frivolous to me. I didn't get anything out of it and could have done without reading it entirely. perhaps it reads like Carroll, I could never get into his work. his 'hidden points' were political ..snore, Noon's are more fundamentally social.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams

been meaning to read this for years. took a friend -sending- me a copy for me to finally get around to it. very good, silly, but no useless silliness; it has interesting perspectives and good nonsense. whereas Noon's book above has social commentary, and Carroll's has political, Adams hits on social and scientific points - gotta love it.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle - Shirley Jackson

read this book as a child and again recently, I now see how I got so twisted. highly recommended, Jackson is wonderful.

The Wasp Factory - Ian Banks

this book seemed like it was written by a somewhat talented kid, but I did finish it. it's not long and has some interesting parts. what was the deal with the smiling baby? that seemed very familiar to me (?)

Zod Wallop - William Brownine Spencer

strange tale of gestalt amongst mental patients involving a children's book. (that is the best I can do to explain it)

The Stranger - Albert Camus

a tale of indifference, and how it really is apathy on taking control.
good summary

Giovanni's Room - James Baldwin

beautiful, genuine picture of confusing sexuality. not some glorifying gender-bender book.

Theodore Roethke wrote some peculiarly good ones
Two from a collection of his work :

The Geranium
The Lizard

Dorothy Parker...bitter, sarcastic, caustic...wonderful.
her bio and one on Kierkegaard are the only I've enjoyed - and finished.
Want to know more about her?

I found some poems by A.E. Jenks I really like, especially 'Behind My Door'