five books with voice

Updated: October 10, 2008 - 12:59 PM

Kevin Kling

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Five books with voice

Writer-storyteller Kevin Kling knows a thing or three about voice. Here are five books he thinks have strong voice and finds to be a "bit off the normal path":

HAD I A HUNDRED MOUTHS

by William Goyen

Born with "the gift," Goyen, from Texas, seems to speak through the page. Profound, dark and amazing stories. When asked where his beautiful and twisted tales come from, Goyen replied, "You don't think it starts with peace, do you?"

THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD

by Zora Neale Hurston

Loveliest of love stories. At one point, the main character says something like, "She could make a man forget to get old and forget to die."

DIRTY MUSIC

by Tim Winton

A truly Australian voice, like snags on the barbie. Winton knows his people and his country. Fair dinkum. Loaded with Australian phrases, and that's not the raw prawn. Good on ya, mate.

AT SWIM-TWO-BIRDS

by Flann O'Brien

Hilarious satire on Joyce's "Ulysses." It's been said of this book, "The satire is the equal of the original."

A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES

by John Kennedy Toole

An incredible book set in New Orleans. Chicory-chock full of N'awlins dialects and nuances. Easily the funniest book I've ever read. The story in the preface about Toole's mother getting this Pulitzer Prize-winning book published after his death is as amazing as any fiction you'll read.

CURT BROWN