V by Thomas Pynchon
"V" is a complex novel that intertwines two parallel narratives. One follows Benny Profane, a discharged U.S. Navy sailor involved in a group of bohemian artists and hooligans called the Whole Sick Crew, while the other narrative is a series of historical accounts researched by Herbert Stencil, who is on a quest to uncover the identity of an entity known only as V. The narrative oscillates between various global locations and time periods, including Egypt in 1898, Southwest Africa in 1922, and Malta in 1919, among others. The book explores themes of entropy, human connection, and the nature of identity.
The 499th greatest book of all time
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This book is on the following lists:
- 26th on In Which These Are the 100 Greatest Novels (ThisRecording.com)
- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (The Book)
- Donald Barthelme’s Reading List (Believer Mag)
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)
- Best Books (Fiction, Prose) : Experts Choose Their Favourites (The Book "Best Books")
- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (The Guardian)
- As if You Don't Have Enough to Read, Fiction Edition (New York Times)