I just found this post I wrote a few years ago, my favorite 6 novels that came out within the last 6 years (at the time I wrote the post): My Favorite Books

Came out originally in 2010. Never heard of it myself, but saw it in a used bookstore and thought, What the heck?

It really comes down to what you would consider "great" in fiction. To me, it's pretty easy: The writing is beautiful and poetic without ever trying so hard to sound beautiful and poetic. Fitzgerald just had such an ease with the language, even in his lesser works, the writing was always impeccable.

All three sound great. I think I'll try Clockers next. Reading a quick novel now about an English language newspaper set in Rome, The Imperfectionists. It's basically just a collection of short stories that are nothing more than character pieces, but that's the kind of stuff I like so it's pretty enjoyable, though…

I was always a big book nerd (especially as a kid) so I generally liked most of the books I read in school. Considering how many lit classes I took in HS and college, it's amazing I never read a single Fitzgerald book or story for class, but I've read pretty much everything he ever wrote on my own.

I've only ever read Lush Life, which was brilliant. Any other recommendations?

Gatsby is a masterpiece, and a master class in adult literary writing. I've read it every year for over a decade and I can tell you that it does everything right.

More or less:
The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald
Sunnyside by Glenn David Gold
So Many Ways To Begin by Jon McGregor
Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky (admittedly, it has been years, need to re-read this.)
Lush Life by Richard Price

Is there any funky jazz?

As the same band that created "Jesus Was Way Cool", I just want to say that this isn't a novelty song, it's one of the books that should have been included in the gospels.

Thanks for the heads up AV Club, just got my ticket.

Yeah, I've only seen them once, in Nashville a few years back, and while I didn't care for the album they were touring on, the show was still great.

One of the things that I miss in latter-day Old 97s (and that most writers talking about this album seem to ignore) is that besides for writing very funny, very drunken songs, Rhett Miller was always an extremely literate writer, especially in the Fight Songs/Too Far To Care/Satellite Rides days. This was the band…

I've only ever been to one taping of a TV show, and it was one of his. I really can't be bothered to watch any late night shows anymore, but there were a number of years there that his was must watch every night.

Well, sure, rape and racism makes everything better. Just look at the NBA.

Careful, that seemingly obvious opinion will get you tarred and feathered around here.

Maybe someone else already said this, but…

You should hear my Concerto in C[um] Major.

I knew I should have stuck with my flute lessons.

I thought they hated the West because of the Lakers.