Best Postmodernism Literary Criticism Books of 2025

The Great Gatsby: Original 1925 Edition is a classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, set in the Jazz Age and the Roaring Twenties. The story explores themes of decadence, idealism, social stigmas, patriarchal norms, and the negative effects of unencumbered wealth in capitalistic society. The book is a cautionary tale, revealing the darker side of the American Dream. The protagonist, Gatsby, is a compelling character, embodying the hope and romantic readiness that is rare in any other person. This novel is a must-read for anyone interested in classic literature and fiction books.

Fassbinder Thousands of Mirrors by Ian Penman is a fascinating study of the late West German filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder. The book presents Fassbinder as a pivotal figure in the late 1970s moment between late modernism and the advent of postmodernism and the digital revolution. Penman's writing style echoes the fragmentary and reflective works of writers like Barthes and Cioran, and the book has everything: sex, drugs, art, the city, cinema, and revolution. The book is a compelling, beautifully written, and genuinely moving story that offers a unique perspective on Fassbinder's allure.

Lalechka is a touching tale of a mother's love and her unrelenting will to save her daughter from the horrors of the Holocaust. Based on a true story, the book chronicles the perilous journey of a little girl named Lalechka, who is smuggled out of a Polish ghetto by her parents. The story is a moving tribute to courage, strength, and the power of love in the darkest of times. The book is a must-read for those who enjoy Jewish historical fiction and want to learn more about the Holocaust.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a masterpiece of American literature. Set in the Jazz Age, the novel explores themes of decadence, idealism, and the American Dream through the story of Jay Gatsby and his obsession with Daisy Buchanan. Fitzgerald's beautiful prose captures the essence of the Roaring Twenties, while also providing a cautionary tale about the dangers of excess and the consequences of blindly pursuing one's dreams. This annotated edition is a must-read for fans of classic literature and fiction books.

The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov is a masterpiece of twentieth-century Russian fiction that had to wait many years after the author's death to be published. The story takes place in 1930s Moscow during Stalin's regime, where the devil and his odd companions create chaos among the literary elite. Meanwhile, the Master, author of an unpublished novel, is trapped in a psychiatric hospital, and his lover, Margarita, decides to sell her soul to save him. Bulgakov's narrative weaves back and forth between Moscow and ancient Jerusalem, including a range of scenes such as a Satanic ball and the murder of Judas in Gethsemane. This book is an absolute must-read for anyone interested in classic literature.

The Dark Enlightenment by Nick Land is a controversial book that challenges the principles of progressivism and democracy, advocating for neoreaction and anti-humanism. Land explores neoreaction's central tenets, such as neocameralism and formalism, through the lens of Darwinism, resulting in a unique and thought-provoking perspective. The book includes an unreleased essay by Land on the writing and impact of The Dark Enlightenment. Despite being written ten years ago, none of Land's arguments have been proven wrong, making this book a timeless read for those interested in postmodernism, literary criticism, and politics.

This book offers a new theory of the novel for the twenty-first century. The author identifies a mode of thought called "free indirect" in the works of contemporary writers such as J. M. Coetzee, Rachel Cusk, James Kelman, W. G. Sebald, and Zadie Smith. This mode of thought represents the rediscovery of a quality that has been largely ignored by theorists: thought at the limits of form. The book is polemical, disturbing, and unapologetically optimistic in its claims for the novel's anti-formalist fugitivity. It is a brilliant and unforgettable work of criticism that challenges the traditional notion of literary theory and introduces a unique perspective on contemporary fiction.

Appalachia on the Table is a thought-provoking book that challenges readers to question the stereotypes associated with Appalachian food. Erica Abrams Locklear delves into the history and cultural analysis of the region, using food to read the representation of the people and their cuisine. The book highlights how the foods associated with Appalachia have been used to socially categorize and stigmatize mountain people. Locklear's analysis asks how the dominant culinary narrative of the region came into existence and what consequences it had for people in the mountains. This book will appeal to anyone interested in food studies, food history, and American studies.

The Arcades Project by Walter Benjamin is a monumental work that took thirteen years to construct. Benjamin presents a montage of quotations and reflections on the arcades of nineteenth-century Paris, focusing on the commodification of things and the decisive shift to the modern age. The Harvard University Press edition of Benjamin's work is a generous undertaking. The book is an assemblage of quotations, notes, and theses that wrestle with themselves to extraordinary effect. The Arcades Project is a remarkable achievement and a must-read for anyone interested in arts, photography criticism, and books.

The National Book Award-winning classic White Noise by Don DeLillo is a postmodern masterpiece that delves into the themes of consumerism, family, technology, and addiction. The story follows Jack, a professor of Hitler studies, his wife Babette, and their four children in a college town. A toxic accident and Babette's addiction to an experimental drug shake their lives and make Jack question everything. This Viking Critical Library edition contains the entire text along with a critical introduction, selected essays, reviews, and a chronology of DeLillo's life and work. White Noise is a must-read for those who enjoy thought-provoking and satirical novels.