The 'art of storytelling' has always been changing and yielded the most exciting variations of narratives. In this seminar we want to take a close look at some very recent examples: The four novels that will be our focus of attention have all been published after 2000. They will provide interesting sources not only to explore a variety of different narrative strategies typically used in contemporary fictions, but they also encourage us to contemplate to what effect these very strategies are used. The texts by Auster, Coetzee, Foer and Haddon may - some more than others - seem a bit outlandish at first and, indeed, their apparently unconventional ways have encountered divided opinions. All novels have nevertheless attracted a wide readership in their unique ways of telling stories and are very rewarding reads. Discussing them should thus prove entertaining while at the same time you will get the chance to further develop your analytical and methodological skills to critically approach narrative fictions.
Participants are required to purchase their own copies of the novels and to have read Auster's Invisible as well as Safran Foer's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close for the first session. Please make sure you obtain the versions listed below, so that we can all conveniently work with the same editions of the respective novels in class:
Auster, Paul. Invisible. USA, New York: Picador, 2010.
Foer, Jonathan Safran. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. London: Penguin (Open market e.), 2006.
Coetzee, J.M. Slow Man. London: Vintage Books, 2006.
Haddon, Marc. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. London: Random House UK, 2004.
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