Sonny sent this link, and since reading the terrific article I've been thinking of the Naipaul I've read and need to read. Here's a rundown of what I've covered and what needs to be done.
The Mystic Masseur (1957) - pretty lame. actually his third written book i think. not many laughs. C+
The Suffrage of Elvira (1958) - funny Naipaul about corrupt elections in Trinidad. B+
Miguel Street (1959) - his first book. street sketches of Trinidad folks. Pretty funny but also pedestrian. B
A House for Mr Biswas (1961) - the best Naipaul. Funny and sad and a ton of unique humor. A
The Mimic Men (1967) - i read this but dont remember it. INC
In a Free State (1971) - three stories about exiles who make a go of things. One set in DC if memory serves which was quite good. B
Guerrillas (1975) - ahhh islanders. Dumb whites abound. Not as good as his next book. B
A Bend in the River (1979) - terrific read. Fictionalized mobutu congo nonsense, but Naipaul is firm about everything. his narrator is self assured and makes the chaos manageable. Great opening line, and also great business insights. Good digs at colonials if memory serves. B+
The Enigma of Arrival (1987) - a book about nothing that is so good and weird it defies categorization. Naipaul describes coils of hay and drinking a beer on a Sunday afternoon and i'm floored. I don't know why. A-
Half a Life (2001) - Ugh. C
I want to read Among the Believers: An Islamic Journey, and a couple other non fictions. I've read the India books in spots, and they were fine. Conversations with V.S. Naipaul (University Press of Mississippi) is a riot, and rewards constant reading for the Naipaul jabs.
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