CHRONIC CITY, by Jonathan Lethem

Being a big fan of Lethem, I can't recommend this book strongly enough. It's an amazing journey through a kind of alternate New York. It's basically a buddy novel (as was Lethem's wonderful Fortress of Solitude), this time between a hard-boiled NY cultural critic, Perkus Tooth, and a washed-up 80's child sitcom actor, Chase Insteadman. The unlikely friendship between the two results in growth in both men. Surreal, postmodern chaos reigns in New York, the "chronic city" that provides the opportunity for Lethem to engage in some sophisticated and humorous cultural criticism of his own.

click here for a review of the book from NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/books/review/Cowles-t.html

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT, by Mark Haddon

This enjoyable award-winning book, set in Swindon and London, is framed as a detective story narrated by 15 year old Christopher Boone, who is an autistic savant (sort of a "rain-man" type personality). He is a math wiz but has some unique social behaviors (e.g., doesn't like being touched, cannot easily process large amounts of new information, hates yellow and brown but likes red, etc.)  Because the story is told in his words from his unusual point of view, it has a surreal quality and is very engaging. Christopher's hunt for the killer of his neighbor's dog leads him to make a startling discovery about his troubled working class family. He embarks on a harrowing trip to London, and the story plays out. It's touching without being sentimental, often funny in a peculiar dead pan way.

click here for a review of the book from New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/15/books/the-remains-of-the-dog.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm