Yes. 'The Eiger Sanction' by Trevanian is quite quirky. It combines mountaineering and spying in a really unique way. The main character is an art professor who is also a retired assassin and gets drawn back into the world of espionage. It has a lot of action and some really strange characters. Then there's 'The Day of the Jackal' by Frederick Forsyth. While it's a more traditional spy thriller in some ways, the meticulous planning of the assassin (the Jackal) and the cat - and - mouse game with the police makes it stand out and gives it a touch of quirkiness.
A spy novel can be quirky when it plays with the genre's conventions. If it has a comical tone instead of the serious, brooding atmosphere often associated with spy stories. For instance, making fun of the cliched spy gadgets or the over - the - top villains. Also, if the narrative structure is different. Maybe it jumps back and forth in time in a really disorienting but interesting way. And when the motivation of the characters is not the typical 'save the world' or 'defend the country' but something more personal or strange, like a spy who is on a mission just to get revenge on a former partner who stole his favorite coffee mug.
One characteristic is unusual settings. For example, they might be set in a post - apocalyptic world or a magical realm that we don't often see in traditional romances.
One great quirky novel is 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams. It's full of absurd humor and strange alien races. The plot follows an ordinary man who gets caught up in an intergalactic adventure. Another is 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' which has all those wacky characters like the Cheshire Cat and the Mad Hatter. And 'The Little Prince' is also a bit quirky with its unique take on life and relationships from the perspective of a small alien prince.
Well, one characteristic is their off - beat settings. They could be set in a strange little town or an unusual time period. This adds to the quirkiness. Their language use can also be distinct. They might use made - up words or have a very specific dialect. The relationships in quirky feel - good novels are also special. They can be between unlikely pairs of people. And the themes are often about self - discovery or finding joy in the unexpected. Like in 'Ella Minnow Pea', the theme of language and freedom is explored in a very unique and feel - good way. These novels make you see the world a little differently and leave you with a smile on your face.
One popular quirky love novel is 'The Rosie Project' by Graeme Simsion. It tells the story of a genetics professor with Asperger's syndrome who embarks on a quest to find the perfect wife. Another is 'Eleanor & Park' by Rainbow Rowell, which has a unique take on young love with its misfit characters. And 'The Time Traveler's Wife' by Audrey Niffenegger is also quite quirky as it involves a man who time - travels involuntarily and his relationship with his wife.
One great example is 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams. It's full of absurd humor and unique alien species. The plot is constantly twisting in unexpected ways, making it a truly quirky read. The characters, like the two - headed Zaphod Beeblebrox, are charmingly odd.
I also recommend 'Attachments' by Rainbow Rowell. It's set in the late 90s in an office where the IT guy, Lincoln, is tasked with monitoring the employees' emails for inappropriate use. He ends up falling for two of his female colleagues through reading their exchanges, without them knowing. It has a really sweet and quirky plot with a lot of charm.
Well, 'Don Quixote' by Miguel de Cervantes is also a wonderful quirky classic. The protagonist, Don Quixote, is a deluded knight who goes on adventures, tilting at windmills believing them to be giants. His comical and yet somewhat noble quests make the novel both entertaining and full of depth.
A few well - known quirky fantasy novels are 'The Phantom Tollbooth' by Norton Juster. It's a journey through a world of words and numbers where the main character has to solve various puzzles. 'Howl's Moving Castle' by Diana Wynne Jones. The concept of a castle that moves around on its own legs and the complex characters within it, like the wizard Howl, make it a really interesting and off - beat fantasy. 'Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell' by Susanna Clarke is set in a world where magic returns to England in a rather strange and political way.