Any Recommendations for Literary Fiction

[Bookpossum]

Originally Posted by JaneD

Second Geraldine Brooks. I've read three of her books so far and been impressed by every one.

Just finished "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" by Helen Simonson and was really blown away by her gorgeous language.

Thanks for this - good to know there's another Geraldine Brooks fan out there. I think my favourite is still her first, "Year of Wonders".

I'll put Helen Simonson on my TBR list - looks interesting.

[Bookpossum]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

I highly recommend Jane Gardam. You might try Elizabeth Taylor, Barbara Pym, Penelope Lively, Alan Bennett

And thanks for Jane Gardam's name - I haven't read her either and she sounds very interesting. I do know the others and enjoy them, especially Alan Bennett.

Great thread - thanks for starting it, Adele.

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by Bookpossum

And thanks for Jane Gardam's name - I haven't read her either and she sounds very interesting. I do know the others and enjoy them, especially Alan Bennett.

Great thread - thanks for starting it, Adele.

Jane Gardam is (to me) a fascinating writer. Her books are quite short, her writing is quite spare - but she packs a tremendous amount of emotion & character development into very few words - that have quite a visceral impact upon the reader. As if she was taking the British cliches of the "stiff upper lip" and "keep calm and carry on", etc. to their ultimate limits.

For a real treat, read "Old Filth" and then immediately read "The Man in the Wooden Hat" - the story of a marriage from the husband's (Old Filth) and the wife's (Wooden Hat) viewpoint - exactly the same events - but oh what a difference!

[Bookpossum]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Jane Gardam is (to me) a fascinating writer. Her books are quite short, her writing is quite spare - but she packs a tremendous amount of emotion & character development into very few words - that have quite a visceral impact upon the reader. As if she was taking the British cliches of the "stiff upper lip" and "keep calm and carry on", etc. to their ultimate limits.

For a real treat, read "Old Filth" and then immediately read "The Man in the Wooden Hat" - the story of a marriage from the husband's (Old Filth) and the wife's (Wooden Hat) viewpoint - exactly the same events - but oh what a difference!

Thanks poohbear - I'll take your advice. Unfortunately our library doesn't have ebooks yet, but I can probably get DTB versions.

[SeaBookGuy]

I read her book "The Queen of the Tambourine" first, and couldn't put it down.

[Bookpossum]

I can see I'm not going to run out of books on the TBR list any time soon!