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contemporary british novels one should read

17 replies

antimatter · 01/11/2013 19:57

I've raad 3 of those listed in the link
White Teeth
Bring up the bodies
The Curious Incident of the Dog of The Night Time
so if the rest is as good as those I should add them to my list of "must read soon"
have you read any of those at the tope of that list?

qwiklit.com/2013/11/01/25-contemporary-british-novels-you-should-read-right-now/

OP posts:
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treaclesoda · 01/11/2013 20:03

I've read Atonement, Trainspotting and The Wasp Factory and enjoyed them all.

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TheNunsOfGavarone · 01/11/2013 20:39

Lucky Jim (how on earth does that still qualify as a contemporary novel?)
The Wasp Factory
The Buddha of Suburbia
Captain Corelli's Mandolin
White Teeth
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time

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lovelybunchofcoconuts · 01/11/2013 20:53

Lucky Jim
The French Lieutenants Woman
The Wasp Factory
Nights At The Circus
Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit
Remains Of The Day
The Buddha Of Suburbia
Possession
Trainspotting
Capatin Corelli's Mandarin
White Teeth
Atonement
The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Nighttime
Cloud Atlas
Bring Up The Bodies

Although I prefer some to others I think it's a good list, I didn't like Cloud Atlas much!
Oranges is one of my favourites, as is Trainspotting.
I loved Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies, I want the next one. Now.

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Louise1956 · 02/11/2013 05:47

I enjoyed White Teeth and The Curious Incident of The Dog in the night time. The French Leutenant's Woman and Nights at the Circus were okay, a bit weird though. Oranges are Not the Only Fruit was quite good. I didn't find Lucky Jim very interesting. Most of the others I haven't read and don't want to read, some I wouldn't read if you paid me. The only one I haven't read that I think I might like to read is Waterland, which looks quite interesting.

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RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 02/11/2013 17:42

Flaubert's Parrot is excellent - far and away the best, of the ones I've read. Hated several of them, especially The Remains of the Day and Atonement. Didn't finish Cloud Atlas. Cba with Bodies, as WH annoyed me.

To my shame, I haven't read that Golding - so it's now on my list.

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Southeastdweller · 02/11/2013 17:45

A Spot of Bother.

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LeBearPolar · 02/11/2013 17:48

I've read

The French Lieutenant's Woman
The Wasp Factory
The Remains of the Day
Captain Corelli's Mandolin
White Teeth
Atonement
Curious Incident

Not as many as I should have done! Remains of the Day is one of my favourite novels but I didn't finish Cloud Atlas. I'd like to read Oranges as I've enjoyed other Jeanette Winterson.

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skolastica · 02/11/2013 19:06

I'm a compulsive reader and haven't read any of them - pretentiousness rules.

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Shallishanti · 02/11/2013 19:12

that's a very odd list, do they say anywhere what the criteria were?
some of the earlier covers were very attractive though

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RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 02/11/2013 19:44

Why pretentious?

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Abalam · 02/11/2013 19:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Foosyerdoos · 02/11/2013 19:57

I have read -
1/2 to 2/3 of Crash - I found all the wanking over cars most tedious.
The Wasp Factory
Trainspotting
Captain Corelli's Mandolin
The Curious Incident of the Dog
1/2 of Cloud Atlas - I do hope to finish this one day

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MiddleAgeMiddleEngland · 02/11/2013 21:42

I've read eleven. It's an odd list, there are many others I would add on, and some I would take off. All of these lists are so subjective they probably don't mean much at all.

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mmack · 04/11/2013 18:47

I've read 8. I loved Waterland, Possession, Atonement and the French Lieutenant's Woman. Liked The Buddha of Suburbia, Trainspotting and Curious Incident. Hated Captain Corelli so much I can't imagine why I stuck with it to the end. Tried but couldn't get into Cloud Atlas either. Really must read Wasp Factory.

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iamusuallybeingunreasonable · 04/11/2013 18:51

One word

Shantaram

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tumbletumble · 07/11/2013 06:54

I've read:

Oranges are not the Only Fruit
The Remains of the Day
Possession
Captain Corelli's Madolin
Atonement
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time
Wolf Hall

I loved all of these, except Oranges which is okay. I would really recommend them.

Coincidentally I'm currently reading Lucky Jim. Haven't really got the hang of it yet.

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IHadADreamThatWasNotAllADream · 07/11/2013 07:07

I think it's a good accessible list actually - full of middlebrow essential reads rather than showing-off books.
The problem is that because it covers such a wide range of styles, nobody is going to like all of them, the Remains of the Day lovers may hate Crash and vice versa.

Am I the only person who finished and enjoyed Cloud Atlas? (Some strands more than others I grant you)

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