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Contemporary 'literary' fiction-does it have to be bleak to be good?

29 replies

ArcticRoll · 02/03/2008 20:45

The last few books I have read have been brilliant but ultimately a bit depressing/distressing and/ or bleak;
The Disappearing Act of Esme Lennox
The Kite Runner
The Tenderness of Wolves
The Inheritance of Loss
The Gathering
Half a Yellow Sun
On Chesil Beach
and just about to start A Thousand Spendid
Suns for book group.
I feel the need for some light relief when it's my turn to select for book group.
Any ideas for 'quality' contemporary fiction that isn't distressing or bleak?
Ta.

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marina · 02/03/2008 20:51

It's not bang up to date but William Sutcliffe's Are You Experienced? is extremely funny on the topic of annoying Gap Year egomaniacs in India
And A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, while unsentimental, is much funnier than any of your recent reads

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ArcticRoll · 02/03/2008 20:56

Thanks marina,will look out for those at the library.

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hoxtonchick · 02/03/2008 22:19

two caravans, by the ukrainian tractors woman is good too.

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Saker · 02/03/2008 22:26

Again not bang up-to-date but "English Passengers" is very funny in parts. Though the overall theme is not always cheerful, it is not a bleak book.

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TotalChaos · 02/03/2008 22:33

Small Island by Andrea Levy. Fabulous.

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Bink · 02/03/2008 22:44

I too wonder why things must be Grim to be Proper Writing. (It's that old chestnut about happiness "writing white" - which I think is rubbish.)

It's so old that calling it contemporary sounds odd, but Possession has a very warm heart.

Jon McGregor's If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things is a lovely book.

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dropscone · 02/03/2008 22:44

I sympathise - my book group has recently had the discussion about finding something good , literary but not depressing - quite difficult ! Would love to get some suggestions from people - BTW the Tractor book is good ! my ideas are :-
Buddha Da - Anne Donavan or Miss garnets Angel - Salley Vickers

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dropscone · 02/03/2008 22:46

Bink - I agree Possession great but much as I love Jon McGregor - his books are quite melancholy .............. in a beautiful way

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MaryAnnSingleton · 02/03/2008 22:47

Arctic - just finishing A Thousand Splendid Sun which was for book group - I want a book that's good but not dismal !
Miss Garnetts Angel as suggested Dropscone was good

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Bink · 02/03/2008 22:55

Here is a convenient bargain collection, inc. Tractors book and English Passengers. What a Carve-Up - also included - is supposed to be good & funny in a Waugh-ish way, though I can't remember if I've read it.

I want to defend Jon McGregor against being melancholy but can't do it without a spoiler. So, anyway, yes maybe minor key but NOT that silly "to be taken seriously I must horrify my readership" kind of convention. Very much opposite to that - ie you think he's going to upset you and then he doesn't. Mustn't say any more.

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ArcticRoll · 03/03/2008 09:37

Ooh thanks for all the suggestions and the link Bink.
I will dust off Buddha Da and If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things (bought as 3 for 2 offer and then to languish on bookshelf).
Read Small Island, What a Carve Up! and Possession-enjoyed all of them.
Two Caravans and Short History of Tractors sound fun.
English Passengers-looks interesting.
Oh yes Miss Garnet's Angel-that looks fab-sounds a bit like Anita Bookner but with heroine who actually acts instead of wasting her opportunities.
Anita Bookner books are the ultimate in depressing books; middle class, middle aged women leading unfulfilled lives but if I want to indulge in melancholy they are just the ticket and beautifully written.

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brimfull · 03/03/2008 09:41

How about something by Margaret Forster here she's written some great biographies that make for great book group discussions.Good Wives is really interesting.

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MaryAnnSingleton · 03/03/2008 11:40

ggirl, yes- Margaret Forster - one of my favourites

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ArcticRoll · 03/03/2008 12:01

Thanks ggirl, a Margaret Forster biography (Daphne du Maurier perhaps?) would be a good book group choice.
I read Diary of an Ordinary Woman and really enjoyed it.

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MaryAnnSingleton · 03/03/2008 12:15

I read Lady's Maid aeons ago - was v good as I recall

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cyteen · 28/03/2008 10:12

The Minotaur Takes A Cigarette Break, by Steven Sherrill, is a wonderful warm and funny book and not at all grim - I loved it. Just finished Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides which is also very warm and loving without being rubbish. It took me a while to persevere through the big fat Greek family saga, but it's worth it

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dalek · 28/03/2008 10:17

Cyteen - I loved Middlesex - am forever recommending it to my friends.

Good one for book group - Under the skin by Michel Faber - not grim just fantastically different - do not want to say anymore as it would spoil it for anyone who did want to read it. Not too long either

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FlossieTCake · 28/03/2008 11:24

Cyteen, I just finished the Sherrill last night and have to say am a bit underwhelmed - was expecting more after all the glowing reviews. Then again, I think there must be something wrong with my sense of humour as it's about the fifth in a row of books that include the words "funny" and/or "hilarious" in their jacket reviews that I have actually found quite sad (I would say "poignant" but clearly need to cut back on use of this word after reading the Seven Deadly Words of Book Reviewing yesterday).

I absolutely loved If Nobody Speaks Of Remarkable Things. Have So Many Ways To Begin lined up on my shelf to read SOON.

A.M. Homes - This Book Will Save Your Life. Not grim at all (although another book that I didn't find "funny"!).

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cyteen · 28/03/2008 11:46

Flossie, that's interesting - think I was lucky as I didn't read any reviews, so was able to just read and experience it for myself (I hate Too Many Review syndrome, many a novel has been coloured for me by too much hype). I agree though that it's far more affecting than hilarious - the only bit that made me laugh out loud was the crazy golf scene next to the porno theatre, all the rest seems pretty unequivocally to be about lonely people trying to make a life for themselves.

The only AM Homes book I've read is The End Of Alice, which is absolutely stunning but 100% disturbing. I need to read more of her stuff, her prose is amazing.

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FlossieTCake · 28/03/2008 12:51

This Book Will Save Your Life is really the opposite of disturbing - sad things happen to people, but the overall effect is definitely uplifting. A really lovely read.

ArticRoll, is it just the really depressing/bleak/gloomy stuff you're trying to avoid, i.e. is a bit of sadness acceptable as long as the overall outcome has a gleam of hope in it?

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Miggsie · 28/03/2008 12:55

Anything by Alexander McCall Smith is great.

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ArcticRoll · 30/03/2008 14:33

FlossieTCake-agree that This Book Will Save Your Life is fantastic book and very uplifting.
Would love books in similiar vein-don't mind a bit of sadness - just not relentless misery.
For instance just finished A Thousand Splendid Suns for book group and think have had my fill of tragic tales of oppression, war and abuse etc but can't face chick-lit or mum-lit.
Read A Short History of Tractors and enjoyed it (thanks Marina) and about to start Budhda Da.

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policywonk · 30/03/2008 14:43

dalek - wouldn't you say that Under the Skin is a little bleak?! I mean, it's great, but...

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Mrspanic · 01/04/2008 10:05

Have just finished The Publisher's Wife by Clare Chambers, having overcome an initial repulsion at seeing a Daily Mail endorsement sticker on the cover !

Warm hearted, well written and very human. Also some closely observed characters who are very funny.

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dalek · 17/04/2008 19:23

Policywonk - just aeen this.

I can see why you might say Under the Skin was bleak but I loved it because it kept me guessing for so long. Also very different to anything that I had read before so novelty factor was also there.

Dalek
x

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