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Good book about good people

25 replies

barleywood · 22/04/2014 08:35

Currently reading 'Calebs Crossing' by Geraldine Brookes. Cross cultural Indians and early American settlers.

Dreading finishing it as I having nothing lined up.

Had my fill for the moment of crime, vampires and fantasy. Keeping away from family breakdowns, divorce etc and other issue led books I.e Jodie Picoult.

Looking for a good books about good people trying to live good lives in a complicated world ( I do realise that this could be a description of Picoult's books)
Any suggestions?

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highlandcoo · 22/04/2014 10:37

Try Run, State of Wonder and Bel Canto, all by Ann Patchett.

Also The Idea of Perfection by Kate Grenville, and Thin Air by Sue Gee.

There is a warmth and humanity about these authors' view of the world which might be what you are looking for in a book at the moment.

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MadamBatShit · 22/04/2014 10:48

Kent Haruf, he wrote a series about a fictional town in Colorado (?) Very good, human.
Justin Cronin's The Summer Guest is good, no vampires at all.

Ah, a bit of family drama though. Are there books without family breakup and drama? Not issue led as such though. Life.

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RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 22/04/2014 10:49

Have you read, 'Little Women' and its sequels?

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MadamBatShit · 22/04/2014 16:22

Ruth Ozeki - a tale for the time being

Anna Quindlen - Still life with bread crumbs

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drxerox · 23/04/2014 07:06

Ann Tyler - St Maybe and Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant.

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barleywood · 23/04/2014 07:22

Thanks for the suggestions....

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SweetPenelope · 01/05/2014 18:57

I second Anne Tyler. Her books are great.

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Louise1956 · 02/05/2014 18:04

the No.1 ladies detective agency books by Alexander mcCall Smith are about good people.

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FrancesHB · 02/05/2014 20:02

I so agree with Kent Haruf. His books are amazing, and this is exactly what they are.

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Takver · 02/05/2014 22:28

Try Diana Athill's memoirs - fascinating reading, she lived a relatively unconventional life for her time and class, but I would say "good books about good people trying to live good lives in a complicated world" is an excellent description.

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skolastica · 09/05/2014 09:51

The Bishops Man - Linden MacIntyre (remote Nova Scotia, the priesthood and morals and ethics)
Brixton Beach - Roma tearne (immigrants from Sri Lanka)
The death of Mr LOve - Indra Sinha
Star of the Sea - Joseph o Connor
Elizabeth Jane Howard - any.
Saville - David Storey
Nobody's Fool - Richard Russo
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith
he Bean trees - Barbara Kingsolver
Cutting for Stone - Abraham Verghese
Property - Valerie Martin
The Power of One - Bryce Courtenay
Of Marriageable Age - Sharon Maas

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Ragglefrock · 10/05/2014 13:39

The Universe versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence

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notadoctor · 13/05/2014 03:03

Definitely Anne Tyler. Also anything by Amy Tan.

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BlueChampagne · 14/05/2014 16:32

The Grapes of Wrath
Adam Bede or Silas Marner

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plus2new · 14/05/2014 16:35

Delighted to see some Kent Haruf fans on this thread. I love his books, especially Plainsong and Eventide and never seem to meet anyone who has read them.

I highly recommend his books.

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SarahAndFuck · 14/05/2014 17:35

Another one agreeing with the Anne Tyler recommendations. Drxrox has chosen two of my favourites but I also love The Clock Winder and Morgan's Passing.

Also Carol Shields. I love Happenstance, The Republic of Love and Unless.

A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg is that sort of book too, as are The Sugar Queen and Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen.

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OverAndAbove · 18/05/2014 21:46

Ah, I'm delighted to see this thread. I'm always happy to read a book where good things happen to good people.

I totally agree with No 1Ladies Detective Agency. And the Cazalets. I like Joanne Harris's books as they always have good (and interesting people) in them

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ExCinnamon · 18/05/2014 21:49

Cutting for Stone.

Made my husband read it too. He reads about 1 non-fiction book per decade.

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traviata · 22/05/2014 21:38

Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City.

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imaginative · 23/05/2014 20:37

What about the Jane Austen novels? I love them.

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somewherewest · 26/05/2014 20:36

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. One of the reviews actually praises Robinson for managing to create a protagonist who is both good and interesting.

Empire Falls by Richard Russo. Very funny book about a nice guy doing his best.

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CSLewis · 23/06/2014 09:30

I second Marilynne Robinson and 'Gilead'. There's a sequel, called 'Home', which is also wonderful but a bit more family trauma/drama in the plot.

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tobeabat · 06/07/2014 11:05

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hackmum · 06/07/2014 11:42

OP, have you read any of Geraldine Brooks's other books? I think she's a terrific writer. Year of Wonders is excellent.

Not sure it matches your request for books about good people living good lives, though. That's quite a tough call! I find Alison Lurie and Elinor Lipman hugely enjoyable if you like stuff that is lightly comic (and the characters are basically good). Ditto David Lodge.

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tobeabat · 06/07/2014 16:49

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