What are the modern day classics for the older generation?

[thedolly]

My FIL doesn't read anymore because he thinks he will never read anything as great as 'Kafka'. Please help me to reignite his love of reading by suggesting something that he might like (hopefully love).

Thank you

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Are you sure FIL's eyesight isn't so shot he can't read any more? Kafka was a miserable bugger at best, maybe that's what really put FIL off.

[thedolly]

FIl's eyesight is fine but he is also a miserable bugger

[thedolly]

Can anyone suggest a modern day 'classic' for an aged 70+ FIL who reckons he has read all the good stuff?

(He loved Les MIserables)

[LaSoiDisantDame]

My fil loved 'The Road to Wigan Pier' by Orwell as a gift but as he was born in Lancashire around the time it was written so it was sort of perfect for him. Plus he's a fan of gritty social commentary!

Hmm as Les mis deals with hard lives maybe something by Steinbeck. 'Grapes of Wrath' maybe, my personal fave?

[thedolly]

I would imagine he has read both of those LaSo. I was thinking more of something that has been published say in the last 10 years or so, classics of the future IYKWIM.

Any ideas?

[LaSoiDisantDame]

Oh in that case...

What about 'This thing of darkness' by Harry Thompson?

or maybe 'Any Human Heart' by William Boyd, 'A prayer for Owen meany' John Irving, 'Remains of the Day' Kasho Ishguro (sp?)'The Line of Beauty' Alan Hollinghurst?

Tbh I've been reading so may Old Classics recently it's hard to think of Modern modern classics.

Just realised all those authors were male, wasn't intentional To throw in some females, how about Margaret Atwood or A S Byatt?

[thedolly]

I have read Owen Meany and Remains of the Day and would say that they are probably not thought provoking enough for FIL.

Not sure about the others - I will get googling

[JeffVadar]

A few that spring to mind are:

Iris Murdoch
Julian Barnes
Ian McEwan
Salman Rushdie
John Updike

Personally I have found these fairly hard work (except Rushdie who was unreadable) so they might fit the bill!

[Acinonyx]

Milan Kundera has been compared to Kafka - perhpas he would enjoy something like 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being'. A bit more than 10 years (I'm getting on myself....).

Hmmm. Novels with a philosophical twist.

Sophie's World, J Gaarder.

If he likes that kind of sureal existential stuff has he read any Herman Hesse e.g. 'Steppenwolf'?

Cult classics like 'The Dice Man' Luke Rhinehart.

[thedolly]

Thanks folks, lots of ideas there

I love Ian McEwan JeffVader.

[Apollinare]

JeffVadar

Relieved someone else also found Salmon Rushdie unreadable! Have just taken the 'Enchantress of florence' back to the library after ploughing through one chapter. Have also given up on 'Midnights children' in the past. A great and lyrical wordsmith but a rather tedious storyteller.

[thedolly]

Any recommendations Apollinare?

[Apollinare]

'Maps for lost lovers' by Nadeem Aslam (Booker long listed 2004 but should have won)
Had forgotton how much I loved this, will now have to reread.

I loved both books by Khaled Hosseini, but personally found 'A thousand splendid suns' more thought provoking, politically.

Another vote for William Boyd, esp Brazzaville Beach and Restless.

[thedolly]

Thanks

[thedolly]

Anymore ideas for classics of tomorrow?

[mellifluouscauliflower]

What about The Constant Gardener by John Le Carre? Men always seem to like Le Carre and he would be a contemporary of your FiL, which might help..

[Jux]

Robertson Davies or A S Byatt or Doris Lessing, but mainly Robertson Davies. I would suggest the Cornish Trilogy to start

[thedolly]

Thanks very much, I've got a few to work on now. I'm planning on putting together a 'get back into reading' package for him for Christmas. I hope it works out.

[francagoestohollywood]

I always recommend Nemirovski's Suite Francaise.

[thedolly]

Yes franca I could see that working, thanks .

[thedolly]

Any other recommendations to rival Nemirovski's Suite Francaise?

[helpivegottogivebirth]

Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

[wilbur]

The Corrections - fabulous family story with what feels like a very accurate depiction of older people as well as the younger generation.

Franca - have got Suite Franciase on shelf waiting for me. V excited.

[Sunshinemambo]

Second the Corrections but what about things like Underworld by Don Delillo or Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels.

Also what about people like Gabriel Garcia Marquez or Isabel Allende?

[thedolly]

Fugitive Pieces looks good, I'm off to check out The Corrections now .