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Original poster

Help me! I need more book ideas!

39 replies

redheadbedhead · 05/08/2011 07:10

Hello. Having been at home with morning sickness for two months I have got through a lot of books. And I'm starting to run out of ideas. My favourite books are by Jonathan Franzen / David Foster Wallace / American 20/21st century - but then again I also just read Caitlin Moran's How to be a Woman and thought it was great! And I love non-fiction books about the mind/brain/psychology ie Oliver Sacks.

I love the quality of writing and usually my favourite books are those with complex characters and family situations.

Can anyone help me with some more ideas?? thanks so much!!

OP posts:
midnightexpress · 05/08/2011 19:30

Or Flannery O'Connor? She is (was) a marvellous writer, possibly my favourite. There are lots of short stories and I also recommend 'The Violent Bear it Away'.

Raymond Carver short stories also brilliant - there's a good collection called 'Where I'm calling from'.

Original poster
redheadbedhead · 05/08/2011 19:29

is

OP posts:
Original poster
redheadbedhead · 05/08/2011 19:29

Owen Meany one of my favourite books Grin - we have similar taste!

OP posts:
Original poster
redheadbedhead · 05/08/2011 19:28

sorry x-post!!

I do like short stories, but that's all I've been reading for last 2 months so sick of them - need something chunkier right now!

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midnightexpress · 05/08/2011 19:23

John Irving? I liked A Prayer for Owen Meany very much.

Original poster
redheadbedhead · 05/08/2011 19:22

oooh good list jennifer thanks. I loved American Pastoral actually, an amazing book, but some other Roth left me cold so I'm always a bit wary of it. John Updike - the Rabbit books are also among my favourites. Love some Peter Carey, not all....Haven't tried Possession/Nemirovsky/Henry Roth so will check em out.

Thanks for Niven tip mymum - will check it out one day but need a serious piece of fiction first to get my teeth into this summer Grin

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midnightexpress · 05/08/2011 19:22

Oh yes, Cannery Row is great!

I've just bought the Irene Nemorovsky Suite Francaise for £5.99 on offer in WHS. Good to know that it's recommended.

Do you like short stories OP?

JenniferYellowHatsRedLingerie · 05/08/2011 19:10

Steinbeck - any of it, but Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday are my favourites, fabulous characterisation.
AS Byatt - Possession
Have you tried any Irene Nemirovsky? She was a French writer who was killed in a concentration camp in the war, Vintage have republished her works. Start with Le Bal and Suite Francaise.
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Foer? His new one's meant to be really good too but I forget the name.
The Slap
John Updike?
I second Philip Roth, he really is great. Have you tried American Pastoral?
Henry Roth - Call it Sleep
Have you tried Peter Carey as well? Awesome :)

mymumdom · 05/08/2011 19:01

Have you read The Second Coming by John Niven. It's fiction ( unfortunately) but really funn , especially if you aren't religious. If you were really religious you might be a bit offended.

midnightexpress · 05/08/2011 18:58

Hmm, I'll have another thing then while I load the dishwasher Grin.

Original poster
redheadbedhead · 05/08/2011 18:54

hi guys thanks for your help!

read lots of DeLillo and Roth - not as keen on Roth, but it depends on the book. I think I've read R.Road and the Stone Diaries, but I'll go and look them up to check...i have a terrible terrible terrible memory!

deesus I read the article in the Guardian, was great!

OP posts:
midnightexpress · 05/08/2011 18:44

Oh, how about The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields? that's fabulous.

midnightexpress · 05/08/2011 18:43

Have you read any Don DeLillo? Maybe White Noise?

Revolutionary Road is good too, by Richard Yates.

Philip Roth?

Deesus · 05/08/2011 18:36

If you like psychology type books I think you'd find The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson really interesting (I did and now keep applying the test to everyone I know....Grin)