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Original poster

Help with my snobby bookclub

255 replies

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 05/02/2015 12:16

It is my turn to pick our next book for our book club and I am stumped. And a bit scared TBH.

It needs to be fairly highbrow and literary I'm afraid. I don't know the other women all that well (apart from the friend who introduced me to the group) and they have all been picking books that are either literary classics or modern winners of Nobel and Pulitzer prizes. So no chick lit - I think I would be kicked out of the group Grin

I'd like to do something English or British because our current book is Runaway (Alice Munro) set in Canada.

I've already read lots of classics myself but don't really mind a repeat. I just want a book that won't make me look stupid.

So wise MNers - any recommendations?

OP posts:
Saker · 05/02/2015 12:37

Maybe classic American - Washington Square by Henry James is not too long and very enjoyable, or The Great Gatsby or The Age of Innocence.
The Voyage Out by Virginia Woolf is written in a much more conventional style than her later stuff.
Molly Keane.
Graham Greene is a bit different, but still they can't really turn their noses up at him.

bigmouthstrikesagain · 05/02/2015 12:37

*I saw that title and my heart sank wondering if it was my bookclub! - Not that I believe we are snobby (we have had a range of titles not all 'highbrow'). But I get landed with the book selections mostly as no one else steps up - I am going to nominate someone else to choose next cos the pressure is not fun.

I chose (with support from another member) @The bloody Chamber' by Angela Carter - as it is a bit high brow I am worried about what people will make of it... I love it and being short stories based on fairytales there should be room for discussion.

But several members are quite open about never reading the books so I don't think we can be accused of being snobby - slightly frustrated by the book discussions being curtailed by discomfort that a number of the members are not really involved - though.

OttiliaVonBCup · 05/02/2015 12:36

The Siege of Krishnapur is one of my favourite books ever.

Original poster
HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 05/02/2015 12:36

God you lot are quick. So many great ones here!

The Rebel Angels by Robertson Davies lollygagger R.D. is probably my favourite ever all-time author and I have read every word he ever wrote, probably several times over Grin

OP posts:
WiseKneeHair · 05/02/2015 12:36

How to be both by Ali Smith. It has won lots of awards and is a brilliant read as well.

AggressiveBunting · 05/02/2015 12:35

Behind the Beautiful Forever- Katherine Boo. Amazing book.

Let the Great World Spin. Incredible.

jeee · 05/02/2015 12:34

I don't think you should worry too much about your choice.

However, a popular (and fairly high-brow) choice in our book club was 'Alone in Berlin' by Hans Fallada - everyone had plenty to say about it.

The last time I chose, I went for a favourite book from your childhood. Which again led to good discussions.

MrsTawdry · 05/02/2015 12:33

A Girl is a Half Formed Thing by Eimar McBride. Definitely.

SunnySomer · 05/02/2015 12:33

My book group (middle brow) recently read The Seven Sisters by Margaret Drabble. That was really successful and people keep referring back to it several months later.

SunnyBaudelaire · 05/02/2015 12:32

you mean the W word, lurkinghub? We used to use it as a game between ourselves, who could work it into an essay. Ahhhh happy days.

OTheHugeManatee · 05/02/2015 12:32

The Faerie Queen, by Edmund Spenser.

Beautiful, poetic, dreamy, indisputably a classic, pretty abstruse by modern standards and arguably a forerunner of modern fantasy fiction.

That'll confuse 'em Grin

flancake · 05/02/2015 12:31

Alternatively - find a friendlier book club Grin

LurkingHusband · 05/02/2015 12:30

If it's pure boredom you want, then "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" by the Other Bronte. It comes with the added advantage as you trudge through it, that you are reading a proto-feminist work of great importance. So you can ignore it when people complain about the style.

Oh, and good luck discussing " ". I had several arguments with my Eng. Lit teacher over using that in essays (danger of outing myself here) ...

SunnyBaudelaire · 05/02/2015 12:30

Waterland - Graham Swift
The Siege of Krishnapur, Troubles, the Singapore Grip all by JG Farrell

Anyway OP if you feel the group is snobby and highbrow they are probably a bunch of pretentious idiots anyway, so find something that will take the piss a bit, some Sartre, some Tolstoy yes. and make a point about how much better it is 'in the original'.

And if you can get the word 'Weltanschauung' into the convo, so much the better.

lollygagger · 05/02/2015 12:29

The Rebel Angels by Robertson Davies. It's a fantastic book and one that will have them reaching for the dictionary as some of the words he uses are so obscure, yet perfect.

Enb76 · 05/02/2015 12:28

I'd go with The Girl with all the Gifts - Peter Carey.

It'll be different to their usual fodder but is well written and thought-provoking. Be confident whatever you choose - they probably also agonise over book choices so as not to look stupid in front of others.

flancake · 05/02/2015 12:28

I'm reading The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton. Set in Amsterdam in the 1600's. I think that would be suitably high brow for them, plus Jessie Burton is coming to MN this month for a webchat!

LurkingHusband · 05/02/2015 12:28

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Life_and_Opinions_of_Tristram_Shandy,_Gentleman

RocketInMyPocket · 05/02/2015 12:27

Bartleby the Scrivener by Herman Melville.
Bore the bastards to death.

LurkingHusband · 05/02/2015 12:27

Don Quixote ?

KateMosley · 05/02/2015 12:27

'Levels of life' by Julian Barnes

BOFster · 05/02/2015 12:26

You might be surprised- I started going to one recently, and recommended a brilliant thriller, while stressing that it wasn't highbrow and I wasn't nominating it as a group read as such, and after I'd gone they looked it up and agreed it sounded great and picked it anyway!

WipsGlitter · 05/02/2015 12:26

Ian McEwen?
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich - nice and short!
Just google the booker list and pick something from that.

BossWitch · 05/02/2015 12:26
CheeseBadger · 05/02/2015 12:26

I quite enjoyed Lights Out in Wonderland, but anything by DBC Pierre should serve your purpose...