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Original poster

Properly literary fiction vs just fiction

132 replies

Myrobalanna · 13/04/2017 19:06

I mean great writing AND great plotting AND great characters AND inspirational use of language AND a certain take on the world...does it still exist? I keep reading reviews, buying a book I think will be fantastic, and there's just nothing to it.

Would really love some recommendations for recent, 'proper books' - not that I don't enjoy the others but I want something amazing!

OP posts:
Floisme · 14/04/2017 10:04

Not that recent but I'd nominate Gilead by Marilynne Robinson.

southeastdweller · 13/04/2017 21:27

I feel like I'm always recommending it here, but The Goldfinch fits all of that criteria you mention.

Pallisers · 13/04/2017 19:55

Any of the Kate Atkinsons.

lucydogz · 13/04/2017 19:54

I'd forgotten - No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy and The Old Ace in the Hole by Annie Proulx. Both fulfill all the categories!

TheTurnOfTheScrew · 13/04/2017 19:39

I enjoyed Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift, and The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes. Both very short, nostalgic and bittersweet. Or The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell. I think it probably counts as sci-go, which I'm not keen on, but Ioved it.

KikiDeliversCakes · 13/04/2017 19:33

I'll be watching this thread with interest for some inspiration too.

For me, the most recent amazing book I've read was "A Little Life" - not sure about a great plot, but certainly for me it has great writing, characters, language and take on the world.

Personally, only Anita Brookner books have checked all those criteria for me. Otherwise it's back to the classics...

lucydogz · 13/04/2017 19:25

How recent is recent? The only book I can suggest is Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow. I'm sure there's good modern books out there, but most seem to be too miserable for me and I go back to Colette, Tolstoy etc