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Original poster

Who is like Angela Carter only not?

35 replies

FillydoraTonks · 31/07/2007 20:44

I can't quite get on with her. I quite like her themes but not how she writes, IYKWIM.

I like the kind of vaguely fantasy, circusy, slightly whimiscal, illusion stuff. Also the feministy stuff.

Who else can I try?

OP posts:
funnypeevesculiar · 31/07/2007 21:00

Absolutely lionheart - I find myself shouting 'stop arsing about and showing off how clever you are' at his books too much to enjoy the reading experience...

bookthief · 31/07/2007 20:59

How funny lionheart - I was just thinking of A Cure For Death By Lightning!

peggotty · 31/07/2007 20:57

Yes, the characters are not exactly endearing, and difficult to relate to. I've found some of her stuff impossible to re-read now, several years after my dissertation. I re-read her short story collection 'Burning your Boats', I think it's called, most of all. HAve you thought of trying the short stories instead of the novels? If you do a search on 'Magic Realism' you should get a few authors/books in a similar vein

lionheart · 31/07/2007 20:57

I have a problem with SR too. He needs a better, more ruthless editor, I think

lionheart · 31/07/2007 20:56

Or Jeanette Winterson?

funnypeevesculiar · 31/07/2007 20:56

Hummm, I've not sure you're always meant to.

Although i agree that it's something I tend to want to do in books and find her refusal to let me frustrates my 'natural' reading style. Afriad I'm another fan - Nights at the Circus is a personal fave

Does it have to be feminist? if not, you could just go Salman Rushdie/Marquez 'classic' magic realism route. Salman Rushdie gets on my tits something chronic but am aware this is my problem

(Translates as "duh, can't think of any one else who fits brief)

lionheart · 31/07/2007 20:56

How about this, filly?

Do you like magical realism?

Original poster
FillydoraTonks · 31/07/2007 20:51

don't like kate atkinson either really

Its the characters in angela carter. I really can't identify with them. wise children case in point.

OP posts:
peggotty · 31/07/2007 20:49

Oh I LOVE angela carter, I did my dissertation in uni on her!! Agree wholeheartedly with funnypeevesculiar, Kate Atkinson reminds me strongly of AC, but more realist, iykwim. Have you read AG's 'Wise CHildren', it's prob one of the more 'accessible' of her novels. Will try to think of other novelists who are carteresque!

funnypeevesculiar · 31/07/2007 20:47

which onesw of hers have you tried - there's quite a range, imo...
Umm, can't think really - some Kate Atkinsons are sort of similar for me, although she has a tone you also either hate or love...Less political, but certainly whimsical - if you like short stories 'Not the End of the World' would be a good start & is more fantastical...