Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

What are the modern day classics for the older generation?

38 replies

thedolly · 28/09/2009 23:30

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

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Original poster
thedolly · 03/10/2009 16:00

barbarianoftheuniverse - done, done and done. In fact I bought him Diary of a Nobody a few Christmases ago. He is very well read but has given up as he feels he has read the best. I need something published fairly recently that will knock his socks off.

Thanks to you all for the suggestions so far.

OP posts:
barbarianoftheuniverse · 02/10/2009 20:52

Robert Graves I Claudius is classic and pretty mis.

I should give him 3 Men in a Boat and Treasure Island, though. And Diary of a Nobody for pudding.

Jux · 02/10/2009 20:51

Of course, there's always Catullus, Aeschylus, Homer, that lot

Jux · 02/10/2009 20:49

thinking of the wrong thing . It'll come back to me.

Jux · 02/10/2009 20:47

It was probably you who recom. it to me! Ages ago it was. Balzac might be good if he likes translations, or, oh who's the guy who wrote a Short Walk in the Hindu Kush? I'll look it up.

Original poster
thedolly · 02/10/2009 15:09

A definite yes even.

So far I've got about 4/5 books for FIL. I was hoping for about 8. Does anyone else have any great suggestions?

He seems to have a preference for books that have been translated into English.

OP posts:
Original poster
thedolly · 02/10/2009 13:09

I definite yes to Memoirs of Hadrian, thanks for that Jux

christie2, I'll have a look at some Philip Roth, thanks.

I'm a big John Irving fan and I don't think it will be 'deep' enough for FIL - he is a fussy so and so.

OP posts:
christie2 · 02/10/2009 03:12

I suggest he try Philip Roth (American Pastoral is his big novel and also one called Everyman is very good). Some say is one of the best US writers around today. He writes from the perspective of an older male coping in a changing world (American Pastoral is quite amazing) so he may enjoy. John Irving is good too. I

Jux · 01/10/2009 20:21

oh my word I forgot probably the best one for your FIL

Margarite Yourcenar "Memoirs of Hadrian". FANTASTIC. Recommended to me by someone on MN (thank you so so so so much). I sat down to read a bit of it in the shop and 20 mins slipped by in no time at all. It's like drinking cream, it goes down beautifully, silkily and is rich and smooth and altogether gorgeous.

Original poster
thedolly · 01/10/2009 11:00

Will do Sunshinemambo

OP posts:
Sunshinemambo · 01/10/2009 10:23

Please try Fugitive Pieces. It's one of my favourite books and no-one else seems to have read it but me.

francagoestohollywood · 01/10/2009 10:18

Wilbur, enjoy!!!

I loved The Corrections too, though perhaps SF more "classical" in its structure etc, iyswim...

Original poster
thedolly · 01/10/2009 10:10

The Corrections looks ace, I also like the look of How to be Alone (Essays) also by Franzen.

Isn't Mumsnet great - thanks to you all and keep them coming.

OP posts:
Original poster
thedolly · 01/10/2009 10:05

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

OP posts:
Sunshinemambo · 01/10/2009 09:52

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?

wilbur · 01/10/2009 09:42

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.

helpivegottogivebirth · 01/10/2009 09:40

Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

Original poster
thedolly · 01/10/2009 09:26

Any other recommendations to rival Nemirovski's Suite Francaise?

OP posts:
Original poster
thedolly · 30/09/2009 21:47

Yes franca I could see that working, thanks .

OP posts:
francagoestohollywood · 30/09/2009 21:38

I always recommend Nemirovski's Suite Francaise.

Original poster
thedolly · 30/09/2009 21:30

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.

OP posts:
Jux · 30/09/2009 20:34

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

mellifluouscauliflower · 30/09/2009 20:17

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..

Original poster
thedolly · 30/09/2009 20:01

Anymore ideas for classics of tomorrow?

OP posts:
Original poster
thedolly · 30/09/2009 08:43

Thanks

OP posts: