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If you enjoyed Shuggie Bain, Stoner, Such a Fun Age… what do you recommend?!

24 replies

Doingprettywellthanks · 10/10/2022 06:56

Quite an eclectic mix of books that I have recently really enjoyed.

but I have hit a wall in terms of next read.

any suggestions from those with similar tastes.

absolutely despise stuff like Marian Keyes

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Yorkshiregold · 10/10/2022 06:59

Anything (& everything) by Fredrik Backman. Especially the trilogy of Beartown, Us against you & Winners. Also A man called Ove, much more light hearted than the other three but still a great read.

Doingprettywellthanks · 10/10/2022 07:06

Thank you!

have you read queen of bloody everything? It’s in my basket..

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JackiePeralta · 10/10/2022 07:11

On the Stoner tip, Walter Stegner’s Crossing to Safety. For Shuggie - maybe try Marilyne Robinson “Housekeeping “. You mights also like the Margaret Laurence Manawaka trilogy - utterly beautiful writing - she’s an absolute legend in Canada apparently and barely known here - or at least the books aren’t easy to come by. Oh - and Mrs Bridge / Mr Bridge.
all n. American I realise…

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Yorkshiregold · 10/10/2022 07:12

No I haven’t but it looks interesting. Also haven’t read Stoner of the three you mentioned so will be looking out for that.

Doingprettywellthanks · 10/10/2022 07:13

Stoner is phenomenal

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JackiePeralta · 10/10/2022 07:19

Actually also on a Stoner tip - Somerset Maugham “of human bondage” - and from there you end up with Patrick Hamilton and “20,000 streets under the sky” and Hangover Square.
a lot of bleak human tragedy in there, all wrought beautifully.

joan12 · 10/10/2022 07:21

A Little Life. Marian Keyes has a dark side though; she's not generic chick lit

Doingprettywellthanks · 10/10/2022 08:05

joan12 · 10/10/2022 07:21

A Little Life. Marian Keyes has a dark side though; she's not generic chick lit

Loved little life

i just don’t enjoy her
same with Richard osman

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emsmum79 · 10/10/2022 09:45

Scabby Queen
Lessons in Chemistry
Eleanor Oliphant
Life After Life
Hamnet

HumourReplacementTherapy · 10/10/2022 09:56

American dirt- fantastic
Lessons in chemistry- really well
written characters

Wichit · 10/10/2022 10:05

There's loads of misery lit out there from the early 2000s. A boy called it and whatnot.

Scunnered77 · 10/10/2022 10:07

Lowborn by Kerry Hudson

RumpoleoftheBaileys · 10/10/2022 10:09

Have you read Young Mungo?

Blackisthecolour · 10/10/2022 10:34

Young Mungo

These 3 by Roddy Doyle
The Woman who Walked into Doors
Paula Spencer
Smile

I loved Shuggie and all these are similar!

Doingprettywellthanks · 10/10/2022 10:39

Amazing young mungo it is!

@Blackisthecolour what else you rec?

loved Queenie, Educated etc

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KipG · 10/10/2022 10:43

Go, Went, Gone by Jenny Erpenbeck reminded me of Stoner - partly because both have ageing academics as the protagonist, but also the very restrained but poignant writing. Loved both.

Toomanysleepycats · 10/10/2022 10:47

I loved Shuggie. It was the first time I really understood what living with an alcoholic must be like.

Ive recently got the novels that films I really like are based on.

Silence
True grit
Power of the Dog
No country for old men.

Really enjoyed them all, True grit is quite a slim book, but the later film really captured the young heroines voice.

Other favourite books: The colour purple/Beloved (Toni Morrison),/Precious Bane (Mary web).

Rubyupbeat · 10/10/2022 10:52

The hearts invisible furies by John Boyne
I can't put into words how wonderful this was to read, I am going to read it again

squashyhat · 10/10/2022 10:57

If you want something a bit lighter than Shuggie but just as authentic try A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith about a girl growing up in Williamsburg NY in the early 20th century.

TattiePants · 10/10/2022 11:40

If you liked Educated then try Hungry by Grace Dent about her life growing up in the 70s/80s in a working class northern city. I'd also recommend:

Any Human Heart, William Boyd
If Beale Street Could Talk, James Baldwin
The Cider House Rules, John Irving
The Heart's Invisible Furies, John Boyne
Young Mungo, Douglas Stuart

Oneearringlost · 10/10/2022 11:49

Doingprettywellthanks · 10/10/2022 07:13

Stoner is phenomenal

Yes it is!!

AgentProvocateur · 10/10/2022 11:53

Young Mungo and A Fine Balance.

Doingprettywellthanks · 10/10/2022 12:43

I can’t wait for young mungo to arrive

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Doingprettywellthanks · 10/10/2022 12:43

I take selection of my next book so seriously!

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