Lit Fic for ME please

[Hullygully]

Any recommendations? Need lots of books for hols. I want lit fiction eg I do not want Khaled Hossein, Harold Fry, JoJo Moyes etc etc (nothing wrong with them, but I don't want them).

I want Mantel/Mitchell/Houllebecq type stuff please and thank you.

I like a bit of Jim Crace and Patrick White too.

There must be more Europeans we haven't mentioned...Michel Faber is obvious - Crimson Petal and the White is fabulous but I like a lot of his other stuff too, especially The Apple (short stories which complement Crimson Petal but can be read alone). Who else?

Ooh, this one's good. The Twins by Gerbrand Bakker. Highly recommended, quite peculiar novel about an ageing, solitary Dutch farmer.

Hello Hulls, I am 1/3rd way through Breathing Lessons and I am LOVING it. A masterclass in the subtle, observational comedy to be found in intimate relationships . Thank you, whoever it was that brought up Anne Tyler on this thread - I'd never heard of her before but she is going to be right up my street.

Oh good, it is SO marvellous.

Breathing Lessons, Accidental Tourist and Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant are all my favourites.

Just having a look at any I've missed in the last few years as I kind of lost track of her (having read a few bad reviews). The new jackets are beautiful - they must be the same designer as Alice Munro's (both Vintage). And then came across a beautiful special edition of Carol Shields' The Stone Diaries - one of my favourite books. I need to hide my debit card...

Yes, those three AND Searching for Caleb

The last few are disappointing

Was tempted by the latest one (because of lovely jacket) but it's a bit of a ghost story? Not really my thing. Which are the best since A Patchwork Planet (which is roughly when I stopped reading her)?

Anyone read the last Pulitzer winner - Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson - set in South Korea? Have got it but not read it yet. Looks like one for fans of David Mitchell (since there's a quote from him on the cover too!)

No, hadn't known of it, will look...

More for me to look up - I read a sample of Swamplandia! and liked it.

What is Houllebecq like in English, anyway? I have read him in French, but I wonder whether I could stand him in English. He somewhat comes across as a bit of a sexist pig. [understatement]

I am being good and reading Contes de la Becasse now, anyway.

Oh, and a random question for the lit fic people - a woman wrote a book about someone in hospital with an obsession with anal play and avocadoes I think? Yes, Wetlands. What is it like?

The new Patrick Ness looks good too (well, always a sucker for a beautiful jacket) - The Crane Wife. As does the new Claire Messud (mentioned upthread I think).

See, that's why even though I've often bought a hardback and then not got around until reading until after the paperback's out, it doesn't matter if it's a gorgeous cover (which gets changed for a more boring paperback one). I love book design.

Hmm, amazon seems to think it's in the same category as 50 Shades, maybe it's not even worth asking. Bleurgh.

I normally read the Booker longlist. Are there other lists people recommend?

NotQuite That book was called 'Wetlands' by Charlotte Roche. She has a second novel out now too. It is seriously, difficulty-ly pornographic in its unabashed descriptions of every one of her orifices and discharges (sorry)

On Tyler: Accidental Tourist is definitely my favorite, probably followed by Breathing Lessons (which won the Pulitzer), but I am also fond of Ladder of Years. (Woman goes on a walk one day and just keeps on walking.) I read it during a stressful time in my life and it really struck a chord.

I don't think anyone on here has mentioned Eudora Welty; Tyler has indentified her as an important influence. I have not read anything by Welty in a long time, but would definitely recommend her, especially for anyone who likes American Southern fiction. The Optimist's Daughter won the Pulitzer.

I love Eudora Welty's short/long stories.

In fact, another general recommendation for anyone wanting to explore shorter fiction and who like American writers: The Granta Book of the American Long Story and ditto Short Story, both edited by Richard Ford. Seemingly out of print but available second hand.

Pulitzer Prize, Impac Award, Governor General's Award (Canada), Booker International are some prize lists.

If you like teen/older children's fiction, the Carnegie Award longlist is worth a peruse.

I enjoyed Wetlands, but I read it in German (my dodgy second language) and I'm not sure how credible the main character was - it sounded like a 30+ woman ventriloquising a teenager.

I have only read Houllebecq in English and I think it translates well, there are a few odd turns of phrase, but they blend well with his general oddness.

He is applalling and clearly disturbed women-wise, but I do like his ideas (on other things)

I have ordered the orphan master's son, janice Galloway, Eudora welty and the twin

it's got to stop

I have a disease

I find the kindle makes me a lot less inclined to have a giant to-read pile. And if I do have one, at least it's not gathering dust.

I get samples, all the time, and decide to buy them later. Of course, having the luxury of being able to buy books while on holiday helps a great deal - I don't have to buy them now, just in case.

I went to a new book club last night (not entirely sure it's going to work out but hey) and recommended lots of books from here heh heh

I would like to join a book club, but worry they would pick books I didn't like. [fussy]

I read one story from Contes de la Becasse, and now I'm reading King of the Badgers (Hensher) which I think was recommended on here. So far, so good.

Petit Mort by Beatrice Hitchman

But it can be quite good if they do notquite, forces you to read things you wouldn't otherwise.

At least that's the theory I understand.

Personally, I've just filled the list with the stuff here.

hello golden