I want to read something really intelligent and beautifully written

[SalveRibena]

I have been reading crap on my Kindle for too long and now want to go back to reading Proper Books. Past favourites include Atonement, Bring Up The Bodies, The Poisonwood Bible, The Sea and The Line of Beauty.

Any advice?

Came on to say Ann Patchett and Jim Crace, but someone got there first on both counts.

What about Helen Dunmore The Siege?

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese - beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. I cannot recommend it enough.

Donna Tartt's third book, The Goldfinch, is out soon. Could. Not. Be. More. Excited!

Helen Dunmore's Russian trilogy, the first is Leningrad I think and the second is the betrayal and she hasn't written the third yet,....wonderful

Any of the novels by Khaled Hosseini. Absolutely beautiful novels.

Not novels and quite light but you might enjoy David Sedaris' writing e.g. "Me talk pretty one day".

Am really enjoying this thread! Am ashamed to say I've had the Deptford Trilogy and The Diamond Age in my to-read pile for ages so shall be mov

Oops, sent too soon. Shall be moving them to the top of the pile. Also will be adding Invisible Cities, Any Human Heart and the new Donna Tartt once it's out.

A few more suggestions. Richard Brautigan can be a bit whimsical but there are some delights in his work. So the Wind Won't Blow it Away is wonderful, and nostalgic and terribly sad.

His daughter Ianthe Brautigan wrote a very moving, poetic biography of her father, You Can't Catch Death. Particularly powerful for anyone affected by suicide.

Going back a bit I second (third?) the suggestion of Russian writers. Lermontov's A Hero of Our Time and Chekhov's short stories in particular.

There was a Hesse mentioned up thread and I would add Steppenwolf.

Finally Frankenstein is terrific.

Ann Tyler is brilliant at the quiet thought that goes on behind the mundanity of people's lives. I've enjoyed her most at times when life was a bit broken.

Take a look at Sara Maitland's short stories too. My favourite is A Book of Spells but they are all brilliant.

Some Oldies But Goodies -

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte- Brave writing about big topics- a fair days pay for a fair days work/ Womens working/ slavery/ religion and hypocrisy. I was stunned when I read this aged thirteen.

Sons And Lovers - I get so mad at Paul Morels Mother but the beauty and dependence of her death moves me every time I read it. I found resolution in it even if Paul did nit.

Candide by Voltaire.

Oh, oh, The Glass Bead Game is lovely. Hard work - but worth it.

The Penelopiad, is my favourite Margaret Atwood

Rebecca, Daphne DuMaurier

Second Lolita and Beloved

Wuthering Heights

The Bell Jar

Sophie's Choice

Suite Francaise

Swimming in the moon

What I loved by Siri Hustvedt was quite beautiful and poignant.

I also love Life of Pi and The Road Home.

Am intrigued by the pp who said she married her DH because of Any Human Heart. I was given it by an ex but haven't read it yet.

'The Road', and 'No Country for Old Men' by Cormac McCarthy -wonderful, spare writing. Very thought-provoking and beautiful, although not light- hearted by any means!

Love this thread, thank you for inspiring.

I seldom Conrad, heart of darkness.
Also enjoyed The Road
And Fisgraced by Coetzee

Re. The debate upthread surround 1000SS. I enjoyed the book for what it was.
But as for notagiraffe i have a first degree from Oxbridge and a PhD both in Eng Lit, and teach at MA level, so I do know something about what makes good fiction'. Seriously, who describes themselves as having a first from 'Oxbridge'? Wouldn't you just clarify Cambridge or Oxford. I am somewhat skeptical!

Sorry, please read 'i second' for 'seldom'. And disgraced for Fisgraced. I am feeding as I type,

I loved The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler but the rest of my book group hated it.

Other books I remember really loving are Rebecca, Dracula, The Millstone, Revolutionary Road, The L Shaped Room trilogy, most things by Margaret Atwood, The Secret History and On Beauty by Zadie Smith.

Rewind - people say Oxbridge instead of specifying which institution as it affords them some level of anonymity. The same way as some people say they graduated from a Russell Group university.

And the phrase 'a first degree' refers to the first degree you read, e.g. a BA or BSc, not what grade was awarded.

....and when you need some light murderous relief from the heavy stuff again I found Elizabeth Haynes un-put-downable.

ALarkThatCouldPray - The Clock Winder is my favourite by Anne Tyler as well, although a couple of others jostle for second place.

Someone recommended William Boyd and I love his book Brazzaville Beach. It's set in Africa and tells the story of three parts of Hope Clearwater's life, from her marriage in London to her time on the Grosso Avore Chimpanzee Reserve and finally how she came to Brazzaville Beach. It's one I can read time and again.

I will second The Collector and Tender is the Night too.

Oh, and Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple.

I know it's not the most intellectually challenging, but I am a bit obsessed with Laini Taylor's books, particularly Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Her writing is just beautiful. I read the above, and then went onto her short stories - one was called Goblin Fruit, and I was completely blown away by it. She just has such a way with words that seems to resonate with me, I almost feel like I know her, or like we should be friends - I'm know that's a bit stalkery!