Help with my snobby bookclub

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

It is my turn to pick our next book for our book club and I am stumped. And a bit scared TBH.

It needs to be fairly highbrow and literary I'm afraid. I don't know the other women all that well (apart from the friend who introduced me to the group) and they have all been picking books that are either literary classics or modern winners of Nobel and Pulitzer prizes. So no chick lit - I think I would be kicked out of the group

I'd like to do something English or British because our current book is Runaway (Alice Munro) set in Canada.

I've already read lots of classics myself but don't really mind a repeat. I just want a book that won't make me look stupid.

So wise MNers - any recommendations?

How to be both by Ali Smith. It has won lots of awards and is a brilliant read as well.

God you lot are quick. So many great ones here!

The Rebel Angels by Robertson Davies lollygagger R.D. is probably my favourite ever all-time author and I have read every word he ever wrote, probably several times over

The Siege of Krishnapur is one of my favourite books ever.

*I saw that title and my heart sank wondering if it was my bookclub! - Not that I believe we are snobby (we have had a range of titles not all 'highbrow'). But I get landed with the book selections mostly as no one else steps up - I am going to nominate someone else to choose next cos the pressure is not fun.

I chose (with support from another member) @The bloody Chamber' by Angela Carter - as it is a bit high brow I am worried about what people will make of it... I love it and being short stories based on fairytales there should be room for discussion.

But several members are quite open about never reading the books so I don't think we can be accused of being snobby - slightly frustrated by the book discussions being curtailed by discomfort that a number of the members are not really involved - though.

Maybe classic American - Washington Square by Henry James is not too long and very enjoyable, or The Great Gatsby or The Age of Innocence.
The Voyage Out by Virginia Woolf is written in a much more conventional style than her later stuff.
Molly Keane.
Graham Greene is a bit different, but still they can't really turn their noses up at him.

Joking apart, try The Magus by John Fowles. I couldn't put it down, it defies description and it's a total headfuck

Treacletaart the funny thing is, I actually really like this group and have read some stuff I wouldn't have otherwise. I think our geographic spread helps us, an American, a Canadian (me), an English woman and two Swedes.

John Banville
That's just mean
Maybe Evelyn Waugh (Decline and Fall's a hoot), some Wodehouse, Stella Gibbons (Cold Comfort Farm) or Caryl Brahms to lighten (and darken) the mood?

Any book by Will Self should really annoy them.

I believe Terry Pratchett is a well known English writer.

Don't go for Fielding or Thackery if they are easily shocked

You could go for a classic like 1984.

what about Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel - it's currently on tv so at least topical

or Rowling A Casual Vacancy, that's coming to TV soon too

AS Byatt - Possession. Beautifully written and kind of 'about' the world of literary academia, so should score you snob points.

Zadie Smith - White Teeth. Excellent book won something when it came out (Booker?) multiple narratives interesting to talk about.

Jeanette Winterson - Written on the body. Great writing and really interesting in discussion as the gender of the protagonist isn't revealed (so fun to argue who read it as a man and who read it as a woman).

I think classics are a bit boring at book groups - people choose them because they are scared to pick something that might not be deemed serious literature, but then the discussion is stilted because how much can you really discuss it? It's a classic - it's been praised for the last two centuries, the six of us and a bottle of wine aren't going to come up with any fresh insights! But if you want to be mean, make them read Paradise Lost. Have that you snooty fuckers.

Bigmouth, yes we have that at our group, or we can't talk about the ending because people haven't finished it! I have to confess to being among the snobs, I get frustrated wasting my time reading rubbish and definitely recommend avoiding any volume that has a recipe section for book groups .

bigmouth that is quite funny that you thought it was your group - so I'm not the only one with this dilemma

Runaway (our current book) is short stories so I think I'm going to go for a novel this time...

Or you can have Watching the English.

Non fiction, but can lead to a very lively discussion.

How about some Henry James...

Oooh dorothyparka do you think I could get away with Wodehouse? I adore him!!!

ooooh yes Will Self the Book of Dave.
That will annoy them.

I think classics are a bit boring at book groups - people choose them because they are scared to pick something that might not be deemed serious literature, but then the discussion is stilted because how much can you really discuss it? It's a classic - it's been praised for the last two centuries, the six of us and a bottle of wine aren't going to come up with any fresh insights! But if you want to be mean, make them read Paradise Lost. Have that you snooty fuckers.

That is such a good point.

Or Muriel Spark? Ballad of Peckham Rye is fab

I hate 'worthwhile' books - but I love the Tenant of Wildfell Hall So I guess it's all a matter of taste . . .

I'd choose some thought provoking scifi, partly just because I love sci fi but also there's always lots to talk about. Consider Phlebas would tick the British author box, it's unquestionably a classic, and raises interesting questions about utopian societies, the role of the individual in history, etc.

Brave New World?

50 Shades of Grey?

Totally agree with a PP about The Tenant of Wildfell Ha. Yaaaaaaawn

OP, I thought from your title this was going to be from someone who was being ostracised from her book club because she didn't have inherited furniture!

Your book club isn't 'snobby', it just favours books other than disposable airport reads with pink covers featuring cartoon drawings of high heels (and yes, I'm aware Jane Austen novels have been reissued with precisely these covers...) Just choose something you like, for God's sake. Why not get them to read a Robertson Davies, as you're such a fan? You know it's good, you can start off the discussion by saying what you like about it etc?

The only snag is if people don't share your high opinion of the book, and you get cross as they slag off your favourite bits/characters as 'overdone' or 'caricatured' or 'a bit wordy'...

Or go for something quite different like non-fiction - I quite fancy this book
Watching Giants: The Secret Lives of Whales

Sorry Takver