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?

Sod it - I'd just go for something funny that you'll enjoy reading, like Saki short stories (not terribly pc anymore but still a good read) or Catch 22. Though for more modern stuff I'd second Murakami

At the moment I would suggest a reread of To Kill A Mockingbird. You could have lots of speculative discussion about the sequel. Otherwise a bit of Graham Greene or Virginia Wolf. The former is more accessible. A Burnt Out Case is about a leper colony

I have just read The Song of Achilles which is a modern retelling of The Iliad from the point of view of Patroclus (Achilles' lover). Very good indeed.

The Collector, John Fowles? A good read and some thought provoking points to discuss about class/education/elitism. And it's really creepy.

Sorry, seen you want something English or British....but the Marquez selection can be read in translation

May I suggest Stoner by John Williams.

www.theguardian.com/books/2013/dec/13/stoner-john-williams-julian-barnes

There's a lot to discuss in it, is quite literary and is from across the pond.

The Road to Wigan Peer - Orwell - on the basis that the Tories are taking us there again.

I was totally going to pick a Canadian author but then the woman before me picked Alice Munro so kind of took the wind out of my sails! Total bummer because there are so many great Canadian authors... Margaret Atwood, Margaret Laurence, Robertson Davies, Alice Munro, Mordecai Richler, Yann Martel....

The Reader - sorry can't name the author. V v good book. Although translated from the German. Advantage of also being relatively short - which I think might be good for a book club.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Attwood - I think someone mentioned she was Canadian when I suggested it as an option at our book club.
I've gone for Brave New World in the end, since I think they need an intro to SciFi and its a bit more 'literary' than starting with Isaac Asimov. That said we spend more time drinking, eating and chatting than discussing the book - highbrow we are not! (It's the only time I ever go into work with a hangover )

Someone mentioned Saki? We called a cat of ours Tobermory.....ok, we abbreviated it to Toby but we just knew he was not amused...

Try something by Sara Maitland - I think she writes modern classics.

A Commonplace Killing by Sian Busby.

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier.

oh God not Rebecca if OP wants to maintain her place in the bookclub!

Calvino, Borges or Stanislaw Lem are good picks for this situation. Most of your group probably won't have read them, they're quick enjoyable reads but they're undeniably posh lit.

Hurrah for all the Robertson Davies love on this thread. My favourite author. Do choose a Robertson Davies, not enough people read him at the moment.

yes try "What's Bred in the Bone" I thought it was marvellous

The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood

Cloud Atlas

Look at things like Guardian Award or things like that?

Mr Pip by Lloyd Jones - hit me like a steam train, never forgotten it.

You should definitely go with Margaret Atwood.

Cat's Eye should get a good discussion going among the group, is literary enough but very easy to read. Suitably devastating too.

The Edible Woman is also fantastic. In fact these are my two favourite books.

Parades End by Ford Maddox Ford, I grew to love it but it was a different read and should shut up any book snobs

How about one of the Austen rewrites? I've only read Northanger Abbey by Val Mcdermid and I didn't rate it much but they should be fairly straightforward reads and you could discuss how successfully (or not) Austen's themes translate into modern life.

As a PP said The Miniaturist - Jessie Burton.

Peach's suggestion just reminded me of 'Longbourne' - P&P from a servant's viewpoint, well worth a read esp as you can assume they'll all know P&P.