Books on the literary end of the scale...

[DoItTooJulia]

I'm after books to read that are more literary than chick lit.

I don't mind popular, I like a bloody good story, don't mind historical. I don't actually know if I am describing my tastes well (I don't need 'showy' books iyswim, but I just don't want to read trash).

I find working through things like booker long lists too hit and miss.

I've recently read: Sebastian Faulks where my heart used to beat it was ok. I enjoyed Bel Canto and liked Paula McClains the rising sun. I've got The surgeon of crowthorne lined up and Wilkie Collins Woman in White but after that I'm stuck.

Any ideas?

[DoItTooJulia]

Corporal it's me-I'm mixed up. I need to read and don't own Life after Life I have read A Little Life.

Sorry

[DoItTooJulia]

Oooh, just looked up Alice Hoffman on Amazon: looks like my cup of tea! As if I'd never heard of her?

[CorporalNobbyNobbs]

Ah I get you Dolt. I was just wondering was there some other book I didn't know about.

I found A Little Life a bit much really.

[mugglebumthesecond]

I think all good literary books can be a bit long and slow in the middle. But if they really stay with you then you know it's a good en!

I found this with The Goldfinch and A Little Life- but boy did those book stick with me and they're begging for a re- read. I rarely remember plots and characters of books

[boldlygoingsomewhere]

I would also recommend The North Water and All the Light We Cannot See.

Also worth trying are:
• Burial Rites and The Good People by Hannah Kent
• Wolf Winter by Cecilia Ekback
• The Paying Guests - Sarah Waters

Older novels that I enjoyed are:
• A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
• An Instance at the Fingerpost by Iain Pears

[birdybirdywoofwoof]

I enjoyed goldfinch, I'd also recommend William Boyd 'waiting for sunset', the newlyweds by nell something and Sarah waters 'the paying guests'.

[DoItTooJulia]

It's interesting how many votes there are for The Paying Guests I enjoyed it, but it just wasn't as good as her others-it never seemed to reach the same level for me.

[HamletsSister]

I also really enjoyed American Wife and have just read her first novel, Prep. Really recommend her most recent one, Eligible which is her take on Pride and Prejudice, set in Cincinnati and very, very funny. Curtis Sittenfield - brilliant writer.

[HamletsSister]

Oh, and have you read Atwood's latest, "And the Heart Goes Last"?

[birdybirdywoofwoof]

Ah the paying guests was my first Sarah waters and I've heard people say it's not as good as others. I found it mesmerising.

Wasn't the Paris wife wonderful? I can't work out how or why I loved it so much, it was like being in a bubble somehow!

Stoner was an old book that became very popular last year. It's a nice read.

[DoItTooJulia]

No, haven't read that one (I feel like I should read Madaddam first seeing as I was so desperate for it I bought it hardback. Then the drought hit.) I'm putting it on my wish list/basket.

And I'm going to check out the other Curtis Sittingfeld books-I think I passed over Prep in a charity shop-so I'll keep my eyes peeled.

[mugglebumthesecond]

An instance at the finger post looks brilliant! Thanks for that one

[SurelyYoureJokingMrFeynman]

Love An Instance of the Fingerpost!

[Allalonenow]

Another vote for The Goldfinch which I loved, and for An Instance of the Fingerpost, I like his art historian/crime series too.

Other favourites are A Confederacy of Dunces, and This Thing of Darkness.

[capercaillie]

Interesting thread!

I loved the Goldfinch - read it over Christmas. Couldn't put it down.

Struggling with the Cazalets though - was recommended by a friend but I just can't get into it.

Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri is good.

[Thegiantofillinois]

The glorious heresies. Loved that one.

I read maniacal, then went back and 're read the other two. Still works.

Angela Carter if you've done any, although if you've done Atwood and Atkinson you probably have; Wise Children.

[Thegiantofillinois]

Sarah Hall.

[sooperdooper]

Have you read anything by Maggie O'Farrell? I absolutely adored The Vanishing of Esme Lennox and I've enjoyed everything else by her too

Another vote for Burial Rites by Hannah Kent, and Cloud Atlas, and anything by Margaret Atwood, my favourites of hers are Alias Grace and Lady Oracle

Thanks for the recommendations everyone! My reading list is overflowing :)

[RemusLupinsChristmasMovie]

Burial Rites is good, as is The Essex Serpent.

All the Light we Cannot See is good until the last tenth or so, which ruined it, imho.

His Bloody Project v good.

I found Fingerpost overlong and a bit too full of the writer thinking how clever he was.

Golden Hill needed editing.

Older ones which are gripping but fairly literary:

The American Boy
Arthur and George

[RemusLupinsChristmasMovie]

This Thing of Darkness sublime.

Lord of the Flies
Anything by Steinbeck

I didn't like The American Wife.

[RemusLupinsChristmasMovie]

Liz Jensen - The Ninth Life of Louis Drax

[DoItTooJulia]

Yes birdy it really was lovely. Thoroughly enjoyed it! If you're looking for your next Sarah Waters, Fingersmith is good: my fav is affinity but I really liked Tipping the Velvet too.

Great to see @Remus here-hope you're well my'dear.

Loads more to check out-I've had to create a second wish list to manage them all! Thanks-enjoying my own thread

[birdybirdywoofwoof]

Ooh ooh I've got some more!

Girls by Emma klein


Where dyou go Bernadette. (Loved this and she's got a new one out I think)

They weren't perfect, but v good and not too difficult

[birdybirdywoofwoof]

I will try fingersmith, I always felt I somehow missed the Sarah waters bus(?) but yes, enjoyed her latest one.

[RemusLupinsChristmasMovie]

You too, Julia of the awesome name!