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american style novels

23 replies

imagakster · 18/07/2022 23:26

not sure if i'm being clear but i love american novels like anne tyler courtney sullivan beth o leary
any others that i'm missing out on?
i read a book ages ago about a homely girl living in a walmart store can't recall the title or author but that's the kind of thing i'm after?

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TheYearOfSmallThings · 18/07/2022 23:32

Maybe Fannie Flagg? Adriana Trigiani? Elizabeth Strout? Rebecca Wells?

Blackcountryexile · 19/07/2022 16:09

Maybe also try
Beatriz Williams.
Maggie Shipstead
Florence Adler Swims Forever Rachel Beanland
The Immortalists Chloe Benjamin
The Most Fun We Ever Had Claire Lombardo

R00tat00tt00t · 19/07/2022 16:27

I've never read any of the authors the OP mentions but I can second The Most Fun We Ever Had - Louise Lombardo, really enjoyed that. I've read some Elizabeth Strout too and quite liked it although quite slow and melancholy rather than homely and uplifting. I also enjoyed The Corrections -Jonathan Franzen, I really liked the characters and found it quite humorous though maybe a little darker than you're after. Maybe look up some of the NY Times charts or Oprah or Reece's book clubs?

R00tat00tt00t · 19/07/2022 16:28

Sorry, Claire Lombardo, not Louisa; think she was an actress in The House of Elliot?

imagakster · 19/07/2022 16:29

thankyou yes i like johnathan franzen and elizabeth Strout
i'll look up some of the others you've mentioned

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PermanentTemporary · 19/07/2022 16:32

Laurie Graham. Some of hers aren't about America though.

HolyCarp · 19/07/2022 17:50

I'm reading The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller at the moment. That might fit what you're looking for.

withiceplease · 19/07/2022 18:04

We were the Mulvaneys is excellent

PatsyJStone · 19/07/2022 18:19

The Glass Castle Janette Walls

TheYearOfSmallThings · 19/07/2022 18:30

The Glass Castle Janette Walls

Oh yes, that was excellent - I didn't see the twist at the end coming at all!

mimbleandlittlemy · 19/07/2022 19:14

Curtis Sittenfeld, Barbara Kingsolver. David Ebershoff’s The 19th Wife is very good about America.

Rockhoppperd · 19/07/2022 19:25

Another vote for The Paper Palace. Seating Arrangments by Maggie Shipstead capitulated me too

CrossPurposes · 19/07/2022 19:29

Alice Hoffman might fit the bill as well as Ann Patchett.

imagakster · 26/07/2022 20:19

just read the most fun we ever had and loved it m going to check out some others from your lovely recommendations

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Springduckling · 30/07/2022 10:15

Ann Patchett is good, especially Run and Commonwealth.
Elizabeth Strout
Carol Shields was Canadian but wrote similar books set in Canada and the US.

MrsBartlet · 30/07/2022 10:21

I am a big fan of Elizabeth Strout, Carol Shields, Ann Patchett, Anne Tyler and I also like Elinor Lipman and Benjamin Markovits and Cheryl Mendelson (Morningside Heights trilogy) who right similar style novels. Slightly different but same family type novels, I have also enjoyed Helga Flatland who is a Scandinavian author.

AtomicBlondeRose · 30/07/2022 10:23

I’ve just discovered Anna Quindlen who fits into this category nicely.

MrsBartlet · 30/07/2022 10:25

Also Sue Miller and Alison Lurie. I am off to look up all the ideas on here now. I fear my to read list may be about to get much longer!

AgathaMystery · 30/07/2022 10:37

mimbleandlittlemy · 19/07/2022 19:14

Curtis Sittenfeld, Barbara Kingsolver. David Ebershoff’s The 19th Wife is very good about America.

I love everything by Sittenfeld. Wish I could read American Wife for the first time again.

darlingdodo · 30/07/2022 10:46

Mona Simpson, 'Anywhere But Here'.
Elinor Lipman, The Way Men Act is my favourite but I like all her books.
Armistead Maupin?

shumway · 01/08/2022 12:48

Lily King, Elizabeth McCracken, Vendela Vida, Mary Lawson, Sue Miller, Emma Straub.

imagakster · 01/08/2022 12:50

So exciting i'm reading an Anna Quindlen novel now thanks to a recommendation on here and it's great
. Can I through in Courtney Sullivan as one of my favourites as well.

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imagakster · 01/08/2022 12:50

Throw

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