I need a book for clever well read 23 year old dil.

[CurlewKate]

She’s doing an English degree and she’s loved some of the books I’ve given her- I try to choose old fashioned sort of classics-she loved Muriel Spark, Graham Green and Evelyn Waugh, for example and A Month in the Country. She didn’t like Kingsley Amis or Barbara Pym. Any ideas?

I immediately thought of the Lymond Chronicles!

But warn her the first can be hard going to start with...

Ooh also Hilary Mantel's Change of Climate.

Are you sure she likes receiving books from you? I also read English at university and much preferred to choose my own. I actually don't like being gifted books. I am probably just odd though.

Also agree with Wilkie Collins - the Woman in White or The Moonstone - and the Barsetshire books by Trollope.

The Count of Monte Christo?

London belongs to Me by Norman Collins or the Doll Maker by Harriette Arnow, massively underrated classics

The Painted Veil by W Somerset Maughm.

In my top 10 ever.

Oh yes!! Liberty have a side room for stationery but also very very beautiful books. Classics and slightly more recent in lovely prints. Abour £15/20 so indulgent but not bonkers money

Yes that’s true . My keen bean 16yo reader has loved outlander but won’t bother with Lymond yet. I am leaving her to come to them in her own time.

Virginia Woolf, surely.

Why are you trying to choose old fashioned classics? Is that your preference or hers? My daughter is well educated, well read 23 year old who studied modern languages (lots of literature, just not English) at University, and generally reads more modern literature than older literature.

Was just coming on to recommend Persephone books! Maybe a voucher?

The Goldfinch or The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Another vote for Jane’s , Percival Everett. And could be paired with Huck Finn. I have just finished The Haunting of Hill House which is genre fiction in the sense that it is a horror tale, but very subtle and, if she’s interested in representations of the uncanny and psychological realism within the supernatural, there’s lots here. Shirley Jackson, from 1959, I think. Under Milkwood, for another twist on genre - this time, pastoral. And she can listen to Richard Burton on Spotify!

Jonathan livingstone seagull

zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance.

Two books which were huge years ago and she may enjoy.

Sophie’s World

Rosamund Lehman: Invitation to the Waltz, The Weather in the Streets

English graduate here. Short stories can be very welcome if you have a novel-heavy reading list - collections by women writers, or Katherine Mansfield and Virginia Woolf. Virginia Woolf's diaries are a joy. Kate Atkinson - 'Behind the scenes at the museum' and 'Life After Life' play lots of tricks that appeal to Eng Lit students. Dorothy Richardson's 'Pilgrimage', little read now but the stream-of-consciousness work by a female author.

Oh and what about Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell? I loved that at that age. I think you are really kind buying her books that you are tailoring to her taste. I am known as a reader but receive Scottish or political history books from one side (who are interested in those) and Worthy Books from the other. So I have to buy my own, but do envy those who are given good books to read over Christmas.

Olive and Olive Again

Thank you- but not really kind! We always do a family book Secret Santa for Christmas reading, and I love choosing for people. I have really enjoyed lending her books from my shelves she might like- and she’s lent me things she thinks I might like from her reading list. I was so excited I got her this year. Last year I got someone who only reads military history…..🤣

Marilynne Robinson, any novel but I really recommend Housekeeping.
She's American, is that ok?

Ugh, have had those kind of book gifts needed before. Trying to work out which book about WW2 naval frigates would be just the right one.

Winifred Holtby South Riding, The Land of Green Ginger. Maybe some of the books Noel Streatfeild wrote for adults The Witcharts spelling probably wrong.

Cold Comfort Farm

Any Dorothy L Sayers, but I would really recommend Murder Must Advertise

A more light read but I loved Dear Mrs Bird (modern but set during the Second World War)

Pachinko

Lessons in Chemistry

Old Baggage

The Help

Rebecca

Doris Lessing
Isabel Allende
Kate Atkinson