Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

What are the modern day classics for the older generation?

38 replies

thedolly · 28/09/2009 23:30

My FIL doesn't read anymore because he thinks he will never read anything as great as 'Kafka'. Please help me to reignite his love of reading by suggesting something that he might like (hopefully love).

Thank you

OP posts:
OldLadyKnowsNothing · 29/09/2009 01:48

Are you sure FIL's eyesight isn't so shot he can't read any more? Kafka was a miserable bugger at best, maybe that's what really put FIL off.

Original poster
thedolly · 29/09/2009 09:12

FIl's eyesight is fine but he is also a miserable bugger

OP posts:
Original poster
thedolly · 29/09/2009 11:32

Can anyone suggest a modern day 'classic' for an aged 70+ FIL who reckons he has read all the good stuff?

(He loved Les MIserables)

OP posts:
LaSoiDisantDame · 29/09/2009 11:38

My fil loved 'The Road to Wigan Pier' by Orwell as a gift but as he was born in Lancashire around the time it was written so it was sort of perfect for him. Plus he's a fan of gritty social commentary!

Hmm as Les mis deals with hard lives maybe something by Steinbeck. 'Grapes of Wrath' maybe, my personal fave?

Original poster
thedolly · 29/09/2009 11:49

I would imagine he has read both of those LaSo. I was thinking more of something that has been published say in the last 10 years or so, classics of the future IYKWIM.

Any ideas?

OP posts:
LaSoiDisantDame · 29/09/2009 12:33

Oh in that case...

What about 'This thing of darkness' by Harry Thompson?

or maybe 'Any Human Heart' by William Boyd, 'A prayer for Owen meany' John Irving, 'Remains of the Day' Kasho Ishguro (sp?)'The Line of Beauty' Alan Hollinghurst?

Tbh I've been reading so may Old Classics recently it's hard to think of Modern modern classics.

Just realised all those authors were male, wasn't intentional To throw in some females, how about Margaret Atwood or A S Byatt?

Original poster
thedolly · 29/09/2009 12:37

I have read Owen Meany and Remains of the Day and would say that they are probably not thought provoking enough for FIL.

Not sure about the others - I will get googling

OP posts:
JeffVadar · 29/09/2009 14:33

A few that spring to mind are:

Iris Murdoch
Julian Barnes
Ian McEwan
Salman Rushdie
John Updike

Personally I have found these fairly hard work (except Rushdie who was unreadable) so they might fit the bill!

Acinonyx · 29/09/2009 16:16

Milan Kundera has been compared to Kafka - perhpas he would enjoy something like 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being'. A bit more than 10 years (I'm getting on myself....).

Hmmm. Novels with a philosophical twist.

Sophie's World, J Gaarder.

If he likes that kind of sureal existential stuff has he read any Herman Hesse e.g. 'Steppenwolf'?

Cult classics like 'The Dice Man' Luke Rhinehart.

Original poster
thedolly · 29/09/2009 17:45

Thanks folks, lots of ideas there

I love Ian McEwan JeffVader.

OP posts:
Apollinare · 29/09/2009 18:06

JeffVadar

Relieved someone else also found Salmon Rushdie unreadable! Have just taken the 'Enchantress of florence' back to the library after ploughing through one chapter. Have also given up on 'Midnights children' in the past. A great and lyrical wordsmith but a rather tedious storyteller.

Original poster
thedolly · 29/09/2009 20:09

Any recommendations Apollinare?

OP posts:
Apollinare · 29/09/2009 22:37

'Maps for lost lovers' by Nadeem Aslam (Booker long listed 2004 but should have won)
Had forgotton how much I loved this, will now have to reread.

I loved both books by Khaled Hosseini, but personally found 'A thousand splendid suns' more thought provoking, politically.

Another vote for William Boyd, esp Brazzaville Beach and Restless.

Original poster
thedolly · 30/09/2009 08:43

Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
thedolly · 30/09/2009 20:01

Anymore ideas for classics of tomorrow?

OP posts:
mellifluouscauliflower · 30/09/2009 20:17

What about The Constant Gardener by John Le Carre? Men always seem to like Le Carre and he would be a contemporary of your FiL, which might help..

Jux · 30/09/2009 20:34

Robertson Davies or A S Byatt or Doris Lessing, but mainly Robertson Davies. I would suggest the Cornish Trilogy to start

Original poster
thedolly · 30/09/2009 21:30

Thanks very much, I've got a few to work on now. I'm planning on putting together a 'get back into reading' package for him for Christmas. I hope it works out.

OP posts:
francagoestohollywood · 30/09/2009 21:38

I always recommend Nemirovski's Suite Francaise.

Original poster
thedolly · 30/09/2009 21:47

Yes franca I could see that working, thanks .

OP posts:
Original poster
thedolly · 01/10/2009 09:26

Any other recommendations to rival Nemirovski's Suite Francaise?

OP posts:
helpivegottogivebirth · 01/10/2009 09:40

Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

wilbur · 01/10/2009 09:42

The Corrections - fabulous family story with what feels like a very accurate depiction of older people as well as the younger generation.

Franca - have got Suite Franciase on shelf waiting for me. V excited.

Sunshinemambo · 01/10/2009 09:52

Second the Corrections but what about things like Underworld by Don Delillo or Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels.

Also what about people like Gabriel Garcia Marquez or Isabel Allende?

Original poster
thedolly · 01/10/2009 10:05

Fugitive Pieces looks good, I'm off to check out The Corrections now .

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread