Can anyone recommend me some novels? Funny/feisty/feminist or insightful without being overly poncy...

[MadameDuBain]

I have a book token to spend but am just not getting grabbed by anything out there. I love Zoe Heller's books, also the two Jenny Eclair wrote, but I've read all theirs; I like Daphne du Maurier and my fave book ever is Jane Eyre. Have read all Margaret Atwood, Ian McEwan etc.

I don't like "poetic" and pretentious-style writing and wishy washy sentimentalism which seems to be in vogue and I'm not really into historical novels, especially set in wartime, and I don't like chick lit.

I wish I could just discover another Zoe-Heller-alike until her next one comes out... can anyone point me in the right direction? TIA

I enjoyed Laurie Graham's The Future Homemakers Of America. It follows the lives of a group of women from the fifties to the present day. Unpretentious style, funny in places.

Ooh, Margaret Drabble! "A Summer Birdcage" is the best.

Well I am always banging on about 'Women on the Edge of Time' by Madge Peircey (sp?) Give it a go.

I like Margaret Drabble and Iris Murdoch personally. Try anything on Virago. Some if of is dross that jsut happens to be written by women but much is good and it's a good way to meet new authors.

If you like Zoe Heller then Charlotte Mendelson 'When we were Bad' was v Heller-esque-very funny. Linda Grant also writes from a feminist perspective but not as funny (IMHO)

Browsing in Virago is a good idea I agree.

Actually I meant Women's Press as they tended to highlight new writers more but I think they are dead and gorn.

The Women's Press sadly folded a few years ago, but at least now lots of publishers are doing the books, classic and new, that Virago and the WP were started to do.

A Gathering Light by Jennifer Donnelly is a lovely book.
It's set in the past but not really 'historical' - it's a bit sentimental, but you need a bit - don't you?

Has anyone said Meg Wolitzer? Fast, funny, wellwritten, stuff to say.

Love love love "The Girl in Times Square" by Paulina Simons (Simmonds?)
It is a very juicy/long read. Read it twice and I loved it both times.

Also re-read The Time Travellers Wife recently and loved it.

I like Marian Keyes - slightly chick-lit ish, but also serious and funny!

Oh - just had a look at the Paulina Simons one. I read a lot of hers about fifteen years ago and always found them very engaging Until I read the Bronze Horseman which I really DIDN'T like).
Will add this one to my library list (in my new frugal spirit I am making a list of stuff to reserve from the library rather than add to my Amazon wishlist!)

I just read one by Dorothy Koomson as well.....i think it was called " Goodnight, Beautiful" and I enjoyed that as well

There is a very funny American writer called Lorrie Moore who I would really recommend. Anagrams is my favorite. She is like a rather more sassy Anne Tyler.

Also the English writer Helen Simpson, who writes short stories.

Well firstly, if you love Jane Eyre and haven't read any Gaskell (you don't say either way), there's good stuff there.

For a contemporary setting, I am a sucker for dry, smart american stuff. Melissa Bank, particularly A Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing, and Susan Jane Gilman's Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress are both fantastic. Also Dress Your Family in Denim and Corduroy by David Sedaris, which is a similar type of humour.

On a different tangent altogether, Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (also wrote Half of a Yellow Sun) was a really great read.

Finally I've read the odd bit of historical fiction recently, and enjoyed Philippa Gregory's The Queen's Fool. Absorbing story, strong female protagonist. If you feel like having your mind changed about historical stuff this is probably a good one. I never fancied the genre at all until a book club I used to go to chose one which I approached under sufferance and I have to admit to being pleasantly surprised. But I still draw the line at sci-fi and fantasty. Never, never, never.

I recently read Going Gently by David Nobbs - dunno if it falls into your criteria, but I enjoyed it, lead character is a strong woman

Have you read any Fay Weldon? She is one of my very favourite authors along with Margaret Attwood, Rose Tremain, Kate Atkinson, Mary Wesley etc. She is (or certainly was) funny/fesity/feminist.

The Wonder Spot - Melissa Bank.
One of those books where the Jewish heroine is feisty and fun. First chapter about going to Hebrew classes and bunking off in the loos for a fag. Really well written, great characters and am now 100pgs in. If you like Zoe Heller, you'll like this one!
I had never heard of Melissa Bank before starting this, but will be looking for more when I finish it.

No I Dont Want To Join A Bookclub by Virginia Ironside.

Heroine is a sort of 60 year old Bridget Jones.

I just read Mrs Dalloway for the first time and its wonderful.

anything by Fay Weldon rocks. esp she devil, and her older pones

Hi, I don't normally post in this section but would definitely recommend Marge Piercey, who wrote the amazing Woman on the Edge of Time www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/wwf_woman_edge_time.shtml

the secret history by donna tartt is gripping, an absolute page turner and suitably misanthropic if you're a heller fan.

have you read any john irving? he is very funny and warm without (i believe) being too sentimental.

You might like Meg Wolitzer, an american author. Sort of feminist and insightful and character-driven. I've read three of hers and I really recommend 'The Wife' and 'The Position'.

Sorry Carmelita, just re-read thread and saw your post . Really glad someone else agrees, though. I'm a bit surprised that Wolitzer hasn't had more publicity on here.... she strikes me as quite mumsnetty

I'd definitely put her in the same category as Zoe Heller.