Play Book Tag discussion
November 2018: Literary Fiction
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Announcing the November tag
I really liked the list Book Concierge put out.Obviously there is an infinite supply of classics to consider, lists of prize winners, and the 1001 list. So many of such reads older and newer reach 4 stars, so I think maybe a list of what achieved 5 stars from books from the last few years might inspire some people's choices:
--Do Not Say We Have Nothing--Madeleine Thien
--The Golden House--Salman Rushdie
--The Sympathizer--Viet Than Nyugen
--Warlight--Michael Ondaatje
--The Overstory--Richard Powers
--Christodora--Tim Murphy
--A Tale for the Time Being--Ruth Ozeki
--Savage Country--Robert Olmstead
--The Painter--Peter Heller
--Anything Is Possible--Elizabeth Strout
--The Good Lord Bird--James McBride
--The Jealous Kind--James Lee Burke
--How to be both--Ali Smith
--Three Daughters of Eve--Elif Shafak
I will pursue these that are part of my quest this year to read books from Polish, Turkish, and Japanese lit:
--The Bastard of Istanbul--Elif Shafak
--Salt of the earth--Jozef Wittlin
--Silence--Shusaku Endo
Literary Fiction is pretty much my comfort read, so I’m good with this choice. I recommend anything by Ali Smith or James Baldwin. I also really liked The Great Believers.
I’m going to see if I can find something more experimental- or whatever may catch my interest.
Tracey, I feel like Freshwater would work for you, and it is most certainly experimental. You and I seem to agree more than we disagree, and I loved it. I don’t know if it would work in audio though.
My Top Recommendation is The History of Love. I thought it was wonderfully written and full of heart. It's also one of PBT's top 10 for 2015.Other recommendations of especially memorable literary fiction:
My Ántonia
The Leavers
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand
Cannery Row
I'll choose from these titles that show up on the literary fiction list and also satisfy at least one of my other reading challenges:
Exit West
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena
The Buried Giant
Lonesome Dove
Sea of Poppies
Also, There There by Tommy Orange, for which I don't find a link.
Susie wrote: "Tracey, I feel like Freshwater would work for you, and it is most certainly experimental. You and I seem to agree more than we disagree, and I loved it. I don’t know if it would work in audio though."I have it on kindle, and that was the book I planned on! 😂
Kimber, I am so jealous that you get to read A Constellation of Vital Phenomena for the first time. It is such a wonderful book, and I feel as though it has a similar style to The History of Love. I remember that it did take some time to settle in so it’s worth some persistence.
Susie wrote: "Kimber, I am so jealous that you get to read A Constellation of Vital Phenomena for the first time. It is such a wonderful book, and I feel as though it has a similar style to The History of Love. ..."Thanks, Susie, I appreciate the encouragement and I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it! I've been wanting to read Constellation for a while. I loved The Tsar of Love and Techno by the same author.
Isn’t he great? I was just recently thinking that I hope he’ll bring out a new novel soon.
Kimber wrote: "Susie wrote: "?..Tsar of Love and Techno..."Reminds me that this tag makes for a great opportunity to read more short story collections.
Amy wrote: "Circe just came in for me at the library! Go Buddy Read!"
Amy, I had to go and buy it!! I bought it used but still. I was 18th in the queue at my library for this and I put it on hold a month ago!
Amy, I had to go and buy it!! I bought it used but still. I was 18th in the queue at my library for this and I put it on hold a month ago!
With all this could literary fiction around, I wonder if our group will dwindle? I know for sure we have you, me, and Meli. I wonder how many of the 10 or so folks who said they wanted to read with us actually well? I guess appears to be seen. But glad I have you two to start.
Amy wrote: "With all this could literary fiction around, I wonder if our group will dwindle? I know for sure we have you, me, and Meli. I wonder how many of the 10 or so folks who said they wanted to read with..."I am number 2 in line at my library-if I get it, it won't be until mid-November. In the meantime I am going to try to find a used copy to buy
Amy wrote: "With all this could literary fiction around, I wonder if our group will dwindle? I know for sure we have you, me, and Meli. I wonder how many of the 10 or so folks who said they wanted to read with..."
I hope we have a good group. I excited for this month. I have so many good reads. If I can get to them all.:)
I hope we have a good group. I excited for this month. I have so many good reads. If I can get to them all.:)
Nicole R wrote: "Wolf Hall was a dis..."
Could not agree more, Nicole! So poorly written! Really did not like it.
I read Anna Karenin some time ago and just loved it. It was so different from what I expected too.
Amy wrote: "With all this could literary fiction around, I wonder if our group will dwindle? I know for sure we have you, me, and Meli. I wonder how many of the 10 or so folks who said they wanted to read with..."I'm still on board to read Circe in November with all of you! I've actually had it on my kindle for months courtesy of a deal of the day at some point. Once I saw the planned buddy read, it got moved up to the top of the TBR mountain so I make sure to read it in November. I'm thrilled!
Literary fiction is so incredibly easy for me as I read a lot that fits that category, especially lately.
I'm going to try to tackle Circe with the buddy group this month.
That’s five or six for Circe. I’m delighted too! Plus we all get Literary Fiction points.
Ah, I have been waiting for Circe for ages at the library, and I am 19th in line. Don't think I will get the book in time! :(
The library won’t get Circe to me in time either - I feel a purchase coming on. I’ll check the second hand book store just in case ...
Glad Literary Fiction won! The other two did not appeal to me at all. I have my copy of Circe so you can count me in! Still trying to figure out exactly what qualifies as Literary Fiction. The article was very helpful. I think I've read some classic Literary Fiction but I'm not so sure about modern the only one that comes to mind is Cloud Atlas.
Kimber wrote: "Also, There There by Tommy Orange, for which I don't find a link...."Plug in "There there by orange" and it's STILL on page 2 of the little pop-up box.
If you type "There there by tommy orange" it's comes up number 1 in the pop-up box.
Apparently Goodreads' algorithm for searches likes the word "orange" better than "There there" S*I*G*H
Book Concierge wrote: "Kimber wrote: "Also, There There by Tommy Orange, for which I don't find a link...."Plug in "There there by orange" and it's STILL on page 2 of the little pop-up box.
If you type "There there b..."
I was super confused about this as well! I could not find the book to tag in the little box on my review that says "what is this thread about"
AJ wrote: "Anyone who has no idea what to read, I would recommend: The Time Traveler's Wife or The Storied Life of A.J. FikryI love this genre and hope to actually get some read..."
If it ends up being a choice between A Man Called Ove vs Little Fires Everywhere, I recommend A Man Called Ove :). Water for Elephants is on my tbr, but I am in the throes of reading The Man Without Qualities already and by the time I'm finished may well turn to brain candy for a while.
Book Concierge wrote: "Apparently Goodreads' algorithm for searches likes the word "orange" better than "There there" S*I*G*H b..."I hate keyword searches. When I know what I'm looking for, I always like a browse (alphabetical) option. Library catalogues used to be able to do this, and some still do, but not as many as used to.
AJ wrote: "Just so you know, I despised The Wonder. I don't remember the rating I gave it on Goodreads but as time has gone by when I think back on it I would give it 1 Star. I thought it was boring and way too much pushing on the weird religious stuff. ..."Oh, wow! I own it, so I will likely read it at some point. It's the ebook I have, so hopefully that will be better than the audio!
AJ wrote: "I am also still interested in reading the following so hopefully I will get to at least one:..."My favourites in your list include "Middlesex", "Water for Elephants", and "Gone Girl". I also really enjoyed (but I don't think I rated it quite as high as the other three) "Leaving Time".
AJ wrote: "Anyone who has no idea what to read, I would recommend: The Time Traveler's Wife or The Storied Life of A.J. FikryI love this genre and hope to actually get some read..."
LOVED Little Fires Everywhere and Gone Girl, but thought The Girls was just meh. The writing is great, just a dull story.
AJ wrote: "Anyone who has no idea what to read, I would recommend: The Time Traveler's Wife or The Storied Life of A.J. FikryI love this genre and hope to actually get some read..."
Great choices! I loved American Marriage, A Man Called Ove, and The Power, and the Time-Traveller's Wife is an all-time favourite!
I really disliked The Storied Life of A.J. Firky because (view spoiler)
I am better understanding the term 'Literary Fiction' now; apparently the category contains tons of books that I love...
AJ - we actually haven't even really started discussing Weight of Ink at all. I'm about to get that thread jolted right now. Definitely come back to it when you are ready.
It’s such a hard tag to define! I wouldn’t have put many of the books mentioned under literary fiction. I know when I tell people that I like literary fiction and they ask what that is, I have a hard time defining it.
excerpted from https://nybookeditors.com/2018/07/wha..."Characteristics of Literary Fiction:
- doesn't follow a formula
Unlike genre fiction, which follows a loose but predictable narrative, literary fiction doesn’t adhere to any rules. Anything can happen which can be both exciting and unnerving for the reader.
- uses creative storytelling
- explores the human condition
- may be difficult to read
Literary fiction may rely on symbolism or allegory to convey a deeper meaning. There’s almost always a deeper takeaway than the story itself reveals.
- is character-focused (as opposed to plot-driven)
- often has an ambiguous ending
In literary fiction, endings are usually sad, abrupt, or left up to your interpretation. Sometimes, nothing is resolved, which leaves the reader desperate to find meaning in it all.
- is award-friendly
Because it often pushes boundaries and employs a unique perspective, works of literary fiction get more awards. Critics love that kind of thing. However, receiving an award doesn’t necessarily mean that the book is worth your time or money. As with all things art, creative genius is in the eye of the beholder.
If genre fiction is popcorn, does that make literary fiction more serious and substantive? Not necessarily. Literary fiction provides a fresh way to tell stories and it ignores standard formulas. It stands alone and is not scared.
The term “literary fiction” is controversial and for good reason. As more “literary” writers venture into genre fiction, the lines of distinction have blurred. Sometimes, it’s not always clear. Perhaps, it is genre fiction that’s just pushing its own boundaries."
KateNZ wrote: "I have ‘The Shepherd’s Hut’ to finish, and ‘Circe’ if I can get it from the library in time."Kate, I'm so excited for you because I LOVEd, LOVEd, LOVEd both of these books :)
I don't know if you do audiobooks, but The shepherd's Hut was soooooo goood on audio, because Kate Mulvany gives such an authentic experience with all the Australian slang. I was completely mesmerized listening to this book, and listened straight through start to finish!
I joined Scribd, (first month free, $8.99/month thereafter), and listened to it there, along with many other books/audiobooks.
Circe is also a dreamlike audio experience, but I think it would be equally as good reading physical book too.
ENJOY!!
Great to have the feedback, Anne :) I usually find audiobooks hard going though I am trying to get into the habit of listening when I’m gardening, walking or doing needlework. It so much depends on the narrator’s style and the type of story.
I have several classics I've been meaning to get to and I thought that's what literary fiction meant so that will be easy but since I've been reading everyone's comments I think I will also read Remains of the Day for November.
I have so many piles of print books in every room of my apartment, many of which are literary fiction, that I think once I finish the 2 ebooks I am currently reading (one is Canadian and other is literary fiction) and read Circe, I am just going to pick books randomly from the piles.
Theresa wrote: "I have so many piles of print books in every room of my apartment, many of which are literary fiction, that I think once I finish the 2 ebooks I am currently reading (one is Canadian and other is l..."Love it! I could do the same.
Booknblues wrote: "Theresa wrote: "I have so many piles of print Love it! I could do the same.
It will be fun to see what we read by that process! I'm such an impulse book buyer...along with favorite authors of course. Could be a really diverse month of reading.
I forgot to mention this one for CANADIAN ... but it would fit LITERARY FICTION as wellUnder This Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell
I gave it 5*****
My Review HERE
So many! Choosing from my owned books. I'll decide by the weekend.Russian Winter
The Madonnas of Leningrad
The Painted Girls
Sarah's Key
If I can get through Circe quick enough to fit in at least one more that fits this tag, I am considering; The Immortalists
Exit West
Beartown
My Absolute Darling
Her Body and Other Parties
All those are physically on my tbr, so I would like to get another one of those read in NOV if possible.
I’ve read each of those titles Meli and enjoyed them all so you’re in for a good reading month no matter what!
Excellent, great to hear! Now I just need to finish Circe to fit one in.
I started listening to The Home for Unwanted Girls. Coffee and a Good Book on Facebook is reading it. I may have time for another one.
Book Concierge wrote: "I forgot to mention this one for CANADIAN ... but it would fit LITERARY FICTION as wellUnder This Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell
I gave it 5*****
My Review HERE"
There are many wonderful Canadian literary writers who are not at all like Margaret Atwood, for those who, like me, are not keen on Atwood, and even for those who like Atwood, because naturally there are fans of Atwood who love a lot of Canadian literary fiction.
Gabrielle Roy--I've read two of hers, Where Nests the Water Hen and The Tin Flute (these could also count if anyone has a challenge to read a novel originally published in a language other than English as she was a francophone).
Carol Shields her most popular/well known book is probably The Stone Diaries, but my favourite one by her is The Republic Of Love.
Margaret Laurence VERY Canadian, and one of the books I read by her when I was a teen (NOT for teens!) is The Stone Angel
Robertson Davies --I just read his Fifth Business which is very well written and I hope the fact that it was only 2 stars for me doesn't put people off--there was a time when I'd have loved that novel and then read the next two.
Plus, there are others, but I only have so long.
Play Book Tag
Books mentioned in this topic
The Stranger (other topics)The Republic Of Love (other topics)
Under This Unbroken Sky (other topics)
The Tin Flute (other topics)
The Stone Diaries (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Cornelius Ryan (other topics)Elizabeth Strout (other topics)
Khaled Hosseini (other topics)
Anthony Marra (other topics)
Jonathan Franzen (other topics)
Anna Karenina
Wolf Hall"
I LOVED Anna Karenina! The audiobook was excellent.
Wolf Hall was a disaster of overused pronouns.