I’ve just finished two excellent novels about difficult subjects, slavery and abduction. I’d like to balance that reading with two excellent novels that are joyful, uplifting or funny. I’m not looking for fluff though fluff would be another way to balance, but wonderfully written stories. As I think about my next novel, before I dive into something heavy-duty again, I’d like to consider the possibility of something lighter. I need examples in literary fiction. Help, please–do you have any to recommend?
On a completely unrelated note, check out the amazing photos here.
Have you read Jane Smiley’s “Horse Heaven” yet? Cause I’ll reiterate that one. Or any of Margaret George’s novels, especially “The Memoirs of Cleopatra”. Okay, that one’s not really funny, but there’s lots of luxury and sex and an amazing woman at the centre of it. Very readable.
You could also try some YA fiction! I love “King Dork” by Frank Portman.
P.S. The other day you posted the exact same photo that was used for a recent article I wrote about introverts online. Neat, eh?
http://makecustomersloveyou.com/day-17-customer-love-the-introvert-way/
I’ve been working out a list of literary comfort reads as I’m considering a session of rereading (unusual for me, but I sort of hanker after the known quantity at present). I’d include Anne Tyler – The Accidental Tourist, or Ladder of Years, Barbara Trapido – The Travelling Hornplayer or Noah’s Ark, Stella Gibbons’ Cold Comfort Farm, E. F. Benson’s Mapp & Lucia, Alison Lurie’s Foreign Affairs and David Lodge’s Nice Work. All of these fall really into the humorous category although some (The Accidental Tourist and Cold Comfort Far, for instance) have uplifting dimensions.
Looking back over the books I’ve read recently I wouldn’t describe many of them as particularly joyful, uplifting or funny.
There is Anne Tyler’s Digging to America, Linda Gillard’s Star Gazing, Rosy Thornton’s Tapestry of Love. I like Wallace Stegner’s Angle of Repose and Crossing to Safety too. I don’t remember any of them as funny though.
From memory as I haven’t read these books for many years, those by Elizabeth Goudge stand out as uplifting books – The Dean’s Watch for example of Green Dolphin Country. Mmm – I’d like to re-read these.
I just finished Iris Murdoch’s novel Under the Net, which is set in 1950s London and I found it very funny. But also erudite as well as a plain old good story. It takes a lot for a book to make me laugh outloud, but this one did on several occasions.
Hmmm, what else…in a completely different mood, there is Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead. Meditative and slow-paced (in a good way) but quite uplifting. Nothing depressing about this novel, but it does give you pause to think. The writing alone was a pure pleasure to read.
Joyful is a tough one…I have a hard time finding joyful in contemporary fiction. Playful maybe. I need to think on this a bit more.
I looked over my book lists and did come up with another idea – Luis Alberto Urrea’s fine novel Into the Beautiful North. More playful than joyful, with a soft and serious undercurrent.
I feel a bit instrusive making suggestions, given this is the first time I’ve commented on your blog, but I can’t resist giving a book recommendation, so…
I loved Nick Hornby’s ‘How to Be Good’. I think he’s such an underrated author – it’s sharp and funny and deft, with some incredibly sardonic dialogue that I wish I’d come up with and keep trying to weave into my own conversation. And it asks some really pertinent questions at the same time: most obviously, what does it mean to be a good person in the world today and how attainable is it? (Also, is it really fair to inflict it on our loved ones?)
Other recommendations: ‘Happy as Larry’, a recent YA Australian novel, is wonderful and original, though I’m not sure how easily you’d be able to get it outside Australia. ‘If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things’ is also absolutely unforgettable – such lucent, beautiful prose – but joyous rather than feel-good. It’s too awe-inspiring for feel-good.
I’d second the Anne Tyler suggestions given in the comments above (‘Morgan’s Passing’ and ‘Ladder of Years’ are my favourites.) And incidentally, Nick Hornby and Anne Tyler both cite each other as being among the best novelists writing today (I don’t think they’re friends.)
…But I really think you should just read ‘How To Be Good.’ In fact, I’m including a link to the opening chapter so you can try it (I don’t work for the publisher, honestly…)(http://us.penguingroup.com/static/packages/us/nickhornby/excerpt.htm)
PS. I love the photos – thank you for sharing them!
Oh how wonderful to come to my blog today and see all these recommendations!
Bakersdaughter, I’m delighted you came and commented. I followed your link, read the first page, and How To Be Good is now on its way here.
Alison, I haven’t read Horse Heaven, but I’m putting it on my list. I read your (linked) article on promoting your business the introvert way and that was fascinating. How did you get into coaching?
Litlove and Margaret, I’ve read most of Ann Tyler’s books. At her best, I love her books because they are about people building new and fuller lives.
Litlove that’s a great list and I’m going to start with Cold Comfort.
Margaret I haven’t heard of Stegner’s–I’m going to take a look at it.
Verbivore, playful is just the ticket. Into the Beautiful North goes on the list.
I am so excited about all of these wonderful recommendations. I’ve got a couple of books that have just come in from the library to read first and then I am going to make the list of books I’m gathering here my next project. I can’t wait to get started.
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I’m not sure I read a lot that counts as “literary fiction”, so I’m probably not much help to you! But I’ll let you know if I think of anything…
Something by H.E. Bates, maybe? He’s criminally neglected these days. Or Robert Walser. Or Tove Jansson’s The Summer Book. I’d second David Lodge, too… The British Museum is Falling Down, in particular.
Rachel–thanks!
Phila, thank you so much. I am adding all of those to my list. I especially love beautiful short novels, so I’m curious about Bates and Jansson.