Favorite popular fiction book

[Mr.lucifer]

What is your favorite popular fiction book?

[Lokasenna]

Can I say basically anything by Terry Pratchett?

[MarkBastable]

Can I say basically anything by Terry Pratchett?

If I can say anything by Wodehouse.

[LitNetIsGreat]

If I can say anything by Wodehouse.

I'd go along with that too, plus I'll have Daphne Du Mauier's Rebecca if that's popular fiction, I don't know?

[dfloyd]

without defining popular fiction. I rarely like contemporary fiction. Cormac McCarthy (No Country for Old Men and Blood Meridian) is one of the few I have liked, not being able to finish a Don Delillo or Philip Roth Novel. Of modern fiction, I have read and liked all of Scott Fitzgerald and most of Hemingway. Some thrillers I have liked are those by Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. Thomas Pynchon's V. was good. I just finished The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo, a fairly inteligent thriller by the Swedish author, Stieg Larsson who died a few years ago. There are two more which make up the three volumes of this series which I will probably read.

[hillwalker]

Anything by James Ellroy and Sebastian Faulks if we are talking conteporary popular fiction.

And that Larsson trilogy - well-worth pursuing 'Played With Fire' and 'Kicked the Hornets Nest' if you enjoyed the first.

[tiredstudent]

One book? thas imposspible!!!!

Dune- by Frank Herbert
Redeeming love- by Francine Rivers
Mark of the lion Series- by Francine rivers
Light of Eidon series- by Karen Hancock
Blood of Kings series- By Jill Williamson
A madness of Angels- By Kate Griffin
and... i like chronicles of Vladimir todd, by Heather Brewer, but its not my absolute fav.

[Emil Miller]

Blondes Don't Die Easy by Brad Wiggly

[aliengirl]

Anything by Agatha Christie and Arthur Clarke.

[Emil Miller]

Anything by Agatha Christie and Arthur Clarke.

I didn't know they had collaborated, but it would be fascinating to see Poirot in a space suit.

[Scheherazade]

Can I say basically anything by Terry Pratchett?I have read about five of his books (there are about 30 of them in BBC's BigRead list!). Even though initially they were fun, they got a little repetitive after a while... Seen one, seen them all.

If I can say anything by Wodehouse.I am yet to read something by Wodehouse. Maybe this summer once I am done with the school and work. Anything you would recommend?
I'd go along with that too, plus I'll have Daphne Du Mauier's Rebecca if that's popular fiction, I don't know?Read Rebecca and Jamaica Inn; enjoyed them both. Wouldn't mind reading another one. Have you read My Cousin Rachel? I hear it is a good one.
Sebastian Faulks Read Birdsong and Engleby. I am a little disappointed, truth be told.
Blondes Don't Die Easy by Brad WigglyHow about brunettes?

[LitNetIsGreat]

I didn't know they had collaborated, but it would be fascinating to see Poirot in a space suit.

:lol: Murder on the Moon.



I am yet to read something by Wodehouse. Maybe this summer once I am done with the school and work. Anything you would recommend? Read Rebecca and Jamaica Inn; enjoyed them both. Wouldn't mind reading another one. Have you read My Cousin Rachel?

I would probably start with the early Jeeves and Wooster novel The Inimitable Jeeves, it's sort of a collection of short stories but it reads like a novel and it's great fun. It is true that you could probably pick up any, but this is a good early one to start with.

I've read My Cousin Rachel and a few other bits and pieces (including "The Birds" short story), but I didn't think much of the novel; it wasn't close to the quality of Rebecca for me; in fact most popular novels just don't seem to do it for me - Birdsong I thought was wholly overated and Pratchet's style I sort of wanted to like but didn't - Christie is yummy though.

[dfloyd]

I will have to go with Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut. The title drew me in.

[Scheherazade]

I would probably start with the early Jeeves and Wooster novel The Inimitable Jeeves, it's sort of a collection of short stories but it reads like a novel and it's great fun. It is true that you could probably pick up any, but this is a good early one to start with.Will look into it; thank you, Neely :)

Wodehouse's works must be copyrighted still, right? I might download them from the library probably...

I have been trying to find some popular fiction books that I really like but I cannot think of one right now...

Maybe The Alienist by Carr... Or The Secret History by Donna Tartt.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Will look into it; thank you, Neely :)

Wodehouse's works must be copyrighted still, right? I might download them from the library probably...

I have been trying to find some popular fiction books that I really like but I cannot think of one right now...

Maybe The Alienist by Carr... Or The Secret History by Donna Tartt.

I don't know, I think most of them are out of copyright, there are some shorts on Lit Net though maybe some of the later works still are. How do you mean download them from the library, how does that work?

Not keen on The Secret History, thought that was overrated too...:prrr:

[kasie]

Can I say basically anything by Terry Pratchett?

Hear, hear! Although there is a strong family likeness in his books, the inventiveness still makes me laugh.

Enjoyed the Larsson trilogy - I did read that his partner is completing the unfinished manuscript he left behind.

Enjoyed My Cousin Rachel - have never viewed laburnums in the same light again. Have The King's General to read on a strong recommendation.

Have never read Wodehouse - never felt the appeal.

Didn't care for Faulks - tried Charlotte Grey after Birdsong but could not get interested in anything else, though his latest looks interesting. I just get infuriated that he seems to think he knows how women think....

Can't stand Christie - used to read her a lot in my teens then went off her. Tried again for the Reading Forum with Then There Were None - plot driven and possibly the best of her plots, but oh, those cardboard stereotypes got me down.

For a good detective story, I reckon Henning Mankell stands head and shoulders above the rest - The White Lioness was one of the best I've read: the plot could be said to be a little dated now, being tied to a very specific event but any Wallander story is worth reading. (Ignore Kenneth Branagh's portrayal of Wallander, the Swedish series is much closer to the character in the books.)

Then there's Andrew Taylor, Peter Robinson, Graham Hurley - all very British, I know. Or R N Morris for a revival of Dostoyevsky's Porfiry Petrovitch or Boris Akunin if you fancy something Russian. Or Frank Tallis for a nineteenth century Austrian detective.... So what makes you think I like a good detective story now and then....

Then there's Patrick O'Brien - I fell for Lucky Jack Aubrey in Master and Commander and am working my way slowly through his adventures - slowly, because much as I want him to make Admiral, I don't want to get to the end of the series.

[janesmith]

The French Lieutenant's Woman- John Fowles

[Scheherazade]

How do you mean download them from the library, how does that work?I have a Sony e-reader. My library now has a big collection of audio/e-books, which can be downloaded to be kept for 14 days. It lets you download 3 books at a time so it is quite all right.

:prrr:Veeeeery mature!


Enjoyed My Cousin Rachel - have never viewed laburnums in the same light again. What are "laburnums"?

Have never read Wodehouse - never felt the appeal.Maybe we can read one together? :p

The French Lieutenant's Woman- John FowlesNot sure if I would list TFLW as popular fiction...

I love Fowles.

[kasie]

[QUOTE=Scheherazade;903465]....What are "laburnums"?......QUOTE]

Laburnum anagyroides syn vulgare - aka Golden Chain Tree or Golden Rain Tree, a pretty flowering shrub covered with dangling racemes of yellow flowers - will be coming into bloom in UK in the next few weeks. It is a member of the pea family and has seed pods that look like miniature pea pods: to say more would be a SPOILER. ;)

[LitNetIsGreat]

Have never read Wodehouse - never felt the appeal.

Well you should what-ho. For once I'd take Sch up on the offer and give it go, delightful good fun!


Can't stand Christie - used to read her a lot in my teens then went off her. Tried again for the Reading Forum with Then There Were None - plot driven and possibly the best of her plots, but oh, those cardboard stereotypes got me down.

Yes but that is all part of the fun with Christie. Tight upper crust old millionaire, posh invalid Lady (doctor says that there is something wrong with her nerves), dashing suited fellow often called Gerald, smart society hostess with an embarrassing past, faithful servants who have been with the family for years, shy pretty young thing...etc, etc, it's all part of the game.

[Emil Miller]

How about brunettes?

Brad is the kind of man who only has blondes in his books; the brassier the better.

[Night_Lamp]

In the realm of 'popular fiction', my choice would be Atonement. I'm not calling it the end-all of novels by any means, but to fit the criteria of the question it sure beat the hell out of Dan Brown.

On a wider scale I would have, like a previous poster, picked a Fowles novel.
The Magus is brilliant.

[PabloQ]

I second this idea. Anything Jeeves.

[Scheherazade]

Brad is the kind of man who only has blondes in his books; the brassier the better.Bah! To quote Neely: :prrr:

In the realm of 'popular fiction', my choice would be Atonement. "Popular novel" or not, Atonement was a big disappointment for me.
I second this idea. Anything Jeeves.All right, then. I will arrange a Wodehouse reading for July.

[billl]

What the heck kind of discussion is gonna accompany a Jeeves book? I mean, it's a sure thing, as far as reading goes, but... OK, I guess that might be the point?

[Scheherazade]

What the heck kind of discussion is gonna accompany a Jeeves book? I mean, it's a sure thing, as far as reading goes, but... OK, I guess that might be the point?Thought it might be interesting to discuss some of those novels from a post-modern feminist view (with a touch of existential philosophy).

Of course, we cannot disregard Harold Bloom's views either...

PS: Is there a particular classic piece we should listen to while reading Wodehouse?

[LitNetIsGreat]

Bah! To quote Neely: :prrr:
"Popular novel" or not, Atonement was a big disappointment for me.All right, then. I will arrange a Wodehouse reading for July.

Woo whooo!:party:


Thought it might be interesting to discuss some of those novels from a post-modern feminist view (with a touch of existential philosophy).

Of course, we cannot disregard Harold Bloom's views either...

PS: Is there a particular classic piece we should listen to while reading Wodehouse?

Definitely Minnie the Moocher:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwgS1ctxglw
:banana:

[kasie]

OK - I'll give Wodehouse a jolly good go - what title, old thing? Trouble is, I'll be hearing Fry and Laurie in my head.

[MarkBastable]

OK - I'll give Wodehouse a jolly good go - what title, old thing? Trouble is, I'll be hearing Fry and Laurie in my head.

What-ho, Jeeves! would be a good start.

[MarkBastable]

What the heck kind of discussion is gonna accompany a Jeeves book? I mean, it's a sure thing, as far as reading goes, but... OK, I guess that might be the point?

Well, I'd suggest the following...


the inventive use of language - Wodehouse conjured the English language better than Joyce, than Thomas, than Amis, than any other twentieth century writer


the precision and tightness of plot - Wodehouse's planning of set-pieces, his plaiting of threads, his ability to have events unfold so smoothly, his talent for disguising the contrivedness of farce so that it all seems perfectly internally consistent - all that is the equal of any storyteller in print


the rhythms of his sentences - Wodehouse's painstaking attention to the detail of every word, the music of every phrase, the cumulative effect of those phrases, the pacing, the spacing, the variations in technique and tone is absolutely astonishing - not least because he does it all so smoothly that you barely notice how extraordinary it is.


the humour - it's very difficult to make readers laugh. Wodehouse rarely fails to. That is bloody clever, and it's worth trying to work out how he does it.

[gruntingslime]

The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldrich - Philip K. Dick

[mona amon]

Wodehouse, Agatha Christie, Harry Potter. :)