Next Read- Any Suggestion?

[aliengirl]

Hi everyone! :)
I can't decide which book to read, selecting from this list-

Turn of the Screw - Henry James
The Wings of the Dove - Henry James
The Awakening - Kate Chopin
This Side of Paradise - Fitzgerald
The Outsider (aka The Stranger) - Albert Camus
Parade's End - Ford Madox Ford
Doctor Zhivago - Boris Pasternak

What do you suggest? What is your opinion about the book or its theme? I'd prefer something which would not be much distressing.
Thank you.

[Paulclem]

I can only comment on Dr Zhivago and The Turn of the Screw. Dr Zhivago is an interesting romance. I read it twenty odd years ago, but I remember I enjoyed it very much.

I found Jame's writing style convoluted and annoying, and the story was dull. I'm sure there are lots who would recommend James though.

[Dark Muse]

Well I am not sure what you mean by "distressing" as that is a bit subjective.

I absolutely love The Outsider, and consider it one of my favorite books and Camus I think is amazing. It is not a difficult book to read, being both not very long, and very engaging it moves quite swiftly and one of those books that when I picked it up I did not want to put it down again. But it is not a light read in terms of content, nor a cherry and happy story.

The Awakening is another wonderful story. I think Kate Chopin is a beautiful and captivating writer who really explores the inner depths of a woman's psychology, feelings, struggles. But again I am not sure if this will meet the criteria of not being "distressing"

Henry James is certainly not for everything, but I for one really enjoy his writing and I thought "Turn of the Screw" was an entertaining, engaging and interesting story and it would be a great October/Halloween read. It does tend toward the darker side.

Based upon quality of the books, and my own personal enjoyment I would recommend either of these three. And of the three I would say that "The Outsider" and "The Turn of the Screw" would be my top two choices.

But I am not sure if any of these would meet that "not distressing" requirement, it really depends upon what your idea of distressing is. If you are looking for a happy, light hearted read than none of them would do.

"The Awakening" I suppose could be considered the least distressing of the three.

[aliengirl]

Thank you very much Paul and Dark Muse. I think I'll go for either Dr. Zhivago or The Outsider. But it would be better to wait for some more hints. Any further suggestion would be very welcome.


Well I am not sure what you mean by "distressing" as that is a bit subjective.

........

But I am not sure if any of these would meet that "not distressing" requirement, it really depends upon what your idea of distressing is. If you are looking for a happy, light hearted read than none of them would do.

"The Awakening" I suppose could be considered the least distressing of the three.

I agree that "distressing" is quite a subjective word. What would cause distress to a certain person may be enjoyed by someone else. But I had no better choice. I meant something positive in theme and without too much convoluted language.

Thanks once again.:)

[The Comedian]

Turn of the Screw - Henry James
The Wings of the Dove - Henry James
The Awakening - Kate Chopin
This Side of Paradise - Fitzgerald
The Outsider (aka The Stranger) - Albert Camus
Parade's End - Ford Madox Ford
Doctor Zhivago - Boris Pasternak

I've read the ones that I put in bold. And of those, I enjoyed The Stranger the most by quite a wide margin. Personally, I'm with Paul and his feelings about reading Henry James. But that critique is more of a personal preference than a judgement of James' capabilities as a writer. I liked The Awakening a little, but when I read it the first time, the feminist angle of the book was ramrodded down my throat, so I have lingering distaste for it, but it's still a good book.

I read This Side of Paradise a long time ago, and I remember thinking that it was fun and historically interesting as a "slice of life" novel of the 1920s, but not much more beyond that.

Hope this helps!

[Buh4Bee]

I wouldn't recommend This Side of Paradise if you aren't in the mood for a depressing story. At times the writing is uneven, but at other times, simply poetic.
I'd recommend Camus anytime. I have never encountered another writer like him. He is deceptively simple and highly engaging. He simply tells the story, but through beautiful prose. He can make ordinary life seem interesting and exciting.

[aliengirl]

Thanks a lot Comedian and jersea. Your advice nearly settles the matter. I'll go for The Outsider by Camus. I'd like to read Dr. Zhivago next. Henry James might wait for now 'cause I'm not in a mood to put undue stress on my mind.

Thank you all. :)

[botwa]

The Outsider (aka The Stranger) - Albert Camus
I'm not sure it will be distressing but it's really an amazing book.
try it, it's not hard to get through

[Rores28]

I've only read The Stranger, and it is amazing. Though I don't know that it's not distressing.

[TheDreadPilgrim]

If you have already assembled a list, why not just start from the top and read them all? : )

[aliengirl]

I've read The Stranger. I deliberately read it in two sittings and by the time I finished it I felt a few more chapters would have been great. Anyway, thanks for the suggestion. Will read Dr. Zhivago next.


If you have already assembled a list, why not just start from the top and read them all? : )

Because I don't have them all. I borrow from a library. :)

[dfloyd]

Dr. Zhivago I have read twice and can see why Zhivago won the Nobel prize, although you don't win the prize for a single work. If you haven't seen the movie, be sure to watch it while the book is fresh in your mind.

The Turn of the Screw is classic James. Not all his books are dull. I would suggest you read Portrait of a Lady by James.

This Side of Paradise is the first novel by Fitzgerald. a good place to start. I have read all the novels and short stories of Fitzgerald. You can go on from Paradise to The Beautiful and Damned, The Great Gatsby, Tender Is the Night, and his unfinished novel, The Last Tycoon. Be sure to attack his many short stories collected in Tales of the Jazz Age and Babylon Revisited.If Fitzgerald had lived to produce more, there would now be five American Nobel prize winners.

Before reading Ford Madoz Ford's Parades End, read The Good Sodier which precedes PE.