|
|
January 04, 2007 9:04 AM- no blue ballads, thanks
There are probably few things less condusive to blogging a new post than spending forty minutes the day before reviewing the past year of blatherings.
Did you follow that sentence? Could I write more clearly? Doubtful.
For Christmas my father-in-law gifted me with a copy of Carson McCullers The Ballad of the Sad Cafe: and Other Stories. As usual, I'm blown away by her prose, but find the subject matter so relentlessly dreary.
Is it just me, or are our very finest writers always writing the most depressing shit? And by shit, of course, I don't mean that they are writing shit-- I mean, oh go on-- you know what I'm trying to say.
But the prose-- my god. Housekeeping is another one. Jesus is that beautiful prose, but how deep in the depths did it leave me when I was done?
So I ask you-- is it possible to have fabulous prose and an uplifting story? Or have I crossed so far into the fields of Pollyanna that there's no saving me? Right now as I sit here with Sinead's
Faith and Courage pouring out of the speakers, I'm trying to think of a book with brilliant writing and a story that didn't leave me wanting to dig a hole in the back yard and bury myself in it.
Of course we all know how much I love
Marquand. Love him-- but it would be the story first and the writing second. Wharton is probably my favorite writer, but again, isn't it story first for me with her? Hmmm, am thinking. The biggest influence on me growing up was Camus. His prose is so clean, so sharp. But the stories? Let's just say I'm in the camp that believes his "car accident" was a well-timed tete-a-tete with a tree.
Early Jane Smiley stuff had that "windowpane" prose I love, so clear you forget there even is an author, but I don't like her stories, either.
Hey! Maybe the problem is with me, you think?
But I'm curious-- many of you are big readers-- which books/stories are your all-time favorites, and why? Story or writing or both?
got 2 cents?
• • • •
Heather says:
Well, when I worked at a library, I read a lot of the "Oprah" type fiction and it was indeed, all VERY depressing. For that reason, Memoirs of a Geisha (and no, never saw the movie) stuck out in my mind because it was a good read and hey, it had a happy ending! That NEVER happens. Even with Grisham's The Firm, the movie was soooo much better than the book because he got to keep the dog in the end.
Okay, so those are really popular books compared to all the amazing stuff you read, but hey, it fit the topic. At least it wasn't the DaVinci Code.
PS - One of my favourites for writing and plot is Margaret Atwood's The Blind Assassin. You knew the ending about half way through, but had to keep reading to find out how it actually happened.
posted on: January 04
• • • •
lizardek says:
Do you mean "generally uplifting" or "with a happy ending"? I tend to shy away from depressing stories like most of the Oprah stuff (bleah!) but go mostly for the writing and the pull of the story. Ursula, Under by Ingrid Hill, The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, and Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn are 3 fairly recent faves. Black Swan Green by David Mitchell was good and I enjoyed Plainsong by Kent Haruf, both of which we read for our book group. Dorothy Dunnett's Lyman Chronicles totally rocked my socks. I read a lot of SF/F but I suspect you don't so won't bother with any recommendations in that genre unless you want them. :)
posted on: January 04
• • • •
river selkie says:
how about 'the mermaid chair' by sue monk kidd. wait, i'm not sure that is a good example. i loved the writing, wasn't sure about the ending. but i think that could just be me.
posted on: January 04
• • • •
AblePonder says:
Alice Hoffman-- so magical. Barbara Kingsolver, especially "Prodigal Summer." Tracy Chevalier has such clean prose.
And Jane Smiley's book about the sexually abusive father was gut-wrenching. I had to put it down and have avoided her ever since.
posted on: January 04
• • • •
Kymba says:
I'm in complete agreement with Able up there...Prodigal Summer is easily in my Top Ten of all time. Even though it was Oprah's choice, I also adore Wally Lamb, I Know This Much Is True. Tough read, tears your heart out of your chest but puts you back together again, even if you don't know how the writer did it.
Same for The Lovely Bones, DEAR GOD. Absolutely wrecked me, beautiful writing. But I cannot read it again since having the kidlet.
And in my top three of all time...Slow Dancing On Dinosaur Bones, Lana Witt. Kind of Carl Hiaasen meets Barbara Kingsolver. These characters could be nome du plumes for my family members.
posted on: January 04
• • • •
Livininginchicago says:
I hesitate to suggest it but what about Paul Coelho, "The Alchemist". I know many people find it twee, so it could have been the mood I was in when I read it that makes me find it so uplifting. The prose is very sparse and the story very simple. It's not what I usually read, so perhaps the difference is what struck me!
posted on: January 04
• • • •
Sam says:
You know I read like a mad dog, and I really think my best reading discovery last year was Barbara Kingsolver - of course I had read The Poisonwood Bible but that one was a little disturbing - but I read Pigs In Heaven and fell in love. The next one I adored was Animal Dreams - just so amazing. I received Prodigal Summer for Christmas so now I'm reading that - and it's very smart and informative, as well as SEXY.
I'm a big one for "comfort" reading - Maeve Binchy and Rosamunde Pilcher. Coming Home, by Pilcher, is one of my all time favorites. Also, the Elizabeth Jane Howard Cazalet chronicles is much fun, if you like WWII in England stuff, which I eat up like candy.
posted on: January 04
• • • •
Lil says:
I love anything by Barbara Kingsolver or Laurie Colwin. Ian McEwan writes beautifully. I have tons of favourites, but my favourite of all time that I return to every couple of years is the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Brilliant piece of work.
posted on: January 04
• • • •
Claire says:
Carson McCullers is FEMALE? Well that makes everything different! Don't ask me anything about anything never ever I don't know nothing...I've realised that my favourite books are those that are able to provoke some kind of physical reaction in me, (except for The Little Prince, though that's kind of sad as well in a way) and maybe the easiest to provoke is disgust/nausea at the protagonist's actions. Oh my goodness I'm ill informed AND a sicko! X
posted on: January 04
• • • •
daphne says:
I only read business books lately, and those ALL have happy endings! Of course I go for the story. And cake. Must have cake in the book. What was the question?
posted on: January 04
• • • •
NJ Sue says:
I have always been drawn to Roald Dahl. He had to be the master of the ironic twist at the end. Read the short story "Lamb to the Slaughter"-- especially tasty right after a spat with the spouse. Jean-Dominique Bauby's "Le Scaphandre et le Papillon" is another great one-- best read when you feel that you're at your lowest. What that man accomplished with his left eye puts me to shame.
posted on: January 04
• • • •
Joy says:
For non-fiction, have you read any Stephen Berlin Johnson? His book Emergence made me leap out of my chair several times because I loved what I was reading so much. It sounds boring to describe it, so I won't. His latest book Ghostworld, which sounds dreary because it's about the spread of cholera, is also sparkling. It's mostly about people who were figuring out germs, and how germs spread, and social networking and how cities work. Good good stuff there. His website is his full name dot com.
For fiction, my favorite book ever (and a good long read by the fire--totally engrossing--it's about 15 fires worth) is the Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. Beautifully clear prose. I wanted to start over as soon as I'd finished.
My current favorite reading (thanks to you & Lizardek) is Mary Oliver. Perfect for right before bedtime chasing nightmares away.
posted on: January 04
• • • •
tinker says:
Well, Kingsolver and Hoffman are both taken; hmm - though I love Tom Robbins, I know he's not everyone's bottle of gin...nor is Marquez or Allende, two of my other favorites. At least a bit of magical realism always seems to help lighten the load for me - or if all else fails, a smartass attitude. Vonnegut or T.C. Boyle usually manage to take their gloves off long enough to soften the blow to the headm though I wouldn't call either of them particularly uplifting authors. If I'm in the mood for some southern writing to soothe my soul, I love Bailey White; but most of her writing tends towards essays (though calling them just essays, is a little bit like ordering creme brulee by saying, "I'll have the custard.")
Not sure I'm much help here. If I think of something better, I'll come back.
posted on: January 04
• • • •
impossiblejane says:
Interesting question. I'm certain that uplifting can be a relative term as I find myself attracted to different themes based on where I am at the moment.
I find Isabelle Allende to fit your category. I swallowed Daughter of Fortune and Portrait in Sepia. Also, her most recent autobiography...BEAUTIFUL. I also love Laurie Colwin who I find to be breathtaking.
posted on: January 04
• • • •
molly says:
Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson. The most beautiful book I've ever read.
posted on: January 04
• • • •
linda says:
try birds of america by lorri moore. though her stories are dark with a sharp sense of humor. so you'll feel kind of depressed while laughing.
posted on: January 05
• • • •
lizardek says:
Also, Kate Atkinson!! Yum
posted on: January 05
• • • •
Wrong End of the telescope says:
Did anyone mention Dickens? Other faves with uplifting endings AND brillaint writing: anything by Jane Austen, Wuthering Heights (yes, it ends on a good note), Jane Eyre, Little Women, a few Vonnegut titles, Possession by Margaret Atwood (amazing)...
posted on: January 06
• • • •
susan says:
dickens for sure... all of barbara kingsolver - least of all prodigal summer, housekeeping was a big one. ... thomas mann, julia child's my life in france was a really great winter read. nothing which abuses adjectives is tops in my book...
posted on: January 06
• • • •
lizardek says:
Some more highly recommended from me: Audrey Schulman, Elizabeth McCracken, Andrea Barrett, Jeanette Winterson, Karen Joy Fowler. Go forth and read!
posted on: January 06
• • • •
Stina says:
I loved Birds of America by Lorrie Moore, Emotionally Wierd by Kate Atkinson, and A Christmas Carol by Dickens always makes me smile, hokey as that sounds. Just about everything I've read by Louise Erdrich has provoked feelings of awe at her writing, occasional tears, but the endings usually end on at least a somewhat optimistic note.
posted on: January 06
• • • •
leah says:
ok, love tom robbins...and i concur with "i know this much is true." other favorites, i loved "fool on the hill" by matt ruff, love it! omg, and christopher moore's book "lamb" is so great. those are a few goodies.
posted on: January 07
• • • •
Sorry, comments are now closed.
|
January
BP RSS
