I need ideas, help please?

[mybrokenlocket]

I am conducting a poll.

In the comments, tell me the title of one novel you have loved because it was beautifully written. I'm looking for compelling plots, believable characters, and good prose. All of this totally removed from genre or subject matter- actually, bonus points if this beloved novel was outside of your usual favored genres.

This

Comments

[dude_isotopes]

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz-Zafon was fantastic and sort of flows over different genres

The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie is really engaging (actually, so is his Indian Killer but it's REALLY dark so I don't know if your mom would want to read something like that while recovering)

Dark Tide by Stephen Puleo isn't fiction but it's really interesting and local history (it's about the molasses flood that happened in the North End in 1919)

Hope these help and I'll send good vibes for you mom!

[dude_isotopes]

darn *your

[mybrokenlocket]

My dad liked Dark Tide (and he and my mom often have similar tastes), and I just read a Steven Puleo that I loved- the Boston Italians. I know she's already read The Lone Ranger and Tonto, but I'll check out the other two for her. Thank you Gina!

[ringosgarden]

I just finished 'this is Where I Leave You' by Jonathan Tropper. It's about a family who is forced by their atheist father's death to sit Shiva. I think I'm more recommending this book to you, than your mother, but I don't know what she might be into. It's a lot about failing relationships, grasping for comfort and an extremely dysfunctional family aided by their psychologist mother.

Nick Hornby? I've never read a Hornby book I disliked.

This has made me realize that most of my recent favorites all have to do with death. I was thinking about the Wednesday Letters- I can't remember who it was by but it was cute...but also about death.

There's always Eggers? Wild Things was quite amusing.

[ringosgarden]

If she's never read Flags of Our Fathers, I'd recommend that one. Greatly. It's an amazing true story, written by the son of a flag raiser. I've never seen the movie, so I can't compare it if she's seen it, but I read the book far before Bradley was famous and I really did fall in love with it.

[mybrokenlocket]

I loved Wild Things (and Eggers in general) and I have already put it on Mom's night table. It's such a good combo of nostalgia and new ideas, and I feel like it can read as a kids' adventure story or an allegorical-type-thing about parenthood or family. Also, don't discount death as a topic. One of the reasons she loved The Book Thief was because Death was actually a character.

I had you in mind when I posted this, and I'm so glad you responded. It's sort of selfish, because I imagine if I buy it for her I'll end up reading it myself too. And I'll always take your recommendations. I think I saw the Tropper one on the shelf recently in Borders, too, so it should be easy to find.

[stopdangerpi]

She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb

[mybrokenlocket]

My mom has already loved that one, and several other Wally Lambs besides, but if it has your ringing endorsement I'll keep it in mind for me. Thanks!

[vulgarweed]

Little, Big by John Crowley. It's fantasy, but the writing is so incredibly beautiful and the story so subtle and long-unfolding and gorgeous that I think it trumps genre considerations. Tell her it's a sort of Jungian fairy tale - I think that's accurate.

[mybrokenlocket]

That's one that I've been meaning to read too, so we might both benefit if I tracked down a copy. Thanks!

[mybrokenlocket]

Thanks Debby! I'm compiling quite an impressive list here.