Who writes contemporary/literary well?

CarlyeKnight · Aug 30, 2011

I'm about a quarter of the way through Ape House right now. Maybe it's because the writing style is out of my usual comfort zone, but it's a lot drier than Water for Elephants. Also, the characters seem more like types than fleshed-out people. She's a good writer, so I'm going to trust that it gets better.

I think too, if you write something as magical as Water for Elephants, it's hard to follow up in subsequent works.

R.S. Dean · Aug 31, 2011

CarlyeKnight said:
I'm about a quarter of the way through Ape House right now. Maybe it's because the writing style is out of my usual comfort zone, but it's a lot drier than Water for Elephants. Also, the characters seem more like types than fleshed-out people. She's a good writer, so I'm going to trust that it gets better.

I think too, if you write something as magical as Water for Elephants, it's hard to follow up in subsequent works.

I'll have to download an excerpt. I agree with you about Water for Elephants being a tough act to follow. What's interesting is that Gruen said she drafted it during NaNoWriMo. She must work well under a deadline.

Vito · Sep 1, 2011

Basing my opinion on his novella The Barracks Thief and a handful of short stories, I'll say Tobias Wolff. Pret-ty darn good, I think.

toldyouso · Sep 18, 2011

Barbara Kingsolver. The Lacuna is so good it makes my head hurt.
MJ HyLand, particularly 'This is How'
Sonya Hartnett. She writes a lot of YA that ends up in general fiction just because she's such a crossover writer. Love her. Although she kind of scares me.
Definitely Lorrie Moore. For her short stories and for 'A Gate at the Stairs'. Also talking short stories, ZZ Packer.

SafetyDance · Sep 29, 2011

Any Alan Hollinghurst fans about? I loved The Spell especially. Gorgeous contemporary conflict, usually with lots of boy/man sex. It's like literary m/m [adjusts collar]

I love Brett Easton Ellis and Chuck Palahniuk but can only read them in small doses. Their individual, abrasive styles are fascinating to me.

schamber · Oct 4, 2011

I'm surprised that nobody mentioned Donna Tartt. Great example of a literary writer who managed to crossover to mainstream.

And if you're into campus novels, C.P. Snow writes some of the best. See also Francine Prose's Blue Angel.

Adagio · Oct 4, 2011

SafetyDance said:
Any Alan Hollinghurst fans about? I loved The Spell especially. Gorgeous contemporary conflict, usually with lots of boy/man sex. It's like literary m/m [adjusts collar]

I love Brett Easton Ellis and Chuck Palahniuk but can only read them in small doses. Their individual, abrasive styles are fascinating to me.

In Glamorama, the plane crash scene. Genius.

ETA: I am a fan of Shirley Hazzard - The Transit of Venus. My copy of the book is falling apart, I need to order another copy. Not an easy read though.

Adagio · Oct 4, 2011

Has anyone read Jhumpa Lahiri? I like her style - deceptively simple.

The Namesake, Unaccustomed Earth, Interpreter of Maladies.

Dr.Gonzo · Oct 5, 2011

Adagio, I love Glamorama.

Who writes contemporary/literary well?

CarlyeKnight

R.S. Dean

Not as crazy as she seems

Vito

Recalled to life

toldyouso

Surly Temple

SafetyDance

L'Oreal. He's worth it.

schamber

Dumas. Alexandre Dumas.

Adagio

Adagio

Dr.Gonzo

Wonderfully Irreverent