I’m (an American) walking through the English countryside for 10 days and am looking for recommendations for thought-provoking novels, preferably set in the UK. (I have already read a lot of Charles Dickens and Jane Austen, so would love other ideas.) I’m also interested in philosophical nonfiction that will inspire self-reflection.
by Ok_Pickle6463
4 Comments
The Rings of Saturn by WG Sebald is about a guy walking around England, among other things
THE most perfect novel, really novella so it will be a quick read, for this time of year and the UK countryside is A Month n the Country, by J.L. Carr. It was nominated for the Booker and got a Guardian award in 1980. Post WWI two young men try to heal their fractured souls- one while restoring the painted over murals in a small country church, and the other doing archeological excavations on the church grounds. Stunning, beautiful and heartfelt. There’s a movie version too, Colon Firth and the first film of Kenneth Branagh. This is one of those books you could go back and read for the first time again. I envy you reading it, and you must.
You are here by David Nicholls
I haven’t read it but the below is on my TBR, and is about a man taking solitary walks through the English countryside until meeting a woman who then joins him.
You Are Here – David Nicholls