Hello! I want to read more contemporary, 1st-person-narrative books that focus on just a few characters or even a single one. What I like in general in books and movies:
– complex emotions, contradictory feelings without tragism or exaggerated affect
– poetic realism, “life as it is”, the quiet beauty of everyday life, realistic outcomes (Cannery Row by Steinbeck is one of my favorite books; Past Lives (2023) is one of my favorite movies)
– intriguing characters (White Lotus), characters that are both self-aware in some aspects and completely oblivious in others (Girls)
– no villains, just flawed and interesting people
– stream-of-consciousness narratives — I (kinda) liked some of Ferrante’s books but the vulgarity felt unnecessary at times and I wasn’t a fan of the black-and-white thinking. Same with Fleabag. (I read them a while ago so I might not remember correctly though)
– I avoid traumatic themes (war, death, violence physical illness, severe mental illness, etc)
Thank you if you’ve read so far and I’d really appreciate some recommendations!
by pondina_park