Hi all! I’m looking for novels that feel deeply human and emotionally compelling. Bonus points for wry wit/dialogue too. I prefer books with good narrative momentum and that don’t meander a ton. I also like lyrical prose but not a dealbreaker.
Some favorites:
*The Remains of the Day
*True Grit
*Sometimes a Great Notion
*The Corrections
*Days Without End
*Crossing to Safety
*The Friend
*Let the Great World Spin
*We Have Always Lived in the Castle
*The Talented Mr. Ripley
*Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead
*The Safekeep
*North Woods
Also love narrative nonfiction like Krakauer and Nothing to Envy.
Not for me:
*Overly metaphorical/allegorical (Master and Margarita)
*Experimental/fragmented format (Lincoln in the Bardo)
*Writing that feels meandering or inefficient
*Quirky or cheesy humor (Project Hail Mary didn’t work for me)
*Booktok type of stuff
Would prefer post-1960, but open if it really fits.
What should I try next?
by HisDudeness_80