The most dour author you've read?

Novelist in Paradise · Dec 16, 2006

Mine would have to be Russell Banks. Not a funny bone in him. (Although I've only read his collection of short stories).

You know, I reckon that one way to make your writing stand out in the slush is to use humor. I don't mean comedic writing, I mean, for example, sly sardonic humor in a noirish thriller to Anne Tyler's type of character and situational humor. It's hard to do, but if done well (and I reckon it's another aspect of craft that can be learned), you're a step ahead.

Humor also contributes a good deal to that mystical thing called "voice."

My back's killing me.

Scarlett_156 · Dec 16, 2006

Without a single doubt, Joyce Carol Oates.

Sean D. Schaffer · Dec 16, 2006

George Orwell, the author of Animal Farm, comes to my mind... as does the majority of what I've read of his writing.

Jamesaritchie · Dec 16, 2006

Humor

I like a bit of humor in a novel, but I don't think lack of humor makes either the writer or the novel dour. I certainly don't find either Russell Banks or Joyce Carol Oates dour in any way. But maybe we have different definitions of the word.

aruna · Dec 16, 2006

You might have an author who is dour, and his books are full of humour. VS Naipaul is like that. He seems a most unpleasant and rather cantankerous air to him, but his early books at least are very funny.

travelgal · Dec 16, 2006

Colin (I think) Falconer. I read 'Venom' and another of his books; although riviting, they were so bleak and grim, you have to be in a certain mood to read them or you'll be depressed. Even when the bad guys get their comeuppance, even when it's poetic justice, his worldview is so cynical, they still get away with too much.

farfromfearless · Dec 17, 2006

Gregory Maguire, author of "Wicked". In my opinion, a master of "Happily never-after".

Simon Woodhouse · Dec 17, 2006

I had a job to get through Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment. There weren't a lot of laughs.

PeeDee · Dec 17, 2006

Dan Brown. He bores me to tears, and I find him if not necessarily dour then certainly very uptight. Since he currently sells two rain forests' worth of books every ten minutes, this must just be my view and not a common one. Hence, I shall stay away from his books.

jbal · Dec 17, 2006

Steinbeck.

alleycat · Dec 17, 2006

PeeDee said:
Dan Brown. He bores me to tears, and I find him if not necessarily dour then certainly very uptight. Since he currently sells two rain forests' worth of books every ten minutes, this must just be my view and not a common one. Hence, I shall stay away from his books.

I'm with you. I tried to read The da Vinci Code and just couldn't.

And I've never been able to finish anything by Henry James.

Silver King · Dec 17, 2006

jbal said:
Steinbeck.

JB, have you tried Tortilla Flat, Cannery Row, Sweet Thursday or Travels with Charley? These are examples that show a lighter side of Steinbeck which may surprise you.

jbal · Dec 17, 2006

No, just the Pearl, Grapes of Wrath, and one more that escapes me at the moment.

rugcat · Dec 17, 2006

How about Thomas Hardy? Jude The Obscure is just one long, unrelenting series of unfortunate events.

PeeDee · Dec 17, 2006

jbal said:
No, just the Pearl, Grapes of Wrath, and one more that escapes me at the moment.

The one you are thinking of is perhaps Of Mice and Men. I think that might be it. Unless it's not. Whichcase, perhaps you should try Travels with Charley which is wonderful. A very good book. It's horrible that I have to make five related sentences here. It's killing me almost as much as my lack of idiom.

Elektra · Dec 17, 2006

Hamlet *and then everybody dies*

PeeDee · Dec 17, 2006

Hey, Elektra. You just ruined the ending to all the Shakespear plays. Most of them, anyway. Certainly a majority. Sincerely, Pete.

Elektra · Dec 17, 2006

At least they're forewarned

farfromfearless · Dec 17, 2006

Elektra said:
Hamlet *and then everybody dies*

Hamlet was brilliant. I love it when everyone dies and leaves the rest standing around looking like lost idiots. Pure brilliance.

deltasierra · Dec 17, 2006

Simon Woodhouse said:
I had a job to get through Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment. There weren't a lot of laughs.

This is who I was thinking of, too. I couldn't get through Crime and Punishment.

Elektra · Dec 17, 2006

Tolstoi, too. I blame the weather.

Matt Lipp · Dec 17, 2006

Jane Austen.

URGH

Elektra · Dec 17, 2006

Matt Lipp said:
Jane Austen.

URGH

WHAT?!?!?! *gathers together tar and feathers, and checks her supply of pitchforks*

Novelist in Paradise · Dec 17, 2006

Matt Lipp said:
Jane Austen.

URGH

Double that WHAt?$#%! This macho surfer dude, who read Jane Austen's Sense&Sensibility and Pride&Prejudice last year for the first time, thought she was terrific, and part of her most excellent terrificness was a sly sarcastic sense of humor.

TheIT · Dec 18, 2006

Albert Camus, The Stranger.

The most dour author you've read?

Ah, the joys of dengue fever

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Don't Call Me Sweetheart

Where's my tea, please...?

Don't Call Me Sweetheart

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Ah, the joys of dengue fever

Infuriatingly Theoretical