Novels of Cultures

historian · Aug 12, 2007

I don't know if this is the right definitiion. What I mean is realistic stories sans guns, bed hopping and things that go bump in the night. That is the kind of story I like to read--and write--but I have to go back at least fifteen years to find them.

Given the present popularity of Jane Austen there appear to be many like minded readers. Are there such books being published now? I would appreciate the names of some authors, if anyone knows of some.

historian

blacbird · Aug 12, 2007

I'm not sure exactly what you mean. Are you talking about contemporary realistic novels, or novels with older historical settings?

caw

Shady Lane · Aug 12, 2007

So, like....vanilla ice cream novels?

JoNightshade · Aug 12, 2007

When I hear "novels of cultures," I think of science fiction. Tons of sci fi deals with culture clashes, explorations of strange cultures and what humanity becomes within them, etc. etc. I think John Barnes, Lois McMaster Bujold, Vernor Vinge...

Perhaps you a referring to a novel of manners?

Azraelsbane · Aug 12, 2007

JoNightshade said:
When I hear "novels of cultures," I think of science fiction. Tons of sci fi deals with culture clashes, explorations of strange cultures and what humanity becomes within them, etc. etc. I think John Barnes, Lois McMaster Bujold, Vernor Vinge...

Perhaps you a referring to a novel of manners?

Yup, I think that's what she's referring to, though I was attempting to stay out of this thread, because everything she hates is everything I love.

Penguin Queen · Aug 12, 2007

JoNightshade said:
Perhaps you a referring to a novel of manners?

If that is indeed what you mean, then Alice Thomas Ellis springs to mind... although some of her novels easily go back 15 years. And some include supernatural elements, which I guess come under things that go bump in the night , at least technically...
Nevertheless I highly recommend "Fairy Tale" and "The Inn at the End of the World". And "Unexplained Laughter".

The trouble when one buys most of one's books from charity (thrift) or second-hand shops is that everything just found is "new", although it may have been published 10 years ago.

historian · Aug 12, 2007

"Perhaps you a referring to a novel of manners?"

Yes, Jonightshade, that is what I am interested in but you will notice none of those have been written lately.

I will check out the authors you mention, though it's not science fiction or strange cultures I am looking for.

Blacbird I don't care about the time period.

Shady Lane: I don't know what a vanilla ice cream novel is.

Thanks to all for your interest.

historian

Azraelsbane · Aug 12, 2007

historian said:
Shady Lane: I don't know what a vanilla ice cream novel is.

I believe she was referring to a novel that is mundane, since vanilla is viewed as the common, boring ice cream flavor.

Shady Lane · Aug 12, 2007

Azraelsbane said:
I believe she was referring to a novel that is mundane, since vanilla is viewed as the common, boring ice cream flavor.

Yeah. It's not a scientific term.

DancingMaenid · Aug 12, 2007

I took it as meaning that she wants books that don't have sex scenes or violence.

Oberon · Aug 12, 2007

historian said:
I don't know if this is the right definitiion. What I mean is realistic stories sans guns, bed hopping and things that go bump in the night. That is the kind of story I like to read--and write--but I have to go back at least fifteen years to find them.

Given the present popularity of Jane Austen there appear to be many like minded readers. Are there such books being published now? I would appreciate the names of some authors, if anyone knows of some.

historian

Have you tried Alexander McCall Smith? The Number One Ladies' Detective Agency series? Also his novels about people in Edinburgh, 44 Scotland Street and sequels, The Sunday Philosophy Club series, Portugese Irregular Verbs series. No violence, a little hanky panky but not in detail, just people living pretty ordinary lives, but fascinating and beautifully humane. Folks struggling with the daily ethical and moral conundrums that we all face one time or another, well written and fun to read.

javili · Aug 12, 2007

stories sans guns, bed hopping and things that go bump in the night.

So, like....vanilla ice cream novels?

Ay, Shady! And you gave me such a hard time when I said that YA's like to read about sex and violence. -)

historian · Aug 13, 2007

Thanks Oberon. That sounds a bit more like what I am looking for.

Recently published books I have enjoyed: Horse heaven by Jane Smiley although I didn't like her other books. All of Richard Russo I have read.

Shady Lady why does a book have to have violence/sex/fantasy to be interesting? It seems to me too many writers rely on these more than creating interesting characters.

historian

Azraelsbane · Aug 13, 2007

historian said:
Shady Lady why does a book have to have violence/sex/fantasy to be interesting? It seems to me too many writers rely on these more than creating interesting characters.

historian

I'm totally into compelling characters, though I'm a fan of building them up and then letting life slowly wear them down until they resemble a crayon stub. Then you really find out what they're made of.

Penguin Queen · Aug 13, 2007

historian said:
why does a book have to have violence/sex/fantasy to be interesting?

It doesnt have to; but sex, thankfully, and violence, unfortunately, are parts of life to varying degrees for large numbers of poeple; hence the vanilla reference -- if you leave them out, you might end up with a somewhat insipd tale.

Incidentally, you might like Barbara Kingsolver's early books, "The Bean Trees", "Pigs in Heaven" and something with Animals in the title... She writes beautifully (and not at all insipid), and it may be the kind of thing youre looking for.

anodyne · Aug 13, 2007

White Teeth? On Beauty? Shalimar the Clown? Step Across the Line? One Hundred Years of Solitude?

The genre you're looking for is Literary, I'd wager. And yes, it's still being written, though often about non-white, non-affluent cultures... Post-colonial literature for the win.

Shady Lane · Aug 13, 2007

Man, I like vanilla ice cream. I just wouldn't want to invest ten or so hours into staring at it, you know what I mean?

I'm not saying it's got to be gratuitious. I'm just never a fan of leaving out things that need to be there--like writers who won't let their characters curse.

GeorgeK · Aug 13, 2007

historian said:
Given the present popularity of Jane Austen

Jane Austen is popular now?

anodyne · Aug 13, 2007

Blame Oprah...

Esopha · Aug 13, 2007

Jane Austen wrote romance.

Is 1975 contemporary enough for you? If you want a recent 'novel of manners' that kicks ass, read Shogun. There are ninjas. There's violence. There's sex. There's culture. And there's sushi.

Oh, and geishas.

Click: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shogun_(novel)

Just Me 2021 · Aug 13, 2007

I'll second a vote for Zadie Smith's stuff... White Teeth is my personal fav. That's like good vanilla ice cream, made with the little black seeds from inside the beans...

Old Hack · Aug 13, 2007

Ian McEwan, Saturday, Atonement (and anything else he's written).
Alice Hoffman, Blackbird House.
Graham Swift, anything.

I could go on and on and on.

anodyne · Aug 13, 2007

Esopha said:
Jane Austen wrote romance.

Is 1975 contemporary enough for you? If you want a recent 'novel of manners' that kicks ass, read Shogun. There are ninjas. There's violence. There's sex. There's culture. And there's sushi.

Oh, and geishas.

Click: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shogun_(novel)

Jane Austen wrote banalities. Showcasing the trivial lives of the aristocracy by writing about the trivial lives of the aristocracy. How do you tell the difference between a "romance" and a novel with romantic interest? Whether or not the story pivots on the love interest being a love interest. If Mr. Darcy had remained as a villain and antagonist, and the story had been about the sister and Mr. Bingly and their thwarted love, would it count as a romance? Not really.

That's pretty much like saying it's speculative fiction...

Esopha · Aug 13, 2007

Romance and marriage are the major driving forces of all her novels.

I like her work. She's an admirable novelist, and goddamn it, she can write. But saying that if Mr. Darcy had not become love interest the novel would not have been romance is like saying that LoTR would not have been fantasy if there were no elves, hobbits or orcs. The romance defines the story, and thus it is a romance novel.

Of course, that's just my opinion. From an objective stand point, you're probably right. High school lit classes do little if anything to improve my understanding of literature.

anodyne · Aug 13, 2007

Romance and marriage were the driving forces of all female life in her time period. That'd be like saying that "Sex and the City" is a romance. And what I WAS saying, is simply that, if you take romantic interest out of a romance you don't have a story.

Since her work survives that, it's not romance.

Novels of Cultures

my name is hannah

has finally arrived

Agony is defeat

Break the rules.

Agony is defeat

my name is hannah

New kid...seven years ago!

Agony is defeat

Break the rules.

my name is hannah

ever seeking

bam pow zap.

practical experience, FTW

Such a nasty woman

bam pow zap.