Which five novels...?
Which five novels since 1980 would you choose?
Right then folks, I've got a literary conundrum for you. Which five novels written since 1980 would you choose as the most representative of English fiction in the UK? They need to be expressive of a certain moment in time, say something about literary fashion and more broadly about what's going on in the country. Also, they need to appeal to 20 year olds, say, and be manageable over 11 weeks. Can you see where I'm going with this?
Here's my choice.
posted by Anonymous @ 10:15 am
6 comments
6 Comments:
Hello All
I have opened this up to my editorial colleagues and will hope to have some interesting suggestions from them by the end of the day.
Nominations already include NIGHT AT THE CIRCUS by Angela Carter.
Yes, I did think about that one. I felt that having more than one late 19th century novel about the theatre/circus/music-hall might over-egg it. This would replace the Ackroyd. The novels have to span the period so the date of publication will knock another one out and then the new five have to be considered as a whole. I did want The Passion of New Eve but it's 1977. Ridiculous arbitrary cut-off. Does your colleague think that Nights at the Circus is as innovative in its subject matter? I kind of wanted to have lesbian sexuality in there. More thoughts on this one please.
A bit more feedback:
Good choices!
The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst
Two for Jonathan Coe (The Rotters' Club and What a Carve Up)
Then some personal preferences by the same authors (e.g. White Teeth over On Beauty, etc.).
Good task for a Friday.
Nothing more subsantial from my colleagues, although a few of them volunteered something from the Fantasy genre, and others thought there would be space for something very commercial. J K Rowling would of course cover both bases but you might find yourself questioning your choice come term time!
Thank you. That's great. If you had to choose a commercial novel then, from 1980 to the present, which one would it be? I'd be hard pressed to make a go of Harry Potter but do you have others in mind?
Does anyone have any more thoughts about this? Particularly about a really successful commercial novel that would bear scrutiny (ha ha) in an essay? We did talk about a book club, I recall. How about Tipping the Velvet for a first one?
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