Oof, this is a tough one for me. Beloved is great, and will probably win this. Anthills Of The Savannah is a cutting, darkly comical novel - the way it illustrates how the ruling classes try to emulate the culture of the coloniser rang true to me even for a former colonial power like Portugal. Speaking of which, ultimately I'll have to revert to problematic patriotism and vote for the Saramago, just a crazy world to get lost in, quite jealous of the kids who got taught it in high school while I was stuck with Vergílio Ferreira's arid derivative existentialism.
― Daniel_Rf, Friday, 23 July 2021 09:35 (four years ago)
Ondaatje ftw.
― pomenitul, Friday, 23 July 2021 09:42 (four years ago)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fc/Sachar_-_There%27s_a_Boy_in_the_Girls%27_Bathroom_Coverart.jpg
Comment Is Free: Origins
― Daniel_Rf, Friday, 23 July 2021 09:57 (four years ago)
oops, mediocre joke ruined
― Daniel_Rf, Friday, 23 July 2021 09:58 (four years ago)
Beloved
― horseshoe, Friday, 23 July 2021 13:30 (four years ago)
^pretty hard to argue with, though this is a very strong year! I used to love the McEwan, not sure what I'd think now
― rob, Friday, 23 July 2021 13:40 (four years ago)
I've only read "Bonfire of the Vanities", "Bluebeard", and "Misery". I guess it would be "Bonfire". Shout out to "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency".
― o. nate, Friday, 23 July 2021 14:04 (four years ago)
i read The Door last year. loved it!
― wasdnuos (abanana), Sunday, 25 July 2021 10:21 (four years ago)
The Door is great as are the Fitzgerald and Ondaatje but Beloved is on a different plane of existence entirely.
― Vanishing Point (Chinaski), Sunday, 25 July 2021 10:28 (four years ago)
Um, I don’t see a Fitzgerald on this thread. Her name sister maybe.
― Two Severins Clash (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 25 July 2021 19:18 (four years ago)
Oh! I always and so on and so forth
― Woolf & Stein 3d (wins), Sunday, 25 July 2021 19:36 (four years ago)
Careful. There are some threads for that, although lately they seem to get mixed up as well
― Two Severins Clash (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 25 July 2021 19:48 (four years ago)
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Monday, 26 July 2021 00:01 (four years ago)
I meant Penelope Lively. Mea culpa. Moon Tiger is fantastic.
― Vanishing Point (Chinaski), Monday, 26 July 2021 08:36 (four years ago)
I read Beloved for my A-Levels and hated it. My choice is Ellroy for this year I think.
― Neil S, Monday, 26 July 2021 08:52 (four years ago)
I've read Phlebas, Bonfire, The Child in Time and The Door. Phlebas would definitely have been a favourite once but perhaps no longer, Bonfire and The Child in Time were too long ago and The Door was fine, I get the love for it but I didn't lose myself in it.
― At Easter I had a fall. I don't know whether to laugh or cry (ledge), Monday, 26 July 2021 08:53 (four years ago)
I considered The Child in Time, it's when McEwan still had that weird edge to his fiction that he later lost to much broader farce or dark comedy. It's a long time since I read it as well though, not sure it would hold up to a second reading.
― Neil S, Monday, 26 July 2021 08:57 (four years ago)
You Must Remember This is great
― johnny crunch, Monday, 26 July 2021 13:43 (four years ago)
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Tuesday, 27 July 2021 00:01 (four years ago)
Both fair and expected.
Wherein We Elect Our Favourite Novels of 1988
― Daniel_Rf, Tuesday, 27 July 2021 10:23 (four years ago)
Harry Mathews - Cigarettes
― xyzzzz__, Friday, 30 July 2021 12:40 (four years ago)
Oh yeah that’s a good one.
― Tim, Friday, 30 July 2021 12:42 (four years ago)