Hello! I am in a book club, 5 girls in our early 30s who love to read fiction and try to pick things we might not otherwise read (whether it leans more genre, is translated fiction, or is maybe just less ubiquitous). Here are some books that we've read, naming the ones we enjoyed most:
Alias Grace - Margaret Atwood
Carnality - Lina Wolfe
Elena Knows - Claudia Piñero
The Birthday Party - Laurent Mauvinger
Cassandra at the Wedding - Dorothy Baker
The Bell - Iris Murdoch
The Haunting of Hill House - Shirley Jackson
Do you have any suggestions of books that might match the energy of some of these, or that we may not have heard of/considered? Thank you in advance!
*Molka* by Monica Kim. *Convenience Store Woman* by Sayaka Murata *A Game in Yellow* by Hailey Piper Might be worth in general looking up lists and articles on "weird girl fiction."
Love these! I’ve had Convenience Store Woman on my shelf for years, this might be the push I need to read it (read “Earthlings” last year and quite enjoyed it, despite the harrowing subject matter) thank you!
You’ve probably heard of these, but worth trying if you haven’t read them yet: I Who Have Never Known Men Shit Cassandra Saw Stone Yard Devotional Geek Love Kitchens of the Great Midwest
Omg one of my friends in the book club just bought Stone Yard Devotional, and there are 2 here I haven’t heard of and sound amazing, thank you so much!
*Burial Rites* by Hannah Kent
Oooh sounds really good, adding to our list
Snow by Orhan Pamuk Valley of the dolls. 1960s cult classic
Read the best of everything last year and LOVED it, would’ve been perfect for this book club. Other 2 sound great as well, thank you!
Does it have to be written by a woman, or are you open to men who write women well?
Ann Patchett’s Tom Lake was one of my book club’s best discussions last year. We are all in our 60s but I would definitely appeal to all generations. On another note, our book club had been together over 30 years, since we were your ages. I encourage you all to make your group a priority and continue to share your love for literature. I have many friends but sharing books together creates a very special bond.
Wow, excellent taste — can I join your book club? “The Door” by Szabo is jumping out as a good pick based on these other books. Perhaps also “Actress” by Anne Enright. Or “Veronica” by Mary Gaitskill.