Literary Exploration discussion

We need help picking some books for this poll. Let us know which book and why it needs to be read by the group

I nominate Nickel Mountain. It is described as an uncommon love story with a cast of rural eccentrics. "Questions of guilt, innocence, and even murder are eclipsed by deeds of compassion, humility, and redemption, and ultimately by Henry Soames' quiet discovery of grace." I am not sure if John Gardner is considered and obscure author but I have never heard of him before.

I nominate The Book of Nights by French author Sylvie Germain. I've read this in my dreamy teenage years and was blown away by the poetic language. The novel mixes family saga with fairy tale. The GR description doesn't give much information, so here's a translation of the german cover text:

"Young Victor-Flandrin Péniel, son of a French boatman, is a very uncommon hero. He has abilities only known in fairy tales: He has, as all his children will, a golden spot in his eye, and a blonde shadow. He wears a necklace of frozen tears, his fathers tears, who was defaced by an Ulan warrior. And his glance makes mirrors go blind... The family saga of Nuit d'or, Goldnight, as they call him."

Neither have I read book like this before or after nor met anybody who knew Sylvie Germain.

I nominate The Dud Avocado. It's funny; the writing is witty, and it's a great look at the life of a young expatriate woman in Europe. I found this book randomly while strolling the shelves at the library, and it's one of the best books I've ever had the pleasure of discovering.

good choices so far

Whether nominated or not I'm very interested in both Iselin & Rachel's books.They are opposites aren't they:-) one a fantasy, the other true to life.

Really want some more choices, so we can read a poll

I don't think I know any obscure authors.

I was going to suggest The Last Children by Gudrun Pausewang (on phone so cant link). It's a childrens book that changed my life when I read it about 18 years ago. Anybody thats agrees with nuclear should read it, lent my copy out to loads over the years and everyone loved it. Thw reason I wasnt going to suggest it as it looks like it may be difficult to get hold of as it is out of print.

I know Gudrun Pausewang ;) Die Wolke (English "Fall-out") is the one I read, in which a nuclear catastrophe in Germany happens.

Iselin wrote: "I know Gudrun Pausewang ;) Die Wolke (English "Fall-out") is the one I read, in which a nuclear catastrophe in Germany happens."

It may be the same book released under a new name then.

Which one would you prefer; Die letzten Kinder von Schewenborn or Die Wolke?

To help push this along, I'm going to Lost Everything by Brian Francis Slattery; an incandescent and thrilling post-apocalyptic tale in the vein of 1984 or The Road.

Kim wrote: "I don't think I know any obscure authors."

Check your TBR list and find something that looks interesting by an author that doesn't have many fans/ratings

I'm not sure if it qualifies as obscure but I'd like to nominate Ice by Vladimir Sorokin, a dystopia novel about a cult of blue-eyed blonde-haired individuals going around Moscow and piercing people hearts with a hammer made of cosmic ice.

It's a bit of a weird book but it left me thinking about it for a long, long time.

(I can't vouch for the english translation though, I've read it in french)

I'd allow it, recently read Day of the Oprichnik: A Novel by Vladimir Sorokin and thought it was fantastic

Michael wrote: "Which one would you prefer; Die letzten Kinder von Schewenborn or Die Wolke?

To help push this along, I'm going to Lost Everything by Brian Francis Slattery; an incandescent and thrilling post-apo..."

Well Die letzten Kinder von Schewenborn is the one I read but in English as my German is horrific.

I've got another one if you're still looking for nominations, West with the Night by Beryl Markham.

Rachel wrote: "I've got another one if you're still looking for nominations, West with the Night by Beryl Markham."

One nomination per person

I'll nominate Ask the Dust by John Fante, a coming of age novel set in Los Angeles. He is highly regarded by other writers but not well known, as is mentioned in this quote,
"Either the work of John Fante is unknown to you or it is unforgettable. He was not the kind of writer to leave room in between."

Rachel wrote: "I've got another one if you're still looking for nominations, West with the Night by Beryl Markham."

Good book - amazing life!

That should be enough, thank you all