Recommend me some beautifully written books

December 19, 2020 8:51 AM

I'd love recommendations for books in English that incorporate figurative writing and that are lovely to read. Looking for fiction in novel format (not short stories) that is not from a white, male, or western point of view, and no sci-fi or similar.

An example of an author I've recently found I love is Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: her books are full of evocative descriptions and figurative language, casually mentions the frangipani trees for example, and uses similes that give a sense of place ("His cheeks bulge as though he has stuffed them with whole, unripe guavas.")

I've also read Jhumpa Lahiri, and while her story lines are interesting, the plain language is not to my taste at the moment.

What should I read next? Bonus points for likely to be available at the large public libraries near me in ebook form.

posted by sizeable beetle to Writing & Language (18 answers total)

i can't quite tell if you've ruled out male authors, or just male points of view, but nadeem aslam's maps for lost lovers is a novel made of beautiful language.
posted by 20 year lurk at 9:04 AM on December 19, 2020 [1 favorite]

Best answer: You would probably love Shani Mootoo, especially Cereus Blooms at Night. A few more recommendations, in no particular order: Jokha Alharthi, Monique Truong, Akwaeke Emezi, Yaa Gyasi.
posted by dizziest at 9:38 AM on December 19, 2020 [2 favorites]

I loved A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth, and was sad when I reached the end of its 1500 pages that there weren't at least another 500 pages in this glorious book. Written by a man, but not from a man's point of view.
posted by angiep at 10:50 AM on December 19, 2020 [1 favorite]

house of mirth, edith wharton
posted by megan_magnolia at 11:43 AM on December 19, 2020 [2 favorites]

You might like The Elegance of the Hedgehog which is written from the POV of someone who has similar taste and talks about the things she likes.
posted by bleep at 11:53 AM on December 19, 2020

Best answer: I don't know if this quite fits the bill, but the two loveliest books I read this year were Circe and The Song of Achilles, both by Madeline Miller. If you have even the remotest interest in the Odyssey and/or the Iliad, respectively, you will be rewarded with luscious language and an interesting take on both stories.
posted by wisekaren at 12:05 PM on December 19, 2020 [5 favorites]

If you're ruling out all male authors it won't suit, but On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong was a lyrically lovely read. Though I suppose it's also western in a way - but also in a way very not.

Um, do some research yourself before you commit because she's super depressing, and I'm not sure that she fits "lovely to read" but Ludmilla Petrushevskaya writes prose that even in translation is great, and while I think her best work is short stories, The Time: Night is great.

Deathless by Catherynne M Valente is a folklore-based story so I'm not sure if it falls into your category of "similar to scifi" but she has a very lush writing style.
posted by euphoria066 at 12:18 PM on December 19, 2020

Helen Oyeyemi writes allusive and poetic novels that behave almost like dreams do. I began with Boy, Snow, Bird, but I think Mr. Fox would also be a good introduction.
posted by minervous at 12:45 PM on December 19, 2020 [1 favorite]

+1 for Yaa Gyasi, absolutely loved both of her books.
posted by thebots at 12:51 PM on December 19, 2020

I'm not sure if you're only after suggestions that tick all of your boxes, but two of my favorite stylists are Angela Carter and Jeanette Winterson.
posted by xenization at 1:04 PM on December 19, 2020 [1 favorite]

I think it sounds like you'd love Isabel Allende. She's a Chilean writer. I'd start with The House Of Spirits. Don't let the "magic realism" throw you off. It's not sci go or fantasy stuff.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 1:59 PM on December 19, 2020 [2 favorites]

Kim Thúy’s Ru.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 5:38 PM on December 19, 2020

Are you ok with someone who writes about very ugly things in a beautiful way? If so, I’d recommend Jesmyn Ward’s Salvage the Bones. The reason I’m a little hesitant to recommend it here is because the book includes very vivid descriptions of dog fighting. Ward has described herself as a failed poet and says her use of figurative language comes from that. It’s a beautifully written book, but it’s dark.
posted by FencingGal at 6:38 PM on December 19, 2020

Best answer: Marilynne Robinson, Gilead. Simple and stunning.
The Round House, Louise Erdrich. Heartbreaking and full of vitality.
Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston. A classic for a reason.
Cutting for Stone, Abraham Verghese. Captivating.
I Capture the Castle, Dodie Smith. Romantic, in a good way.
posted by emd3737 at 8:38 PM on December 19, 2020 [1 favorite]

Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments by Saidiya Hartman (kinda crosses the line between fiction and non-fiction)
posted by perhapses at 9:28 PM on December 19, 2020

I had a hard time with The Lost Children Archive but you might like it.

On the other hand, I adore Patricia Lockwood's prose style (Priestdaddy) but you might hate it.
posted by athirstforsalt at 9:36 PM on December 19, 2020

Banana Yoshimoto's Kitchen
posted by bluedora at 9:29 AM on December 20, 2020

Response by poster: Thank you all so much! Yaa Gyasi and Louise Erdrich are also favourites of mine. I have a lot to add to my holiday-at-home reading lists.
posted by sizeable beetle at 12:21 PM on December 20, 2020