Name popular fiction not focused on love
August 28, 2006 8:13 AM Subscribe
Popular fiction books NOT focused on romantic love relationships?
What are some good books that do not focus on love and romantic relationships (falling in love, marriage, breaking up, lost loves) etc yet are in the popular fiction/bestseller category?
One example would be Poisonwood Bible which has some of the characters getting married but not really focused on it.
Even nonconventional books like Wicked have a steamy relationship between Elphaba and Fiero.
What are some good books that do not focus on love and romantic relationships (falling in love, marriage, breaking up, lost loves) etc yet are in the popular fiction/bestseller category?
One example would be Poisonwood Bible which has some of the characters getting married but not really focused on it.
Even nonconventional books like Wicked have a steamy relationship between Elphaba and Fiero.
Lonesome Dove. there's love in there, but it's not the point or the main thrust of the story. Grisham, Tom Clancy, Ruth Rendell and the guy who wrote Jurassic Park don't veer off into love and romance.
posted by crush-onastick at 8:33 AM on August 28, 2006
posted by crush-onastick at 8:33 AM on August 28, 2006
"The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon.
"American Gods" by Neil Gaiman.
"The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" by Alexander McCall Smith.
posted by spasm at 8:35 AM on August 28, 2006
"American Gods" by Neil Gaiman.
"The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" by Alexander McCall Smith.
posted by spasm at 8:35 AM on August 28, 2006
The Lord of the Rings hardly even has any women in it, despite what the films suggest. The Da Vinci Code has a historical relationship in it, but not an active one. Why do you ask?
posted by bonaldi at 8:36 AM on August 28, 2006
posted by bonaldi at 8:36 AM on August 28, 2006
The Secret History by Donna Tartt. Wonderful book.
posted by bent back tulips at 8:40 AM on August 28, 2006
posted by bent back tulips at 8:40 AM on August 28, 2006
The Kite Runner, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, Angela's Ashes.
posted by LoriFLA at 8:50 AM on August 28, 2006
posted by LoriFLA at 8:50 AM on August 28, 2006
The kite runner does have a love story. I would agree with the curious incident of a dog in night time. Life of Pi was also pretty good
posted by spacesbetween at 9:19 AM on August 28, 2006
posted by spacesbetween at 9:19 AM on August 28, 2006
The Plot Against America, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, most of Kurt Vonnegut's books.
posted by cog_nate at 9:33 AM on August 28, 2006
posted by cog_nate at 9:33 AM on August 28, 2006
Nick Hornby's A Long Way Down? It's probably not a bestseller, but it's prominently featured in airport bookstores.
posted by synapse at 9:37 AM on August 28, 2006
posted by synapse at 9:37 AM on August 28, 2006
Death Benefits by Thomas Perry
There's a relationship in it, but it's far from being the focus of the story.
Pursuit, also by Perry
posted by Kirth Gerson at 9:49 AM on August 28, 2006
There's a relationship in it, but it's far from being the focus of the story.
Pursuit, also by Perry
posted by Kirth Gerson at 9:49 AM on August 28, 2006
Perfume by Patrick Suskind
posted by randomination at 10:24 AM on August 28, 2006
posted by randomination at 10:24 AM on August 28, 2006
Is there a particular aspect you are trying to avoid? I.e. don't want to antagonize the lovelorn or Avoiding sexual content? Or is it a general distaste for romantic plotlines?
Clavell's asian yarns may not be the most accurate, but are great romance-free stories: I like Shogun in particular.
posted by allan at 10:34 AM on August 28, 2006
Clavell's asian yarns may not be the most accurate, but are great romance-free stories: I like Shogun in particular.
posted by allan at 10:34 AM on August 28, 2006
Robert B. Parker books make reference to relationships, but usually focus on the tough guy stuff.
posted by wuzandfuzz at 10:38 AM on August 28, 2006
posted by wuzandfuzz at 10:38 AM on August 28, 2006
The Da Vinci Code, no?
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:47 AM on August 28, 2006
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:47 AM on August 28, 2006
From the OQ: What are some good books . . .
Skip any Dan Brown things.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 11:30 AM on August 28, 2006
Skip any Dan Brown things.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 11:30 AM on August 28, 2006
The Harry Potter series, while not focused on the romance per se, did become more "romantic" around Book 6 - a large chunk of the story was dedicated to Harry&co's relationships.
posted by divabat at 1:12 PM on August 28, 2006
posted by divabat at 1:12 PM on August 28, 2006
It's such a bizarrely open question it's hard to answer.
What does "popular" mean? Dan Brown is popular in the sense that he's sold millions, but he's universally derided. Sherlock Holmes stories don't focus on romance, because they're genre fiction, like a lot of the other stuff being suggested.
Assuming you mean good literary, non-genre fiction (I don't think the Da Vinci Code is going to satisfy someone who likes Kingsolver) how about Amy Tan? She does of course write about love and relationships, but only in broader contexts.
posted by AmbroseChapel at 2:04 PM on August 28, 2006
What does "popular" mean? Dan Brown is popular in the sense that he's sold millions, but he's universally derided. Sherlock Holmes stories don't focus on romance, because they're genre fiction, like a lot of the other stuff being suggested.
Assuming you mean good literary, non-genre fiction (I don't think the Da Vinci Code is going to satisfy someone who likes Kingsolver) how about Amy Tan? She does of course write about love and relationships, but only in broader contexts.
posted by AmbroseChapel at 2:04 PM on August 28, 2006
Yeah, perhaps a bit more context to this question would be useful, but -
Seconding Life Of Pi - Yan Martell (Jan?)
Seconding Pynchon.
Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the Sherlock Holmes stuff.
Just finished Name Of The Rose, by Umberto Eco. There is a minor relationship storyline, but not the main focus.
I guess William Faulkner may be a bit too relationship-oriented? But his stuff, like Pynchon's, is often huge and sprawling enough that there's far far more to it. And it's great writing. (Just rediscovered him for the first time since high school.)
Lots of sci-fi stuff might work.
posted by zoinks at 2:42 PM on August 28, 2006
Seconding Life Of Pi - Yan Martell (Jan?)
Seconding Pynchon.
Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the Sherlock Holmes stuff.
Just finished Name Of The Rose, by Umberto Eco. There is a minor relationship storyline, but not the main focus.
I guess William Faulkner may be a bit too relationship-oriented? But his stuff, like Pynchon's, is often huge and sprawling enough that there's far far more to it. And it's great writing. (Just rediscovered him for the first time since high school.)
Lots of sci-fi stuff might work.
posted by zoinks at 2:42 PM on August 28, 2006
I don't know from popular, but most Vonnegut books are love-free.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 2:50 PM on August 28, 2006
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 2:50 PM on August 28, 2006
I would have thought most mysteries, thrillers, crime drama (which do hit best seller lists) did not focus heavily on relationships, though they might have a minor love interest. I read science-fiction myself, which sometimes does, sometimes doesn't.
Terry Pratchett is a best seller in Britain, and rarely does romance.
posted by jb at 1:15 AM on August 29, 2006
Terry Pratchett is a best seller in Britain, and rarely does romance.
posted by jb at 1:15 AM on August 29, 2006
I'm adding my vote to:
Life of Pi
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (which will keep you occupied for a while)
Anything by Terry Pratchett, especially Night Watch,
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
I'd like to add:
Nero in Exile by Tom Holt
Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
I guess it comes down to how you define 'popular fiction'.
posted by Jilder at 8:09 AM on August 29, 2006
Life of Pi
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (which will keep you occupied for a while)
Anything by Terry Pratchett, especially Night Watch,
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
I'd like to add:
Nero in Exile by Tom Holt
Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
I guess it comes down to how you define 'popular fiction'.
posted by Jilder at 8:09 AM on August 29, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:19 AM on August 28, 2006 [1 favorite]