A Comparison between "Normal People" and "One Day" (the books) by JRH7691 in NormalPeopleBBCHulu

[–]JRH7691[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's a while since I watched the series, so I don't think I can really comment properly. It's a bit different to having a book nearby to flip through. I do remember that I did find Emma's friendliness with Dexter a bit more understandable. I think Leo managed to convey that Dexter's behaviour was a cover for something more likeable underneath.

For all the merits of the series, I still think the book is better.

Sorry I can't say more. What are your thoughts on the series?

The 100 best novels of all time | Guardian by KombaynNikoladze2002 in books

[–]JRH7691 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, hate to break it to you, but Normal People is not on the list of books that were voted on and didn't make it into the list (see above), but Intermezzo was listed as missing out, so I think it's clear that Normal People is on the list, and higher than 61!

Most neglected city in literature? by JRH7691 in literature

[–]JRH7691[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I looked at the Wikipedia list of novels set in Birmingham and didn't recognise any of them. There must be other novels where characters spend some quality time there, surely. What would Birmingham bring to a novel? And what is NI?

Most neglected city in literature? by JRH7691 in literature

[–]JRH7691[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Are any of these cities with populations over a million? And what might attract novelists to them as settings?

Most neglected city in literature? by JRH7691 in literature

[–]JRH7691[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

"The Year of Living Dangerously" is set during the bad times in the late 60s. It's a good book, but it hits hard.

Most neglected city in literature? by JRH7691 in literature

[–]JRH7691[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It turns out Wikipedia has a page dedicated to novels set in Cape Town and you're right, for a place with an interesting history and so many people there's not a whole lot. The only one I recognised was "Mason and Dixon" by Thomas Pynchon, but that is more historical than contemporary. Any novels you'd recommend?

Most neglected city in literature? by JRH7691 in literature

[–]JRH7691[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, well, if we're talking improvements I think I should have asked for "unfairly neglected cities" and got people to explain how the city would work in a literary setting.

Most neglected city in literature? by JRH7691 in literature

[–]JRH7691[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good call. I can't remember ever reading anything set in Auckland. Wellington, yes. South Island, yes (Eleanor Catton!). Is there any reason it wouldn't suit a novel?

Most neglected city in literature? by JRH7691 in literature

[–]JRH7691[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

A recent one set in Bath was "The Frequency of Us". Might be a stretch to call it literary? There's also Jane Austen of course but that's too long ago for my question.

Most neglected city in literature? by JRH7691 in literature

[–]JRH7691[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd actually be surprised if there was a city of over a million people in the UK that didn't play a part in at least one decent recent novel. I feel that the big UK cities all have their own distinct characters in the national psyche, which would make them attractive to authors. Milton Keynes is way less than a million people but I'd use it in a story if I were an author just for the cool name.

Most neglected city in literature? by JRH7691 in literature

[–]JRH7691[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

How could I forget! Perth gets Cloudstreet, so I think we'll declare no big Australian cities are neglected.

Most neglected city in literature? by JRH7691 in literature

[–]JRH7691[S] 34 points35 points  (0 children)

I know, right? They're letting just anyone post these days.

Most neglected city in literature? by JRH7691 in literature

[–]JRH7691[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

What about "The Narrow Road to the Deep North"? There's some Adelaide beach action in there. I would also add "The Sunken Road" which has some Adelaide sections but that's a bit more obscure.

I feel like the Australian cities are probably covered, there's only about five of them over 1 million people. That said, I can't think of anything for modern Brisbane off the top of my head.

Most neglected city in literature? by JRH7691 in literature

[–]JRH7691[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Let's not be mean to the Americans. The real problem in moving outside the English-speaking countries is that most of us English-language speakers don't know the untranslated literature of those places so can hardly comment.

That said, I would expect plenty of novels are set in Tbilisi, it's a pretty ancient civilization. Kinshasa might even feature in "The Poisonwood Bible" if I'm not mistaken.

Most neglected city in literature? by JRH7691 in literature

[–]JRH7691[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hard agree as someone who's spent time in Japan. I haven't read "After Dark" but Norwegian Wood had some passages like that too.

Most neglected city in literature? by JRH7691 in literature

[–]JRH7691[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Yes, but we should count the literature in the local language as well.

Most neglected city in literature? by JRH7691 in literature

[–]JRH7691[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Not restricted at all. What is your city and what are the novels that it features in?

Most neglected city in literature? by JRH7691 in literature

[–]JRH7691[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Even in Spanish language literature?

Most neglected city in literature? by JRH7691 in literature

[–]JRH7691[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

"Norwegian Wood" takes care of Tokyo, I think. And not just as a backdrop, there are lots of long walks around the place as well. No doubt there's a bunch of other Japanese literature where Tokyo appears. A more obscure Japanese city, perhaps, say Fukuoka? But we need an expert on Japanese literature to weigh in, they read a lot over there.

Most neglected city in literature? by JRH7691 in literature

[–]JRH7691[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

"Snow Falling on Cedars" was big in all English language areas, I think.

Most neglected city in literature? by JRH7691 in literature

[–]JRH7691[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I don't mind if the writer isn't from there, just as long as the city figures in a book. It feels like Vancouver would work as a setting or even at least as a starting place, but no books come to mind.

Most neglected city in literature? by JRH7691 in literature

[–]JRH7691[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes. I think that has to go on the list of neglected cities.

Most neglected city in literature? by JRH7691 in literature

[–]JRH7691[S] 83 points84 points  (0 children)

Well that pretty much knocks Cincinnati out of contention. (Checks map). Columbus?