CONTEMPORARY LITERARY FICTION - Golden Book

(Normally, I'd include a cover of the book - but this is one of my favorite scenes from the movie. I want to cry just thinking about it. This is one of the rare occasions where the movie is of equally good quality as the book. Both are unique in their own light. The casting for Almasy and Katharine was immaculate.)


THE ENGLISH PATIENT - Michael Ondaatje

I still maintain that this is one of the best books of the 20th century. It is challenging, interesting, uses language beautifully and provides a great character -lead story line full of self-introspection. The epitome of a gold-standard book, or as I like to say, a contemporary classic.
There are other factors about the book that are appealing, especially the love triangle between Katharine and Almasy, but since it includes the above stated, other specifics don’t really matter. Those qualities to another novel, would still appeal to me, despite the plot, location etc.

Other equally good books to try:

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy,

Probably the book I would recommend for anyone who likes this title. It comes very close to the poetic prose that Ondaatje employs and also focuses on the political climate still hot in India today.

Others: Midnight’s Children, Anil’s Ghost, The Sea, The Sea.

All winners of the Booker Prize award. An award that tends to include almost any nationality except Americans, it tends to produce some highly praised pieces of literature.