Thursday, May 30, 2013

Armchair BEA - Literary Fiction and Giveaway

Today's Armchair BEA topic is literary fiction, my favorite!  I LOVE literary fiction because it gives you so much to think and talk about, and I love the writing that goes into it.  Here are the prompts today:

What books have you read this year that would fit into this category?  The adult literary fiction (I'm going pretty broad here - historical, contemporary realistic, book club - worthy) I've read in the last twelve months that I liked very much or loved includes:

To Be Sung Underwater  The Light Between Oceans  The Blessings of the Animals  The Shoemaker's Wife

A Good American  The Language of Flowers  The Storyteller
Is there anything coming up that you're particularly excited about?  YES!  I can't wait to read And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini and will be attending an author event tomorrow night featuring him - can't wait!
What authors/novels would you recommend to someone new to the genre?  Since we're talking about Khaled Hosseini, I would recommend The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, two of my all-time favorite literary fiction novels.  I also loved:
 
The Help  The Poisonwood Bible  Water for Elephants  The Snow Child
Are there any misconceptions or things that you'd like to clear up for people unfamiliar with literary fiction?  I think literary fiction can be contemporary and also popular - it doesn't have to be high-brow or classic.  I'm a teacher, and one of the mistakes I think we make as teachers is that we make kids read classics when they don't necessarily connect to them. 
What got you started into this kind of book?  I'm an English Literature major, but honestly, even though I loved classics, the contemporary literary fiction books I read for books clubs are my favorite!
 
I also have LOTS of children's books and young adult literary fiction favorites, but I'm concentrating on adult fiction for this post.
 
GIVEAWAY:
Since I'm going to the Khaled Hosseini event tomorrow night, I think it's only right that I share his new book with you!  Only two criteria...comment and follow/join my blog!!  I'll pick from a hat a winner that has done those two things, and you will get a copy of And the Mountains Echoed in the mail!
 

24 comments:

  1. I'm a huge fan of many of the books in this post. Anything by Jodi Picoult or Sara Gruen is bound to be great!

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    1. Picoult and Gruen are such compelling writers! I was lucky enough to meet both of them!

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  2. I read The Language of Flowers and loved it!! I think the new cover reflects the story better, for sure! I also loved The Help and thought the movie was quite good for being an adaptation. I have some of your books listed in my TBR list and realize my pile is getting longer;).

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    1. Our book club had a great discussion over The Language of Flowers!

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  3. I enjoyed a lot The Poisonwood Bible, and since then have read all the books by Kingsolver; as well as The Language of Flowers. Need now to read The LIght Between Oceans

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    1. Kingsolver is one of my favorite writers! I hope you enjoy The Light Between Oceans!

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  4. Oh my gosh! You've went to his signing? And you got a signed book? I'm sooo jealous. I love how humble and honest he is. I was reading an article on him just a week ago and it blows my mind how each work is quite truly a written piece of art (http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/05/even-khaled-hosseini-cant-tell-stories-as-effectively-as-he-wants-to/276091/).
    I can't wait to read this book!
    (Oh, I'm following on gfc - Cordelia Fitzgerald)

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    1. I just went last night to see Hosseini, and it was amazing! Over 1000 people attended. He had so many interesting and amazing things to say about writing and his life. He's funny, too! Thanks so much for following my blog. I'll announce a winner soon!

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  5. Wow, I am so happy to have found your blog! Finally, someone who likes the same books as me! I immediately put your favourites I haven't read yet on my hold list at the library. I have the giveaway book on hold too--I am #368--I should get it sometime in the next 2 years! I hope that I win it. Can't wait to read it.

    I am following by e-mail...geje...

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    1. I'm so happy you stopped by!! It's wonderful when you find a kindred reading spirit! :-) Thanks so much for following by e-mail, and I'll annouce a winner soon. It's going to be a LONG time if you're #368 for the library copy!

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  6. That book "And the Mountains Echoed" by Khaled Hosseini, has been on my want to read list for a long time, I also want to read his book "A Thousand Splendid SUns" I am following on email, and it has been alot of fun following you bloggers at the Armchair conference.. Thank you for sharing

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    1. You'll LOVE A Thousand Splendid Suns! Thanks so much for following, and I'll announce a winner soon!

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  7. So cool to meet authors! I love any chance to hear, meet, or talk to authors in person. I get to meet Laurel Snyder next month and am so excited. She Skyped with one of my reading groups last year. I am so glad to have found your blog through Armchair BEA.

    An adult literary fiction title that I have enjoyed is The Kite Runner. For YA I would have to say The Fault in Our Stars. For children's I would say Bigger than a Breadbox. Of course, on any given day, I would probably list different books. There are too many to choose just one really.

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    1. You are so lucky to have the opportunity to meet Laurel Snyder! Isn't she great to Skpe with? My students loved Bigger Than a Bread Box!

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  8. Amazing books you've got there. I've only read The Light between the oceans and the language of flowers are they were great. Hope the giveaway is international. I followed your blog via GFC-Ashfa Anwer
    blackcapballistics9at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Thanks so much for following my blog, and I'll announce a winner soon!

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  9. Holy smokes do I want to read the new Hosseini! What a fantastic giveaway, thanks for the chance!

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    1. The Hosseini event last night was FANTASTIC! I'll announce a winner soon! Thanks for following!

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  10. I highly recommend The Great Lenore by J.M. Tohline.

    Thanks for the amazing giveaway!
    elizabeth @ bookattict . com

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    1. Thanks for the recommendation! I'll announce the winner soon! Thanks so much for following!

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  11. Whoop! Thanks for the giveaway. I enjoyed The Kite Runner and look forward to his newest one. New follower by GFC ;-)

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  12. It'd skeptically be a gross misnomer if I were to remark on the gravity of this magnum opus. In all likelihood because the folks at The Guardian or The New York Times have, since eternity, champion'd in thus.

    The one thing most would correlate if the book is flipped from cover to cover is that the novel has not one but stark flickers of many an endings, which comprehensively are sewn together in the end. One of the subtle feature which discerns this book to many others. Additionally, this codex gives way to the somber temperament of an Afghan doctor who refuted to The States to steer clear of the Taliban blot in the days of History, Hosseini himself.

    The magnitude of this monograph and the delivery quotient of the Flipkart delivery team is, likewise, immaculate.

    If you are on this page, don't quit without placing an order (if you haven't read it, of course). And as a rational bookworm peer would say: "Happy Reading!"

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  13. I loved The Kite Runner and its movie adaptation. A Thousand Splendid Suns is on my reading list for this summer.

    I want that copy of And the Mountains Echoed! Fingers crossed. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Following you via GFC now. Here's my Armchair BEA Introduction post: http://www.madhoydenish.blogspot.com/2013/05/hello-armchairbea-let-me-introduce.html

    Tallulah A. @ MAD Hoydenish

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  14. I am a pretty new follower via GFC. I have enjoyed reading your posts this week for Armchair.

    Lisa @ Just Another Rabid Reader

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