Fiction: Best Prose

[Franco]

Of the writers I suggested, Raymond Carver's style is very different from the others, who all have a "long" or somewhat "dense" style (but also sensual and rich), whereas Carver is very "short" or terse - but very very effective and his dialog is some of the most natural and taut I have ever read.

I hope my descriptions make sense.

[secondwind]

Russell Hoban

[Dr. Dread]

I hope my descriptions make sense.

Yes. Thanks.

[secondwind]

Jeanette Winterson

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Charles Dickens
James Joyce
Henry James
Vladimir Nabokov
Thomas Ligotti
Alexander Theroux
Clark Ashton Smith
Thomas Pynchon
William Gaddis

As you may gather I like my prose rich, complex, poetic...

[Ten thumbs]

According to the Irish novelist, George Moore, Anne Brontë's novel 'Agnes Grey' is "the most perfect prose narrative in English letters." However, this statement was made some time ago. Nevertheless, it does indicate some degree of quality. I intend to read this novel shortly, so I will see.

[Dr. Dread]

Thanks, all. Of course I am in agreement with some of those on Johan's list. 

[secondwind]

Thanks, all. Of course I am in agreement with some of those on Johan's list. 

And I am in agreement with all of the names on Johan's list that I recognize.  Oh!  New names to explore!  Thomas Ligotti?  Clark Ashton Smith?  How have I missed them?  Must get to Amazon.com quickly. . . 

[Dr. Dread]

Thomas Ligotti?  Clark Ashton Smith? 

Those are the ones I agree with. 

[Brian]

Aravind Adiga. Check out his book The White Tiger. The first person narrator's voice was a marvel; it didn't just convince me, it made me need to keep reading.

Of course, probably the most incredibly awesome prose by a first-person narrator is in Lolita!

[PerfectWagnerite]

John Steinbeck.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Those are the ones I agree with. 

I know... 

John Steinbeck.

GMG member Catison (Brett) is with you on that one, I think. He talked to me about Steinbeck very enthusiastically when I met him several times here in Delft. Must check him out.

[Dr. Dread]

I know... 

GMG member Catison (Brett) is with you on that one, I think. He talked to me about Steinbeck very enthusiastically when I met him several times here in Delft. Must check him out.

I'm a Steinbeck fan but think there have been some grumblings from the critics regarding his work. Not sure why because I've never looked into it. Too popular?

[PerfectWagnerite]

I'm a Steinbeck fan but think there have been some grumblings from the critics regarding his work. Not sure why because I've never looked into it. Too popular?

Of course, critics make a living jabbing about things all the time. Most of them aren't fit to shine Steinbeck's shoes.

I know... 

GMG member Catison (Brett) is with you on that one, I think. He talked to me about Steinbeck very enthusiastically when I met him several times here in Delft. Must check him out.

I normally don't read much of the classics (sort of got sick of them being forced to read them throughout high school and college) but I read The Grapes of Wrath in about two days. So staggering and beautiful is the writing.

[Diletante]

Vladimir Nabokov.

The writing is so damn good in Lolita that I used to stop at some sentences, reading them over and over, going "wow!".

[Dr. Dread]

Of course, critics make a living jabbing about things all the time. Most of them aren't fit to shine Steinbeck's shoes.I normally don't read much of the classics (sort of got sick of them being forced to read them throughout high school and college) but I read The Grapes of Wrath in about two days. So staggering and beautiful is the writing.

Yeah, I've read Lolita.

Here's the Steinbeck I've read: Tortilla Flat, Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath, Cannery Row, Travels with Charley and The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights.

Enjoyed every one of them.

[PerfectWagnerite]

Yeah, I've read Lolita.

Here's the Steinbeck I've read: Tortilla Flat, Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath, Cannery Row, Travels with Charley and The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights.

Enjoyed every one of them.

I didn't read Tortilla Flat or The Acts of King Arthur. I am saving them 'till I get old, got nothing to do but sit on my front porch watching kids walk by.

I am getting started on East of Eden. But I would like to finish it in a couple of days and am sort of busy right now so it may have to wait.

[Josquin des Prez]

Vladimir Nabokov.

The writing is so damn good in Lolita that I used to stop at some sentences, reading them over and over, going "wow!".

His prosody was indeed incredible, but i'm still trying to figure out what the hell was the point of the book.

[Brian]

His prosody was indeed incredible, but i'm still trying to figure out what the hell was the point of the book.

Lolita is a book so great that it doesn't need a point.

[Josquin des Prez]

Lolita is a book so great that it doesn't need a point.

What makes the book great, the fact Nabokov was a virtuoso stylist? I just don't understand why artists are so eager to delve into the most perverted corners of the human psyche the second you give them some rope. The entire 20th century just baffles me.