Help needed!

[Annika]

Hey! I'm taking a class about English literature in the 20th and 21st century, and I have to choose 5 books from this list:

1.J. Conrad. Heart of Darkness.

2.DH Lawrence. Sons and Lovers;

3.James Joyce. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

4.V. Woolf. Mrs Dalloway or To the Lighthouse;

5.I. Murdoch. Under the Net;

6.W. Golding. Lord of the Flies.

7.A. Carter. Love or The Passion of New Eve.

8.S. Rushdie. Midnight’s Children.

9.D.M. Thomas. The White Hotel.

10.J. Winterson. The Passion

11.AS Byatt. Possession or Angels and Insects.

12.I. McEwan. The Cement Garden or A Child in Time.

13.M. Syal. Anita and Me or Life is not All Ha-ha-Hee-hee.

14.Zadie Smith. White Teeth.

15.Nadeem Aslam. Maps for Lost Lovers.

16.Hari Kunzru. The Impressionist.

17.Ian McEwan. Solar.

 

There are so many of them and I don't have clue which ones to read (and unfortunately I don't have time to read them all). So I guessed maybe you guys can help me out? Which of these have you read and did you like them or not?

 

Thanks!

[Chrissy]

As you can see, I haven't read all of the books on your list, but I have noted what I do know. I hope it helps.

 

2.DH Lawrence. Sons and Lovers; Intense at times, but readable.

 

4.V. Woolf. Mrs Dalloway or To the Lighthouse; I have read both and they can be hard going at times, especially if you are in the wrong frame of mind at the time of reading.

 

6.W. Golding. Lord of the Flies. Not a fun read, but powerful and surprisingly short read.

8.S. Rushdie. Midnight’s Children. A long and winding book with depth and scope, beautifully written but tough for the first 100 pages. A personal favourite.

 

13.M. Syal. Anita and Me or Life is not All Ha-ha-Hee-hee. On my wishlist, both of them supposed to be great reads.

 

17.Ian McEwan. Solar.I have not read Solar, but I do find Mcewan's books easy to get into.

 

We don't usually help with homework/coursework, except to active and long term members, but as you are asking for opinions rather than coursework help, it isn't a problem. Good luck with your choices.

 

As you are now a forum member, I hope you come back and tell us what you think of the choices you do make.