Books matching: eccentric characters
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- #1
Save:A delightfully offbeat, character-driven journey through Southern life - perfect for those who enjoy quirky stories that focus on people just being wonderfully themselves. If you don’t mind wandering without a map, you’ll find this one a warm and rewarding read.
Quite a Year for Plums by Bailey White is a quiet and quirky novel set in a small town, focusing on eccentric and lovable characters without sentimentalism or happy endings. The story unfolds through tiny moments in time, painting a picture of everyday life in a community where everyone knows each other. The book is praised for its rich character development and unique storytelling style that captures the essence of small-town living.
The spring edition of Agrisearch came out with a picture on the front page of Roger standing in the middle of a field holding a peanut plant in each hand. In the distance you could see the irrigation...1998•240 pages - #2
Save:A gorgeously written, peculiar family epic - rich in wit, oddball charm, and beautiful language, but its sprawling style and cast may not work for every reader. Approach for the atmosphere and prose, stay for the misfit magic!
In "Bowlaway," Elizabeth McCracken crafts a multi-generational story centered around Bertha Truitt, who mysteriously arrives in Salford, Massachusetts, claiming to have invented candlepin bowling. The novel follows the lives of Bertha and her descendants, as well as various characters connected to the bowling alley, spanning decades and exploring social issues. McCracken's writing style is described as rich, quirky, and whimsical, with a touch of magical realism, as she weaves together enchanting characters and vivid storytelling.
They found a body in the Salford Cemetery, but aboveground and alive. An ice storm the day before had beheaded the daffodils, and the cemetery was draped in frost: midspring, Massachusetts, the turn o...February 2019•370 pages - #3
Save:A one-of-a-kind journey to the Ozarks - atmospheric, eccentric, and memorable, but definitely not for those who crave tidy plots or straightforward storytelling.
'Lightning Bug' by Donald Harington is a book that takes readers on a journey to Stay More, a small town in the Ozarks. Through the eyes of a child, the story delves into the complexity of adult life, exposing unhappiness, unfulfilled desires, and the good and bad aspects of human relationships. The writing style of Harington is described as prose-like and deep, reminiscent of authors like Hermann Hesse and Kurt Vonnegut. The book intertwines fantasy with reality, with characters that are eccentric and peculiar, set against a rural Southern backdrop.
the screen door pushed outward in a slow swing, the spring on the screen door stretching vibrantly, one sprung tone and fading overtone high-pitched even against the bug-noises and frog-noises, a plan...1970•243 pages A beautifully written, deeply sad, and memorable collection that lingers long after the last page. Best for those willing to embrace its quiet heartbreak and poetic oddness.
'The Ballad of the Sad Cafe and Other Stories' by Carson McCullers is a collection that delves into the lives of characters in small southern towns, exploring themes of love, isolation, and human relationships. The title novella, "The Ballad of the Sad Cafe," narrates the story of a tough spinster who runs a cafe in a small town and the unconventional love triangle that unfolds, leading to heartbreak and woe. The writing style is described as poetic, capturing the melancholic undertones and vivid imagery of the characters and their interactions.
The collection includes a mix of stories, some highlighting the loneliness and despair experienced by the characters, while others explore themes of misfits, outcasts, and unrequited love in the Southern Gothic setting. Carson McCullers' prose is praised for its beauty and ability to create vivid, complex characters that resonate with readers, evoking emotions of sadness, empathy, and reflection.
The town itself is dreary; not much is there except the cotton mill, the two-room houses where the workers live, a few peach trees, a church with two colored windows, and a miserable main street only...1951•169 pages- #5
Save:Bold, bizarre, and deeply human - if you can handle the weird and the dark, 'The Hotel New Hampshire' is classic Irving: hilarious, tragic, and never boring.
'The Hotel New Hampshire' by John Irving is a novel that follows the eccentric Berry family as they navigate through life's tragedies and triumphs. The story is set in hotels in New Hampshire and Vienna, where the family faces a range of bizarre and often disturbing situations. The novel features quirky characters like Franny, John, Frank, Lilly, Egg, and a pet bear, all of whom are richly developed and evoke a mix of emotions in the reader.
The writing style in 'The Hotel New Hampshire' is described as funny, sad, and quirky, with a touch of surrealism. John Irving presents a narrative that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, blending elements of humor and tragedy seamlessly. The novel explores taboo topics such as rape, incest, terrorism, and death, all while maintaining a whimsical and imaginative tone.
The summer my father bought the bear, none of us was born—we weren’t even conceived: not Frank, the oldest; not Franny, the loudest; not me, the next; and not the youngest of us, Lilly and Egg. My fat...January 1981•498 pages More Southern Gothic character study than true crime, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is an atmospheric, entertaining, and memorable walk through Savannah’s most colorful corners - perfect for those who savor eccentric personalities and stories stranger than fiction.
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt is a creative non-fiction book that delves into the eccentric characters and atmosphere of Savannah, Georgia in the 1970s and 80s. The book uses a celebrated murder trial as a backdrop to introduce the reader to the city and its colorful inhabitants. Berendt's writing style is praised for capturing the essence of Savannah and its quirky residents, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
The book is a combination of a travelogue about Savannah, Georgia, and a glimpse into its upper-middle-class society through the lens of a murder in their midst. It offers an atmospheric portrayal of the city, showcasing its unique charm and the intriguing personalities that inhabit it, all while exploring the infamous slaying of Danny Hansford and the multiple murder trials of his lover, Jim Williams.
I had heard Jim Williams’s name mentioned often during the six months I had lived in Savannah. The house was one reason, but there were others. He was a successful dealer in antiques and a restorer of...January 1785•401 pagesA lively, comedic romp through Russian country life - perfect for Dostoevsky completists and those wanting to see his humorous side, but less essential for newcomers seeking his usual depth and darkness.
'The Village of Stepanchikovo' by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a comedic novel revolving around a household controlled by an impudent schemer named Foma Fomich, who manipulates the weak and credulous uncle of the estate owner. The story showcases psychological blackmail, absurd family dynamics, and a cast of eccentric characters engaging in chaotic confrontations, all woven together with sustained humor and lighthearted family drama.
1859•224 pages- #8
Save:'Ranchero' by Rick Gavin is a thrilling crime novel set in the economically depressed Mississippi Delta, where repo man Nick Reid embarks on a hair-raising search to recover a stolen 1969 Ranchero. Accompanied by his Coney dog-eating friend Desmond and an unlikely ally Percy Dwayne Dubois Dew Boyz, Reid navigates through a world filled with redneck crackers, dim-witted lotharios, and dangerous criminals. The novel captures the essence of the Delta with its quirky characters, dry land trash, and swamp trash, offering a blend of action, humor, and suspense as Reid tracks down the stolen vehicle.
I met Percy Dwayne Dubois after a fashion at his Indianola house. I’d come to collect his television and was explaining to his wife that they’d gone three months delinquent on their rent-to-own instal...October 2011•271 pages - #9
Save:A fun, quirky country house Christmas mystery with all the cozy vibes and eccentric flair you’d expect from Ngaio Marsh - just don’t expect her most suspenseful or modern outing.
"Tied Up in Tinsel" by Ngaio Marsh revolves around a Christmas party hosted by Mr. Hilary Bill Tasman at Halberds Manor, where guests include eccentric characters and a staff of convicted murderers. The protagonist, Troy Alleyn, wife of DI Roderick Alleyn of Scotland Yard, is at the manor to paint a portrait while her husband is away. The plot unfolds with a disappearance after a Christmas pageant, leading to suspicion among the staff and guests, and eventually, Superintendent Roderick Alleyn gets involved to solve the mystery. The writing style of the book combines elements of a traditional country house murder mystery with quirky characters and a cleverly executed plot that keeps the reader engaged throughout the story.
‘Thank you. When I so describe his activities I do not indulge in facezia. He went into partnership in a rag-and-bone way with my Uncle Bert Smith, who was already equipped with a horse and cart and t... A surreal, genre-blending campus fever dream that will either delight you or drive you up the wall. Bunny is bold, bizarre, and unforgettable - perfect for adventurous readers craving something different.
Bunny by Mona Awad is a bizarre and unsettling novel that follows Samantha, a graduate writing student, as she navigates the strange world of her creative writing program. The book delves into themes of loneliness, struggle, female friendship, and the power of the mind, all wrapped in a surreal and twisted narrative. As Samantha becomes entangled with a group of girls called The Bunnies, the story takes a dark turn, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. The writing style is described as unique, audacious, and at times, darkly humorous, keeping the reader engaged with its unpredictable plot twists and eccentric characters.
And then they hug each other so hard I think their chests are going to implode. I would even secretly hope for it from where I sat, stood, leaned, in the opposite corner of the lecture hall, departmen...June 2019•312 pages
