Now it’s just such a time when everything old and long, seemingly out of fashion, begins to be appreciated. In the wake of the emergence of hipster culture, it has become popular to read only the classics, watch movies only from the 60s and wear strange and non-modern hairstyles. Even without being a representative of this culture, such moods involuntarily penetrate more and more every day.
2005 as a reference point
Many began to complain about the poor quality of cinema after 2005 and made it a rule to criticize everything that modern prose now offers. What to read to a person without delving into the classics?
No matter how many critics complain about the lack of normal literature, very worthy works can still be found on bookshelves in stores today. Some authors still write books not for the sake of royalties, but for the sake of creativity, although they have become much smaller. So, what does modern prose offer to the sophisticated reader today? What to read to refined lovers of philosophical literature?
The strange literature of Japan
The Japanese have always been considered an unusual nation throughout the world. Their dissimilarity is reflected in almost everything: in the features of their national cuisine, music, cinema and, of course, literature. One of the most popular Japanese writers of our time is Haruki Murakami. His books are filled simultaneously with traditionally Japanese philosophical overtones, and with beautiful descriptions, and interesting plot interweaving. But what should readers do if they are not too enthusiastic about the complex esoteric and metaphysical reasoning that fills Japanese modern prose?
What to read in this case, tells Koji Suzuki. Few people heard this name, but most likely many watched the film "Call", the script of which was made precisely under the influence of the "Ring" Suzuki. This book, divided into several parts, very unusually resonating with each other, will give the reader many unforgettable hours. "Ring" is a mystical thriller with elements of a detective story. It may be difficult for a Russian-speaking reader to remember the Japanese names used in the book, but this has little effect on the perception of the storyline.
Fiction for big and small
What else has modern prose left in stock? What to read to fans of science fiction and English flavor? There can be only one definite answer: the works of John Wyndham. His novel "Day of the Triffids" will not leave indifferent even opponents of the post-apocalypse genre. If you are tired of the fact that any end of the world always begins in New York or another large city in America, then John Wyndham will please you with a completely different approach. The author does not claim that the apocalypse began in London, he logically assumes that the end of the world is Armageddon, in order to simultaneously begin around the world. The English science fiction writer interestingly describes the development of the plot, reveals the characters and uses good humor.
Another great science fiction of our time is Richard Matheson. His novel “I am a legend” deserves attention. The tricks that Wyndham and Matheson use in their books rarely boast of any foreign modern prose. What to read for those who like more relaxing and entertaining literature? Joan Rowling with her Harry Potter, as well as dozens of her followers like Dmitry Emets, have long come to the aid of such readers.
Humorous fantasy from Russia
Dmitry Emets has a good sense of humor and loves to ironize almost everything. His series “Tanya Grotter” began precisely as plagiarism of a series of books about the Boy Who Survived, but in the end, “Tanya” turned into a completely different work. Yemets went beyond the scope of the universe created by Joan Rowling, and began to create his own harsh Russian fantasy for teens. His books are very popular - only “Tanya Grotter” or the next “Methodius Buslaev” appear on the bookshelves, as many fans immediately sweep everything to the last book.
Many readers, however, are upset by modern Russian prose. What to read for those who prefer books more seriously? For them there is Nick Perumov and his huge series of works in the style of fantasy. It may seem to some readers that the language this author uses is unreasonably pathos. Nevertheless, his works are very easy to read, and multiple storylines do not let the reader get bored. Particularly well Perumov succeeded in a series of "Annals of Fault."
For those who like to tickle their nerves
And what is terrible and especially frightening that modern prose offers the reader today? What to read? Reviews of critics and replete with references to horror master Stephen King, and for good reason. The books really excite him, and King is especially good at describing in detail the disgusting scenes of murder or mystical deaths. An overwhelming amount of such images can be found in his book “Necessary Things,” which is not recommended for the faint of heart to read.
King's most famous works are Ono, Radiance, and The Black Tower. Numerous adaptations of his works brought fame to the author, however, none of them turned out to be able to convey the very unique atmosphere, which so frightens readers.
hope dies last
Many readers perceive literature only in terms of its popularity, however, in the literary underground you can find real pearls. For example, Max Barry is very popular in his homeland, in America, but in the CIS countries he is still little known. His beautiful and extremely stylish novel “Syrup”, which tells about the intricacies of a career in marketing, best illustrates what modern prose should be. The best books have probably not yet been translated into Russian, so it's too early to lose hope for the best.