Contemporary Fiction
The Thornbirds
by Colleen McCullough
1977
Father Ralph is a priest torn by his love of God and love of Megan Cleary.
However, stronger than the love of either is his blinding ambition to be the
“perfect priest.” This novel chronicles his advancement in the
church at the cost of both loves and all his vows. The novel also follows
Megan, who can never shake herself of the effect Father Ralph has on her,
for better and for worse.
The Dogs of Babel
by Carolyn Parkhurst
2003
The story of a man’s attempt to teach his dog to speak in order to understand
his wife’s suicide, a suicide witnessed only by their dog. Through this
attempt, he works through his grief, finds some answers and comes to an understanding
of how difficult it is to ever “really” know of a person.
Shopgirl
by Steve Martin
2000
Yes, that Steve Martin. A novella about the relationship between a shy young
woman and an older, sophisticated confirmed bachelor. Despite his bad behavior,
she is kept interested by her constant re-interpretation of what he says to
give herself hope the relationship has a future. A must-read for a any woman
who constantly finds herself in love with “unavailable” men who
can’t commit “right now.” Martin explains why these men
will never commit and how women mistakenly believe this is a temporary problem.
Ordinary People
by Judith Guest
1976
The story of a high school boy’s struggles after his athletic and popular
older brother dies in an accident. Used to being in his brother’s shadow,
Conrad has a difficult time with his parents whose favorite child has died
and with being unable to fade into the woodwork any longer.
Watership Down
by Richard Adams
1972
A society of rabbits that suffers many of the same social ills and struggles
human political systems do. A compelling parable of a group of renegade rabbits
and their struggle to create a new society better than the one from which
they fled.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
by Richard Bach
1970
A moving uplifting and inspiring tale of a seagull that strives to be extraordinary.
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