Best epistolary fiction books according to redditors

We found 44 Reddit comments discussing the best epistolary fiction books. We ranked the 25 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.

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Top Reddit comments about Epistolary Fiction:

u/fireduck · 29 pointsr/funny

Here are some letters to her:

https://www.amazon.com/Letters-Wendys-Joe-Wenderoth/dp/0970367201

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Seriously, the book is like talking to a completely insane person but less repetitive.

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u/malifica · 9 pointsr/books

Griffin and Sabine by Nick Bantock

http://www.amazon.com/Griffin-Sabine-An-Extraordinary-Correspondence/dp/0877017883/ref=pd_sim_b_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=0V06KWHJ1WYDZWYS94QD

And of course the others in this series and his stuff using the same format.

u/ehchvee · 9 pointsr/horrorlit

This is kind of borderline (both re: genre and the exact nature of the narrator), but I'd put WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN into the mix. It's an epistolary novel and it gave me such a sense of dread throughout. Not to mention afterwards.

u/punninglinguist · 7 pointsr/SF_Book_Club

The Sorcerer's House by Gene Wolfe

From Amazon:

In a contemporary town in the American Midwest where he has no connections, an educated man recently released from prison is staying in a motel. He writes letters to his brother and to others, including a friend still in jail. When he meets a real estate agent who tells him he is the heir to a huge old house, long empty, he moves in, though he is too broke to even buy furniture, and is immediately confronted by supernatural and fantastic creatures and events.

His life is utterly transformed and we read on, because we must know more. We revise our opinions of him, and of others, with each letter. We learn things about magic, and another world, and about the sorcerer Mr. Black, who originally inhabited the house. And then perhaps we read it again.

u/meaninglessbark · 4 pointsr/gaybros

Having read some of the comments below here are some TV and book suggestions if you're interested in exploring some of Mr. Fry's work.

TV

A Bit of Fry and Laurie a sketch comedy show he did with his friend Hugh Laurie (Dr. House on TV's House. Yes, he's English.)

Jeeves and Wooster Television adaptations of P.G. Wodehouse books. (Wodehouse is definitely worth reading.)

Kingdom A typical quaint village TV show that's not particularly exceptional but is entertaining (if you like British TV).

Stephen Fry in America A really great series in which Mr. Fry drives through the United States in a London style cab meeting locals and making observations.

Also worth seeing: Last Chance To See and Black Adder.

BOOKS

The Liar I recommend this if you like clever writing and unusual stories but I read it well over 10 years ago and can't sum up the plot.

Hippopotamus An odd and humorous tale of a not exactly friendly middle aged man who is asked by an old friend to investigate some unusual goings on at a country estate.

Revenge A clever retelling of a classic story. (I won't name the classic as I wasn't aware it was a retelling until a ways into the book I realized the plot was similar to the classic. So, if you're interested in making your own discovery skip the jacket notes and site reviews.)

Moab Is My Washpot The first of Mr. Fry's autobiographies, this one covers his childhood and teen years. He's completely honest about growing up gay and also about the less than ideal fellow he was.

The Fry Chronicles Mr. Fry's second autobiography which covers his college years and the beginning of his professional career.

The Ode Less Travelled: Unlocking the Poet Within A surprisingly interesting and informative book about writing poetry.

INTERNET

The New Adventures of Mr. Stephen Fry Mr. Fry's website.

Stephen Fry on Twitter

Stephen Fry on Tumblr

And for something really interesting and easy to access, watch (or listen to) a video free-form talk he did for a magazine or website. He makes some great observations and points about modern times, life in general, and how to be a happy and decent person.

u/dgeiser13 · 4 pointsr/booksuggestions

Lionel Shriver's We Need To Talk About Kevin is epistolary. There is also a large list on Wikipedia.

u/disputing_stomach · 3 pointsr/books

Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn. Not only is it told through letters, but the writers of the letters keep losing the ability to use certain letters of the alphabet - no 'L', no 'J', etc., on down to the very end.

u/westcoastal · 3 pointsr/kindle

My recommendation is for A Box of Matches by Nicholson Baker. The Kindle edition is currently $10.78 on Amazon.com (assuming you are in the US).

I don't expect this post to get the most upvotes, not by a long shot. The book is relatively unknown to a broader audience. The reason I recommend it so highly is because it is written from such a unique, interesting, startling and hilarious perspective that I guarantee you it's like nothing you've ever read. Nicholson Baker is an excellent writer who doesn't get anywhere near the attention he deserves. Here's a brief excerpt:

>Last night I was lying in bed when I heard a terribly sad sound, as of a cat in distress or an infant keening in the cold: long, slow, heart-rending cries. I half rose and held my breath and listened intently—was it the duck?—but the sound had stopped. I almost woke Claire to ask her what I should do. And then, as I resumed breathing, I realized that I was hearing a whistling coming from some minor obstruction in my own nose as I breathed.

u/stop_whispering · 3 pointsr/booksuggestions

The Griffin & Sabine Trilogy is something fun I did once. It's a book of correspodence (love letters) between two people, but it's designed as postcards and actual letters. It's neat for each of you get a copy and read the character's letters to each other. Yes, I know it's cheesy, but hey.

u/heyiambob · 2 pointsr/IAmA

There is a novel about being an Indian personal driver, it's called The White Tiger and is a great read.

u/BewareTheSpamFilter · 2 pointsr/Christianity
u/fallonides · 2 pointsr/YAlit

I'm not sure if they're what you're looking for, but these books I read recently had a "YA-feel" to me:

The Unfortunate Decisions of Dahlia Moss by Max Wirestone


Spotless by Camilla Monk


Also, Rainbow Rowell's "Adult" novels Landline and Attachments

u/jrl2014 · 2 pointsr/TrollXChromosomes

I'd highly recommend "Girls of Riyadh"--its relatively recent and about four modern friends who are struggling to balance love and happiness with family pressure. It was banned in Saudi Arabia.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000T9BRTK/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

It's framed as a series of emails & texts, so if you don't like epistolary novels, you probably won't like it.

u/sandhouse · 2 pointsr/Random_Acts_Of_Amazon

I've got two that are exact.

One Bloody Thing After Another

Overqualified

u/mattymillhouse · 2 pointsr/suggestmeabook

I was going to suggest the Broken Empire series by Mark Lawrence, but it looks like 2 people already beat me to that. I'll just add that I loved that series. The hero is like Machiavelli's wet dream.

Mark Lawrence's new series -- The Red Queen's War -- also features a hero that's not very heroic.

Fight Club, by Chuck Pahlaniuk also fits. But really, most of Pahlaniuk's work features protagonists so amoral that they're practically nihilistic: Choke, Survivor, Rant: the Oral Biography of Buster Casey, and the (in my opinion) under-rated Lullaby.

I'm also tempted to suggest Home Land, by Sam Lipsyte. But its hero is probably more cynical than amoral. It's about a guy whose high school nickname was Teabag (for probably obvious reasons). His high school reunion is coming up, and he's sending letters to the alumni newsletter. According to his updates -- which for some reason aren't getting published in the newsletter along with everyone's anniversary and birth announcements and stuff -- he's not doing well. The book is hilarious. But it also ends with some form of redemption, so it might not be what you're looking for.

Edit -- I should have also suggested I, Lucifer, by Glen Duncan. I mean, the protagonist is the Devil. He's not really completely amoral, but I think it fits, since he's telling his side of the story.

u/mc_kitfox · 2 pointsr/behindthegifs

I would love to see this expanded upon, and hand written in the style contemporary to the era evoked in these pieces, a la Griffin & Sabine

u/bridgemender · 2 pointsr/books

S. By J.J. Abrams. A mysterious book within a book with margin notes and loose sheets tucked between the pages. It seems to be a non frightening cross between House of Leaves and Griffin and Sabine.

u/je255j · 2 pointsr/pics

Ella Minnow Pea

(highly recommended, btw)

u/thebeesremain · 2 pointsr/suggestmeabook

I think Griffin & Sabine: An Extraordinary Correspondence may be along the lines of what you are looking for?

u/GreatCatch · 2 pointsr/Wishlist

I lack cool neat stuff under $25 :( I mostly have useful boring stuff.

The coolest is this book for $4 shipped (used).

Edit: I have a few cool things on my Etsy WL! I really want the metal ivy stamp which is only about $6 shipped, or the other metal stamp which is around the same or cheaper.

u/alhena · 2 pointsr/eroticauthors

We should team up on an extremely alliterative erotic epic of epistolary erotica for the literary fiction/erotica crossover market, perhaps a book of letter a la http://www.amazon.com/Griffin-Sabine-An-Extraordinary-Correspondence/dp/0877017883

u/lketchersid · 1 pointr/Fantasy

Bats of the Republic. It is a beautiful book, amazing design. I wasn't that fond of the story, but the book design was spectacular.

u/[deleted] · 1 pointr/AskReddit

Dear OP, Read this book:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Gum-Thief-A-Novel/dp/1596911069

Thank me later.

u/beamish14 · 1 pointr/booksuggestions

Anthony Burgess' TREMOR OF INTENT is perfect for you.

Also, Charles McCarry's THE MIERNIK DOSSIER

u/StalinsLastStand · 1 pointr/AskReddit

"We need to talk about Kevin" by Lionel Shriver

u/synchroidiotic · 1 pointr/Random_Acts_Of_Amazon

Have you read this or this?

u/SafeMod · 1 pointr/fieldsoflupine

This book is for you my dear.

This Is How You Lose the Time War

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1534431004/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_wVnoDbVTGGQ48

I can send you the file if interested. ❤️

u/Parelle · 1 pointr/namethatbook

Griffin and Sabine, perhaps? It's now up to four books but you need to read them in order:
Griffin and Sabine, 25th Anniversary Limited Edition: An Extraordinary Correspondence https://www.amazon.com/dp/145215595X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_cBUxCb232H1C8

u/jalawrence · 1 pointr/books

First, you start her off with the obvious connection, White Tiger, then you delve a little deeper with The God of Small Things, then a triple KO punch of Sleeping in Flame, Bel Canto, and The Blind Assassin.

u/otteryou · 1 pointr/NewOrleans

This feed is a rip form the brilliant book, Letters to Wendy's

u/Capolan · 1 pointr/offbeat

check out Wendal his cat and the progress of man

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendal,_His_Cat,_and_the_Progress_of_Man

you can find it used or new under 10 bucks. great read as a nice "little" book.

I'm also a fan of Johnathan Livingston Seagull - same kind of format, similar kind of mystical tale:
http://www.amazon.com/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Richard-Bach/dp/0743278909/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1301457290&sr=1-1

and for a great one to share with a loved one -- Nick Bantock's Griffin and Sabine series is outstanding:

http://www.amazon.com/Griffin-Sabine-Correspondence-Nick-Bantock/dp/0877017883/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1301457347&sr=1-1

u/overlycurious · 1 pointr/booksuggestions

Maybe Gilead?

u/kaldrazidrim · 0 pointsr/books

The White Tiger (soooo good!!!)