Contemporary fiction is the genre of literature in which the settings are real with actual cities and countries mentioned, but the characters are fictional. There are no elements of fantasy included in the novels labelled contemporary fiction.
Most writers choose a famous city for either its traditional culture, modern innovations, or scenic landscapes. Sometimes, writers interpret the quiet localities in a city as scary alleys while others portray them as serene places to sit and comfortably think about life. The United Kingdom is rich in culture, art and nature, so writers often pick cities from the UK as their original settings for their novels. The reader also enjoys these stories because they have discovered a new city in the UK. Here are a few novels set in the UK that will teleport you to the UK in the blink of an eye: 1. Laura’s Last Words – M. A. Francis This novel, set in two different places with apparently unrelated characters, has the mystery, intrigue and the element of surprise that you will only find in literary masterpieces. Frank Dawson is one of the lead characters, who struggles with memory loss due to, he’s told, a car accident. The problem with recovering his memory is aggravated because his wife, Janet, does not apparently want him to remember the past. As Frank’s recovery progresses, Janet becomes even more hostile. Something doesn't add up. The other lead character, Dee Fenwick, is a student psychologist who has to uncover the truth about her sister’s suicide. And when her ex-husband notices Dee’s vulnerability, she must fight to retain custody of her sweet, young daughter. From England’s Lake District to the streets of Manchester, the novel gradually unveils how the two characters are interlinked and how their pasts might have the answers to the questions burning inside them. Laura’s Last Words is one of the valuable contributions to the genre of contemporary fiction. It is available in both paperback and Kindle on amazon.co.uk and amazon.com. 2. Only Darkness – Danuta Reah Based on the actual happenings of the 'Strangler Killings' in Sheffield, this novel narrates the story of Lisa Griffin, who was the first victim of the serial murders. In 1997, Lisa Griffin made the mistake of walking to the train station alone to catch a train for her home. She had a husband and a daughter waiting for her at home, but she never returned. When she left her parents' house that night, they were the last ones to see her alive. Her body was found the next day; she was abducted, mutilated and then murdered. The horrifying incidents of the killings continued for another year, and this piece of contemporary fiction reminds us that in a society where economic situations worsen, crimes of different sorts emerge. The compelling novel about the strangler may not be for the faint-hearted, so have a go at it only if you are willing to accept the bitterest truths in world history. 3. Act Like It – Lucy Parker The novel is Book 1 of the series ‘London Celebrities’ by Lucy Parker. This story is about Richard Troy, one of the most popular actors in London. Although being the ‘blue-eyed boy’ of the industry in his peak time, his behaviour is not something everybody agrees with. But when Lainie Graham, his castmate, sets foot in his life, he seems to have turned over a new leaf. Their romance is getting the spotlight as they are spotted in many places in the city, showing off their intimacy and involvement to the public. While their story seems complete, everybody else is still wondering if all this is the real thing or a part of a publicity stunt. The rumours are heating up, and so is the romance; the novel explores the story's deeper secrets. 4. Capital – John Lanchester John Lanchester has prepared a dish for readers of contemporary fiction with different spices. The novel includes richly diverse characters like a wealthy banker, his shopaholic wife, Pakistani shop owners, a soccer player from Senegal, a dying old woman and her artist son. The author has put together a great show of how interconnected families and social circles change the lives of each other with fluctuating prices, real estate investment schemes, a potential terrorist to be unveiled, and fortunes beyond imagination at stake. All these residents receive a message through a postcard that says: We want what you have! There begins the mystery of finding who these invaders are, what they want and how dangerous are they really. The plot thickens with every character pursuing a different perspective and the cross of cultures adding new flavours to the story. 5. Invisible Islands – Angus Peter Campbell Angus Peter Campbell has amalgamated real places in the UK with twenty-one new islands invisible to the current residents. The book has fables for each of the islands and how they are connected to the actual towns and counties in the UK. The book is worth reading because it takes your imagination to a new level by introducing new places with interesting stories sprouting from their fabricated history. Still, they are connected to the real account of the places you know from your memory. The mix of fiction and reality composes stories that are impossible to forget. 6. Safe House – Chris Ewan Nothing is more savoury than a contemporary fiction novel starting with an intriguing question. The story's lead character, Rob Hale, wakes up in a hospital after crashing his motorcycle in an accident. The first words out of his mouth form the question about the gorgeous blonde on his bike with him. But the doctors and staff insist that he was alone on his motorcycle. Things become murkier when Rob Hale sees that the image in his mind of the blonde resembles his late sister Laura. He teams up with Rebecca, a private investigator who has had a connection with his sister, to find what really happened. But unveiling the truth might open Pandora boxes about the locality of Isle of Man that are darker than expected. Contemporary fiction is entertaining to read if you belong to the places mentioned in the novels or you want to visit those places. In any case, these novels are like a combination of travelogues, historical novels and fiction, so enjoy the mixed flavours this winter with these great picks.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |