Novel approach

Where to start? | Suggest a pairing

Perhaps you are in a bookgroup, and you'd like to try poetry alongside the novels. Or you are an avid reader who hasn't tried any poetry for ages. Where to start? Well, you might want a few recommendations to get you going. And what about the kinds of books you enjoy already?

Novel Approach lists popular novels and suggests a contemporary poetry collection that gets to the heart of each one. We've picked collections in print wherever possible, by living poets from the UK or Scotland.

We've also added some further ideas for poets you could try. Altogether, there are some far-fetched connections that still work – and there are bound to be some great pairings we haven't thought of. Try a few of the combinations and let us know what you think.

• Find more poetry reading ideas in the Poetry box

Pairings & synopses

	High Fidelity | Zoom!
	The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency | The Good Neighbour
	The Family Way | Newborn
	The Algebraist | Spirit Machines
	The God Of Small Things | Postcards From God
	The Night Watch | The Book Of Blood
	Fleshmarket Close | Dead Redhead
	Bridget Jones's Diary | Leaving And Leaving You
	Quite Ugly One Morning | Bad Shaman Blues
	The Shipping News | The Tree House
	Shadow Of The Wind | The Eyes
	Back When We Were Grownups | Granny Scarecrow