Best writer you’ve ever read

[HerdnMulhall]

Some cracking authors mentioned so far yet for sheer lyricism Laurie Lee is a favourite of mine. So as he hasn´t been mentioned so far I´ll give him a shout.
I´m actually reading `A picture of Dorian Gray´in a joint Spanish and English text right now to try to improve my Spanish. I must say because it´s such a time consuming process and the concentration it takes I´m getting to really savour what an amazing writer Wilde was.
( And the worst thing about trying to do this at my age is that you struggle learn maybe five new words a day and the following day you have forgotten at least six. Age, its a fecker).

 

[Thackeray]

Interesting is not, that apart from an earlier ridiculous vote for Donna Tartt there hasn't been a single female author on the list.

I'll give Doris Lessing a nudge.

 

[foggy]

@foggy by a long way

Behave, I can only write about one thing. But cheers anyway, I had a shucks moment.

 

[Dogbark]

Still no getting off the fence from @janiep, I bet it's some poncey chicklit like Jane Austen or Donna Tartt.

J.K. Rowling.

 

[Tomma]

Agree or otherwise with what he writes, but I really enjoy reading Will Self’s stuff.

 

[tonyfromalnwick]

Not a favourite by any means, but I've just finished Le Morte d'Arthur by Thomas Malory. It's a very long book, and hard going, but worthwhile. I was surprised near the end, after Arthurs death, Lancelot returns home to his own castle, Joyous Garde. Malory reckons it is either Alnwick or Bamburgh castle !!
If you ever have a week or two spare, give it a go.

 

[Thackeray]

Agree or otherwise with what he writes, but I really enjoy reading Will Self’s stuff.

Will Self just gets better and better imho, the Umbrella trilogy is right up there with "proper" classics.

Hard going, but so is lots of great literature.

Shark is breathtaking.

 

[Chappers]

not best book, best writer.

Haway.

Richard Laymon. Love the bloke. Was gutted when he died.

 

[fin]

Frederick Forsyth - never read a bad one of his

 

[Thackeray]

Where's @Monty Pigeon

Though when he does turn up he's going to vote for JG Farrell

 

[Harry Angstrom]

Not a favourite by any means, but I've just finished Le Morte d'Arthur by Thomas Malory. It's a very long book, and hard going, but worthwhile. I was surprised near the end, after Arthurs death, Lancelot returns home to his own castle, Joyous Garde. Malory reckons it is either Alnwick or Bamburgh castle !!
If you ever have a week or two spare, give it a go.

I am reading Jeannette wintersons autobiographical book why be happy when you could be normal and it had a passage on that. I might get it.

 

[Thackeray]

I am reading Jeannette wintersons autobiographical book why be happy when you could be normal and it had a passage on that. I might get it.

The answer is not Updike though is it?

 

[Harry Angstrom]

The answer is not Updike though is it?

My answer was dickens. Updike wrote my favourite books but some of his other stuff left me cold. CD is head and shoulders above everyone else for me.

 

[PinzaC55]

PG Wodehouse for me probably. Or Isaac Asimov.

 

[Thackeray]

...Thomas Wolfe, Céline, Faulkner.

As you didn't ask specifically for fiction...Iain Sinclair.

 

[Harry Angstrom]

PG Wodehouse for me probably. Or Isaac Asimov.

One paragraph of wodehouse can be better than many writers whole careers. Never read Asimov but have bought the foundation recently. Sci fi not my usual genre.

Guns, Germs and Steel is the best place to start.

Someone gave me that. It's on my list to read.

 

[Thackeray]

I think it fits into the topic...best first lines of a book? Supposed to be important, isn't it?

This is mine, the first line of Thomas Wolfe's Look Homeward Angel...

A destiny that leads the English to the Dutch is strange enough; but one that leads from Epsom into Pennsylvania, and thence into the hills that shut in Altamont over the proud coral cry of the cock, and the soft stone smile of an angel, is touched by that dark miracle of chance which makes new magic in a dusty world.

I'm in, game f***ing on...

 

[What A Waster]

Roald Dahl

 

[Hammer]

One paragraph of wodehouse can be better than many writers whole careers. Never read Asimov but have bought the foundation recently. Sci fi not my usual genre.


Someone gave me that. It's on my list to read.

It’s the best pop science book I’ve read.

 

[Buzzer]

Graham Greene