writers in the Joyce Carol Oates vein?

[KCat]

Figured since we talk about books in this forum that this was appropriate here?

 

i'm out of books and it's painful. I want to reread Bellefleur but not just yet.

 

so at some point I need to raid the bookstores for more of her work. Has anyone read her mysteries? Written under a different name that escapes me at the moment - it was mentioned in the last issue of Stylus.

 

anyone point to other authors with similar subject matter and style?

 

Any female authors you particularly like?

 

I like very detailed works that force me to take my time, otherwise I'll zip through a book and feel like I've eaten a meal without tasting it.

 

No interest in SF/horror/fantasy btb... already went through that phase for about 25 years and am burned out. But mystery is okay (as long as it's not formulaic like "The Cat who...")*

 

Any readers of Elizabeth Bowen? She wrote about life during WWII but not sure what other areas she has tackled. What little I've read of hers made me think of how I wish I could write.

 

i've looked through the threads about authors/books from previous discussions so probably don't need to revisit those much.

 

TIA,

K :meow:

[Kelly]

Margaret Atwood's "The Blind Assassin" is a must-read (as you can see from my signature, I kinda like the book )

[acfrery]

Any female authors you particularly like?

Marguerite Yourcenar is one of my favorite writers (the list does not go up to ten...). Her "Memoirs of Hadrian" is one of the deepest and most fascinating books I have ever read. I have read it more than a dozen times, and it is a new, refreshing and illuminating experience every time I go through it. I have given it away to very special people, also, and (with one or two notorious exceptions) everybody loves it.

 

Alejandro

Edited April 24, 2006 by acfrery

[Karin]

Hi Kcat,

I think my favourite writer is Carol Shields, especially "The Stone Diaries" and "Unless" and then there's always Patricia Highsmith writer of "The Talented Mr. Ripley and other Ripley books, not at all like "the Cat.... who...

 

 

 

Karin

:bunny1: :bunny1:

[Kelly]

Hi Kcat,

I think my favourite writer is Carol Shields, especially "The Stone Diaries" and "Unless" and then there's always Patricia Highsmith writer of "The Talented Mr. Ripley and other Ripley books, not at all like "the Cat.... who...

 

 

 

Karin

:bunny1: :bunny1:

Karin, no only do we have the same pen accountant but the same taste in authors. I nearly put Carol Shields into this post but remembered that I had already backchanneled KCat about her. She is amazing and was the most gracious/generous woman as well as an astounding writer. I miss her work so much.

[KCat]

I will definitely check into all of these suggestions. I finished a JCO book last night and it was one of the few that I came away from feeling a bit peeved about. I knew the characters were too sc**** up to have anything like "sorta okay ever after" but - hope springs eternal.

 

So, while I haven't lost any allegiance to JCO, I am ready to read new (to me) writers' works.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions and keep 'em comin'.

 

K

[Blade Runner]

Don't know much about JC Oates, so I can't help with similar authors.

 

For introspective, elegant writing, I highly recommend

two contemporary English authors:

Anita Brookner, winner the Booker prize for Hotel du Lac

Penelope Lively winner the same prize for Moon Tiger.

Their novels are happily devoid of the horrific and shocking that drive a

number of contemporary works.

 

Have you read Possession by A.S. Byatt? I'm not a big fan of Byatt, but

that's a good one of the "can't put it down" variety.

[Annika]

I would highly recommend anything by Dorothy L. Sayers: especially featuring her detective, 'Lord Peter Whimsey'.

 

Her writing style is intelligent, with a keen sense of detail that keeps one very enthralled throughout! Can't put her books down for a minute once I've started! Well worth checking out!

 

Also look for anything by Caroline Graham who writes the Detective Barnaby novels! He's in the BBC mysteries called 'Midsomer Murders' with his side-kick Troy, but I must warn you if you've seen the t.v. programs, that the actual character in the books is a bit more 'rough-edged', but this writer keeps the story moving along at a rapid pace-- maintaining interest constantly with plot twists and forensic evidence clues that keep one riveted!

 

And the BEST book I've read recently: D.J. Taylor's novel "KEPT"!! Written in the Wilkie Collins vein of 'The Woman in White' (Victorian era-mystery)--this is absolutely the most enthralling book I have found in a long time! I could NOT put it down!! The characters are quirky and the plot is woven so tight you feel you're a part of the story! The scenes are written so vividly I felt I was watching a period MOVIE while reading--I could picture everything clearly!

 

And if you haven't yet read 'Woman in White'--do so immediately! Awesome book!!! Gets a tad gothic/melodramatic at times, but that's Victorian fiction for you.

 

Hope these suggestions helped!

[Richard F]

I highly recommend Mudbound by Hillary Jordan (Algonquin Books, 2008). It's about two families in the Deep South after WWII.