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Topic: Which authors do you find are consistently wonderful?

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Subject: Which authors do you find are consistently wonderful?
Date Posted: 7/20/2011 1:37 PM ET
Member Since: 11/18/2009
Posts: 551
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A post by Matt S. prompted me to wonder about authors who basically are always pleasing to one.

For example, I think Hilary Mantel is great, but she has written some books that are (to me) unreadable (The Giant O'Brien and Wolf Hall, to name a couple).

I love Joyce Carol Oates, but I'm not crazy about her graphically violent books .

Margaret Atwood was always a winner, but she took a turn with Handmaid's Tale, and I've had a tough time with her books ever since.

On the other hand, I always love Isabelle Allende, Anita Brookner, and Tana French.

Which authors always please the rest of you?

                                                                                 Rose

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Date Posted: 7/25/2011 11:27 AM ET
Member Since: 2/2/2010
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Sadly, no.  The minute I think I love one author they produce something that I don’t like.  I can't say I have favorites anymore.



Last Edited on: 7/25/11 11:28 AM ET - Total times edited: 1
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Date Posted: 7/28/2011 9:05 AM ET
Member Since: 4/7/2007
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Sadly, I find most authors consistently pleasing until they're not. I loved Alice Hoffman so much and each book I read of hers was more enchanting than the last until they no longer were. The same can be said for Jodi Picoult. Barbara Pym's books actually made me pretty happy when I read them, and I don't recall being turned off to her at any time. Maybe Barbara Pym fits the bill. Otherwise, I think the only author whose books I liked thoroughly and all was Jane Austen.

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Date Posted: 7/28/2011 2:06 PM ET
Member Since: 11/18/2009
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Oh, I love Barbara Pym! Her books can be read and re-read.

                                                                                             Rose

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Date Posted: 8/6/2011 3:13 AM ET
Member Since: 10/4/2010
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Same for me re: Allende!

I've only read 2 books each by Gore Vidal, Geraldine Brooks, and JM Coetzee, but I am eager to read more of their work. I suspect they could end up on my list along with Allende.

BookwormMary avatar
Date Posted: 8/6/2011 10:00 PM ET
Member Since: 10/6/2007
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I have yet to find a book by Isabelle Allende, Maeve Binchey, or Amy Tan that I didn't like!

MaryF

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Date Posted: 8/11/2011 9:23 AM ET
Member Since: 6/23/2007
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I too love Alice Hoffman!

Some of my other favorites -

Joshilyn Jackson (have read everything by her!)

Jodi Picoult

Diane Chamberlain

Elizabeth Berg

Denise Hildreth Jones  (Christian Fiction)

Ted Dekker (Christian Suspense and Thriller)

Amanda Eyre Ward (I wish she would come with a new one!!!)

Stephanie Grace Whitson (FAV. Christian author!!)

There are many others and many "new" favorties but I could take up several pages!

gina329 avatar
Date Posted: 8/12/2011 11:09 PM ET
Member Since: 3/28/2011
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I just discovered Sandra Kring, and I love everything she's written!!  I also like all of Sidney Sheldon's books.  I'm sure there might be a couple more, but can't think of them off the top of my head! 

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Date Posted: 8/15/2011 12:00 AM ET
Member Since: 4/4/2009
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Writers working today (must be serious; no cozys; no chicky lit) who are always worth reading:

Cormac McCarthy     a long way to second place

Elizabeth George      expanding her boundaries, not merely a writer of whodunits

Martin Cruz Smith     same as above

Henning Mankell        same as above

Zadie Smith                so young; such promise; and talent to burn

I wish there were others, but most of the serious ones are stuck in the mud influenced by Raymond Carver.

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Date Posted: 8/15/2011 12:01 PM ET
Member Since: 6/9/2011
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he only has a couple books, but i love Jonathan Safran Foer and haven't been disappointed by Barbara Kingsolver either.

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Date Posted: 8/15/2011 9:20 PM ET
Member Since: 5/31/2009
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Geraldine Brooks - I've read four books by her and only one was soso for me.  Just finished Caleb's Crossing.  What a read!  Need to think about otheres that I enjoy again and again.