Favorite non Sci-fi/Fantasy Authors . . .

Bear

Bear

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How many people here read outside of the aforementioned genres? In truth, I don't read very much Fantasy or Sci-fi these days, in large part because I've stumbled upon so many good authors in other genres.

Some of my Favorites:

Robert B. Parker (mysteries)--his main character, Spenser, featured in more than 28 novels, is one of my all time favorite characters. Even in Parker's weakest books, Spenser makes the story completely readable, and more importantly, enjoyable.

Harlan Coben (mysteries)--one of the funniest authors I have ever read. Sarcastic, witty, and fast paced, his books are impossible to put down. And he's got some fantastic plot twists. Stumped me a number of times.

Dennis Lehane (mysteries)--at times gritty and dark, at times sentimental, at times shocking, Dennis Lehane is a wonderful author. His prose is fantastic, his plots are always on the edge. A kick in the teeth author with some real style.

David Sedaris (non-fiction/humor)--one of the few authors that makes me laugh out loud. 'Naked' and "Me Talk Pretty One Day' are two of his essay collections. Simultaneously hilarious and insightful. Real good stuff.

There's more. But I have to work in the morning. I'll add to the list later.

Please feel free to contribute.

"It's like a checkbook, only it tastes like an orange and rhymes with nothing."
 
Frederick Forsyth is a novelist I have always enjoyed. His work probably won't shake up the world but he knows how to write taught thrillers and good plot twists.

Raymond Chandler, I've found, had an incredible eye for detail and is a very stylish novelist. I especially enjoyed The Big Sleep.

Could I include a poet?? Thanks:D
There's this poet called Steve Kelen, I don't know if you can get his stuff outside Australia...but he's very good.
 
Oh gosh, I've been reading for over 40 years and there are so many to choose from!!!

A partial list, off the top of my head:

John Steinbeck
Elizabeth George
Anita Shreve
Annie Proulx
Anne Tyler
James Michener
Shakespeare
Gerard Manley Hopkins (poet)
e.e. cummings
Jane Austen
Kathy Reichs
William Butler Yeats
Dylan Thomas

The bell rang...I could list dozens more.....
 
Jim Dodge, Jack London, Umberto Eco, Paulo Coelho, Garbiel Garcia Marquez, Brett Easton Ellis etc
 
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Of author I have been reading recently I would have to say Jack London and Joseph Conrad. In the past I used to be addicted to Patrick O'Brien novels. I also read Richard Henry Dana's account 'Two Years Before the Mast' enough times for the book to fall apart, so I guess I should count him on those grounds. I still get a kick when reading his discriptions of west coast cities such as San Diego as tiny little mission outposts. I would think Bulgakov could fit in the fantasy catagory, but for those who don't I would put him on the list. I could probably think of a few more but that is enough for now.
 
And NathV, if you like Chandler (which you should, because he's very good) then you'd probably like Rober Parker too. He's considered by many to be Chandler's successor, only he's a bit more modern. Check out 'The Godwulf Manuscript' if you're interested.

And Jack London's another good one. I haven't read him in quite some time.

Other good ones:

S.J. Rozan--another good mystery author.
Jack Handy--his deep thoughts books are incredibly funny (a favorite quote: "the saddest thing you'll ever see is a mosquito sucking on a mummy")

To be continued again. I'm starving.
 
Ernest Hemingway- One of the most popular, influential, and charismatic of the American 20th century novelists. His style was sparse, yet powerfully consuming. A Farewell to Arms, and For Whom The Bell Tolls are two of my favorite novels, and are by far still reign as the greatest war novels of all time.

Micheal Connelly- One of today’s greatest writers. He creates novels with a blistering pace, smooth and dynamic prose, and plots intertwined with twists and shocking revelations.

Dan Brown- Anyone who has yet to read Angels and Demons, or the Davinci Code, do yourself a favor and put them on your reading list. This guy is absolutely phenomenal in every aspect of his writing.

John Steinbeck- So many fantastic novels, most notably Of Mice and Men (I love when Lenny smashes that bastard’s nose) and Grapes of Wrath.

Mark Twain- Extremely humorous, insightful, and fun writer.

Stephen King- My favorite writer of all time!
 
I like The Sun Also Rises and A Moveable Feast

I forgot Toni Morrison, Taylor Caldwell, James Clavell, Thomas Mann, Hermann Hesse.
 
Anyone for Harper Lee? Or A A Milne? Howsabout Sallinger, or Anthony Burgess? A bit of Orwell mayhap? Wait a minute, 1984, that was urban fantasy wasn't it? ACtually all these are fantasy writer's. I apologise.
 
Harper Lee is not...and thanks for reminding me of her! She may have only one novel, but damn, what a one she has!!

How about Edward Rutherford?
 
A A Milne, Daphne du Maurier, Winston Graham, Gerald Durrell, are all consistently excellent. And many many others...!
 
I really like Richard Preston. I've read The Hot Zone - a story based on a true account of the Ebola virus and The Cobra Event - a fictional story of a terrorist letting lose a deadly virus. He also came out with a new book recently that I'm waiting for to come out in paperback called The Demon in the Freezer or something like that. I'm not sure what it's about.
 
Ditto on Coben, George, London, Connelly, King, Morrison, Clavell.

Anyone familiar with Ron Hansen? He writes everything -- Desperadoes was about the James gang, Hitler's Niece was about Hitler's relationship with, uh, yeah, his niece, Mariette in Ecstasy is about a nun having visions, Atticus is about a man's estrangement and search for his son.

The thing about Hansen is that he always stretches. His writing is clear and powerful, and he always surprises you. You end up liking people you wouldn't ordinarily like, and vice versa.

David L. Martin is another guy who writes all over the map, and always does a great job. He's written gut-wrenching stories about relationships (mostly dysfunctional) like The Crying Heart Tattoo and Crazy Love, as well as thrillers like Tap Tap, Lie to Me, Bring Me Children, and Cul de Sac.

Greg Matthews -- particularly Heart of the Country (about a hunchback buffalo hunter) and Power in the Blood (family power and revenge), both set in the old west. Page-turners.
 
Wow. Someone else who's read Coben. Auntie Pam, I think you're the first person I've run in to that's reads him. Granted, I've converted a lot of people by lending out the first three Myron Bolitar books, but Coben's relatively unknown (though, since tell no one was released, he's gotten a lot more spotlight).

And all I have read from Clavell is Shogun, which I enjoyed. I've heard that Clavell's other books are better though. Is this true?

And for anyone who likes mysteries, read Lehane's new novel, Shutter Island. The ending is amazing.
 
Bear, Tai-Pan is good too, and I think they're both well-done.

I keep resisting Lehane. I saw a bad review somewhere and the reviewer was very specific about Lehane's faults -- bad dialogue, sloppy plotting, cardboard characters doing something just to advance the plot, etc.

But now I'm starting to wonder if Lehane and the reviewer have some kind of personal history, because everyone else seems to love him.

I heard about Coben from someone in an on-line reading group, and she even loaned me one of his books by mail to get me started. Myron Bolitar is a great character.
 
I really reccomend giving Lehane a go, Pam. I really liked his characters (though, Myron and Spenser are my favorites), I thought the dialogue was damn good, and I would never call his plots sloppy. What was the review for? Mystic River perhaps? I could understand the plot complaints about that one, because it a little on the loose side, but it flips between three characters, so it's understandable. Either way, I'd say give "a drink before the war" a read. It's his first novel starring Patrck Kenzie and will give you a good idea of how he writes. My only warning: his stories are violent. Not absurdly so, but violent nonetheless. If that bothers you, you might reconsider. Otherwise, read on and (hopefully) enjoy . . .
 
Bear, I'll try the one you recommended.

And then I'm staying away from this thread because I have way too many unread books laying around, and I'm picking up too many good suggestions here. :D
 
Oh great, non sci-fi/fantasy authors, now i can let myself go! :D

(in non-alphabetical order):

Jeanette Winterson - simply the best living author ...

Amélie Nothomb - simply the best belgian living author ... :)

Angela Carter - alas not living but surely among the best

Ali Smith - simply the best scottish living author (hm ... but i shouldn't forget about Alasdair Gray)

Haruki Murakami - simply the best japanese living author

Bulgakov - russian, very dead and not succesful during his lifetime, wrote one of the best novels ever, THE MASTER AND MARGARITA

and I could go on ...
 
Ah. Murakami. There is one original author. His stories are like nothing else. Bizarre and occasionally disconcerting, yet creative in plot and especially in characters (the girl with the most beautiful ears in the world, the man whose hands were too perfect and therefore could not be trusted, etc.). If you ever want to read something really "different," Murakami fits the bill.
 
Anyone here ever read Chuck Palahniuk? He's responsible for fight club, survivor, invisible monsters, choke, and his most recent (which was quite good) Lullaby. Each one of his books disturbed me in one form or another, but I think he's a damn good author. Just a little tough to stomach at times.
 
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