Authors you want to shout about

I'd second a lot of these suggestions and will look at the ones I'm unfamiliar with so I think this is a really useful thread. No doubt I'll eventually remember some of my recommendations but just now 'Eleanor Oliphant is completely Fine' by Gail Honeyman comes to mind. Happy reading, everyone!

A lovely author called Patricia Dixon! She lives in Manchester and started self-publishing on Amazon about 8 years ago, and I fell in love with her writing. At that time, she mainly wrote about friendships and relationship with locations in Manchester and the Loire Valley where she has a second home. In 2018 she got picked up by Bloodhound Books and started writing psychological thrillers, and recently a wonderful book about the French Resistance, called Resistance. She also has a book out today on Kindle titled Blame, described as a 'gripping romantic psychological suspense.' I highly recommend her. (She is also a really lovely lady to invited me to her home back before she became 'famous' )

Another Barbara Pym fan here (I think I am a character in one of her novels, but I won't say which one!)
Her best friend (and biographer) Hazel Holt wrote a detective series (in which some of BP's locations pop up!). From a detection point of view, they sit in the 'cozy' genre, but the quality of the writing and acute observation makes her one of the very best. And she follows 'Detective Club' rules - the reader must be able to work out the murderer.

Books

I might have missed them, apologies if I have, but I have to mention two of my all time favourites Philip Roth, and John Updike, the Rabbit boos are a masterpiece in my opinion.

This is so good!
Fannie Flagg, yes love her

For those who like Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, etc, I can also heartily recommend Stuart MacBride and James Oswald.

I love Mrs Gaskell's books
And Lee Child's
And Jo Nesbo.

Anything by Lionel Shriver - her writing is so sharp and her observations spot on. Try We need to Talk about Kevin or Post Birthday World.
Also try Liz Nugent a Dublin author who writes about horribly flawed people in such an entertaining way - try Skin Deep or Unraveling Oliver

I agree with so many of these recommendations. A book I have just finished and is one of the best I have ever read is Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. Beautifully written, it will stay with me for a long time.

Patricia Scanlan, a best selling author from Dublin.

Anne Cleeves, particularly her Shetland series, the books are far better than the TV series.

For pure nostalgia and comfort reading - Flora Thomson, Lark Rise to Candleford and Still Glides the Stream.

Ian McEwan, Ian Rankin Ian Banks. Alexander McCall Smith, Val.McDermott. all authors I read and love.

Fannie Flagg, Fannie Flagg, Fannie Flagg - she is so good

Nightsky2
I totally agree that many people will have enjoyed Richard Osman's book, just as many will not have enjoyed some of the books recommended by others. In no way did I suggest that he had not written his book.
I did however, suggest that some celebrities may not have done so.
As for the quality of his writing, I accept that other people may disagree, but stand by my opinion.
And if I have somehow annoyed you by sharing my opinion, then I apologise, but thought that was the whole point of these forums.

I'm drawn back to this thread again! Thanks Nell G for starting it. Many posts I agree with.

I'm also a fan of Lisa Jewell's books, she may have had a reputation as a chick lit writer, but her books aren't that lightweight imo. I also think some of psychological stuff is reminiscent of Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine who was one of the best in that particular genre, and a much missed author for me. She wrote the occasional dud, but don't they all.

I see some less than enthusiastic posts about Susan Lewis, I'm reading her latest, "Forgive Me" having never read any of books by her before, 100 pages in I'd say it's ok, but not reeling me in so much so that I can't put it down. Certainly not as good as Louise Candlish crime novels who has become a favourite of mine lately.

Bluecat take up your daughter's recommendation, "Longbourn" is really good.

Sarah 1954, I meant to mention this up thread, Margaret Forster, I read all her stuff too, she wrote so well, another literary loss. As well as her fiction she also wrote a very good biography on Daphne Du Maurier.

rowyn, so agree with you about Richard Osman's book massively over hyped imo, can't help thinking if Joe Bloggs had written it, it would have sunk without a trace. I didn't buy it either, a Christmas present, it will be going straight to a charity shop as soon as they open up again.

Annma and Romola - My husband is mad about the Mick Herron books keeps telling me to give them a go. I read recently Slow Horses is being filmed with Gary Oldman and Kristen Scott-Thomas so that may be of interest to you.

Always mean to read some more Ann Tyler , read Ladder of the Years quite a while ago, and Clock Dance more recently which I really enjoyed.

Read STar of the Sea years ago and loved it. But you do have to be interested in the subject.

Jaxie
I felt the same about My Brilliant Friend, but it was televised with sub titles, and I quite enjoyed that,

Bluecat
Another Barbara Pym fan here, I’d love to be a character in one of her novels.

.

Thats a brilliant book by Lisa jewell it got me into her books brilliant xxx

Suzanne Berne is excellent. I really disliked Elena Ferrante, thought her stuff like a cross between Eastenders & The Only Way is Essex, but forced myself through “My Brilliant Friend” as it had been chosen by my book group. The author hooked me by her take on sexual politics & social injustice so I bought more in the Neapolitan series.

This is NOT a book to read for light entertainment - but if you want something moving and ultimately uplifting, I would recommend Nula Suchet's story of her life with her late and much loved husband, film-maker James Black, who contracted dementia at a relatively early age. The title is 'The Longest Farewell'. Published by serenbooks.com - and one of the best things I have read over the past year.

Thank you NellG, I have ordered three books ? I like Sarah Walters and Kate Furnival

Sarah1954 seems we have very similar tastes in reading matter. Picoult has written some poor books as well as some good ones. I have just read the one about restorative justice by Susan Lewis, it left me feeling preached at and the story was just a hook to hang her latest fad on.
I do think some authors have successful books then write pot boilers to bring in the money. James Patterson and co authors spring to mind.
C J Sansom is not in the above category, his Shardlake series was brilliant. I'm not sure if he is still with us as I understand sadly he had a terminal illness.

If you want something to make you laugh out loud go for Bill Bryson - Notes from a small island and it's sequel The Road to Little Dribbling. Perfect lockdown reading.

Oh I loved that too. The only one of his I didn’t like was Macbeth which I really disliked.
I’m reading ‘the secret life of bees’ by Sue Monk Kidd and listening to ‘Away with the penguins ‘ byHazel Prior both of which are hugely entertaining.
What would I do without my books!!