I decided I’d like to share some facts about me rather than always writing about my illnesses, or about my hobbies, or giving my opinions.
I also decided I needed to get a tad more organised in so far as a schedule for my postings is concerned.
One idea I came up with was to have a ‘Friday Favourites’, and this week it was going to be about my favourites writers. As so often happens things overcame time and so, a day late, here is my first Friday favourites.
I love literature – novels, verse, drama – of many different genres. I have read and studied the written word for a huge part of my life and I genuinely believe that immersing yourself in fiction can have a profound affect on how you relate to the world.
I enjoy non-fiction as well and these days I am more likely to purchase and read factual writing. But that is for another day …
I’ve decided to list the writers I return to, or whose work I seek out, alphabetically. It is eclectic. There are novelists and playwrights (poets are also for another time), writers of fantasy, horror, comedy, crime, science-fiction. They represent Britain, Ireland, USA, Canada, France, Russia, Germany, Colombia. The list is by no means definitive; I had to limit myself and quite a few had to be omitted.
Here is a selection of my favourite writers, wordsmiths, tellers of tales:
- Atwood / Ali
- Brontë / Bennett
- Carter / Camus / Conrad
- Dickens / Dahl / Dumas / Dostoyevsky
- Eliot
- Fitzgerald / Fowles
- Graves / Golding / Galsworthy
- Henry / Hugo / Huxley
- Joyce / Jonson
- King / Kafka
- Lawrence / Lee
- Miller / Mitford / Marquez
- Orwell / Osborne / O’Brien
- Pratchett / Poe
- Rhys
- Shields / Shriver / Steinbeck / Saki
- Thackeray / Tey
- Vickers
- Weldon / Waugh / Wilde
- Zola
Do you have writers you return to when you need comfort, or a pick-me-up, books that you just can’t be without?
Do you prefer to read anything that’s new? Or is your appetite for literature insatiable, making you scour the local bookshop or library to maintain your supply?
Please share your favourites, writers you would recommend.
Thank you for reading my list of favourites.
marilyn unmasked 
Ooo love this idea, I’m a big book lover. I have a bit of an obsession with American crime thriller fiction novels so authors like Karin Slaughter, Jonathan Kellerman, James Patterson, David Baldacci, Karen Rose.
I like some of those you’re fond of, too. I particularly liked the Stranger by Camus. What’s your favourite book of his? I’ve not read many so I need to add that to my TBR, more Camus! 🙂
Caz xx
Hi Caz, Well here’s a conundrum. Mine is ‘The Outsider’ – from my researches that’s an alternate title for ‘The Stranger’. Snap! I’m also a lover of short stories and I want to check out a volume of those. Have you tried Kafka? His books are amazing. So dark and relentless that you wonder why you’re still reading but so mesmeric that you can’t stop.
Despite having been an avid reader (2-3 by my bedside at a time), since my last major breakdown nearly 20 years ago I have been unable to read much in the way of fiction. I am just beginning to find the concentration again and have high hopes. I’ve taken a break from shunting books around the house – with many more coming down to the Living Room.
I fancy dipping into a few of the authors you’ve listed. It reminded me that at one time I devoured everything Minette Walters had published. And she didn’t even get on the list. Also used to enjoy Bradbury.
Confession time: I cannot tolerate the self-absorbed and endlessly wordy Henry James. And I can only take Austen in small chunks, although at least I can finish hers.
Thanks for commenting. Appreciate it. Glad you’re getting better.
Maz xx