Favourite author

[tyred]

Arthur Conan Doyle.

Surprised at the amount of people who mention Hardy as well. I like hsi poetry but find his novels boring.

 

[Cab]

Arthur Conan Doyle.

Surprised at the amount of people who mention Hardy as well. I like hsi poetry but find his novels boring.

I like ACD... But the deterioration in quality of his 'Challenger' novels (with that ghastly one about Challengers conversion to spiritualism) and the somewhat lacklustre nature some of Holmes later exploits... I dunno, he wrote some great stories, but for me he let himself (and his characters) down.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

I like ACD... But the deterioration in quality of his 'Challenger' novels (with that ghastly one about Challengers conversion to spiritualism) and the somewhat lacklustre nature some of Holmes later exploits... I dunno, he wrote some great stories, but for me he let himself (and his characters) down.

he was adamant that the cottingley (?sp) fairies were for real too…

 

[John the Monkey]

Ernest Hemingway, W. Somerset Maugham, George Orwell, Dashiell Hammett, Jim Thompson, Raymond Chandler, P.G. Wodehouse, James M. Cain.

I think I'd add Iain (M) Banks to that list at some point too - I've read three of his so far, and enjoyed them all - I do think I should read a bit more before declaring him a favourite though.

 

[tyred]

I like ACD... But the deterioration in quality of his 'Challenger' novels (with that ghastly one about Challengers conversion to spiritualism) and the somewhat lacklustre nature some of Holmes later exploits... I dunno, he wrote some great stories, but for me he let himself (and his characters) down.

I agree he let himself and his characters down in later years but what great characters they were in the first place. I love the early Sherlock Holmes stories in particular. They are as good as you get IMO. The professor challenger series was great to start with as well. His faith in spiritualism must have all consuming. I understand he tried to introduce it into his work as he believed it was his duty to spread the word.

 

[PrettyboyTim]

Just at the moment, I'm really enjoying the novels of Ian Fleming.

Favourite author of all time is Patrick O'Brian (his Aubrey/Maturan novels are, in my opinion, among the finest works of fiction ever written).

I was just about to mention him. I adore the Aubrey/Maturin novels.

I read the entire set last year, and a couple of months ago I listened to the Post Captain audio book as read by Patrick Tull, which was immensely enjoyable. One of the things about listening to an audiobook as compared to reading the original is that you can't do it fast. You're almost forced to enjoy every word, which when the prose is as beautiful as O'Brian's is a real pleasure.

 

[papercorn2000]

PG Wodehouse - hilarious, the most playful use of the English language ever committed to paper!

 

[papercorn2000]

I was just about to mention him. I adore the Aubrey/Maturin novels.

I read the entire set last year, and a couple of months ago I listened to the Post Captain audio book as read by Patrick Tull, which was immensely enjoyable. One of the things about listening to an audiobook as compared to reading the original is that you can't do it fast. You're almost forced to enjoy every word, which when the prose is as beautiful as O'Brian's is a real pleasure.

Thomas Cochrane, the character on whom Aubrey is modelled was born a few miles from here. He's a bit of a folk hero in South America and is as colourful a character as Richard Burton (IMO).

 

[Chuffy]

Spike Milligan
Terry Pratchett
PG Wodehouse
Tove Jansen
Tolkien


Personally I'd have paid every penny I had if it was possible to stop Thomas Hardy from ever setting pen to paper. Just awful. See also:- every Bronte who drew breath, George Eliot, Jane Austen, most of Dickens and just about every other Victorian drivel-merchant.

 

[NickM]

I can't make out your avatar... is that a joystick, or have you just been polishing your penis gourd again?

 

[John the Monkey]

Thomas Cochrane, the character on whom Aubrey is modelled was born a few miles from here. He's a bit of a folk hero in South America and is as colourful a character as Richard Burton (IMO).

He's fascinating - Cassell published "Britannia's Sea Wolf" on their budget military history imprint not so long ago, well worth picking up.

 

[Abitrary]

John le Carre. Yes, I have read lots of various pretentious stuff, but I like a story and atmosphere.

Give me carre, not woolf.

 

[mikeitup]

re

Stephen Hunter

Donald Harstad

Alexandre Dumas

Gordon Stevens

Paul Macdonald (local author who's books are hilarious if a bit risque)

and currently

Jim Butcher (His Dresden Files books are ace!!)

 

[Chuffy]

I can't make out your avatar... is that a joystick, or have you just been polishing your penis gourd again?

It's a great big cracker.

 

[NickM]

And you're pulling it all by yourself

Nice helmet, by the way...