Doris Lessing has died

[hackmum]

//www.theguardian.com/books/2013/nov/17/doris-lessing-dies-94

Very sad. Am a huge fan.

[TheDoctrineOfWho]

[Hullygully]

Oh me too.

I love Doris and all her works.

[Twirlychair]

Oh how sad.

[magimedi]

Am another fan of hers - an amazing writer.

[ChloeBasset]

Her work was a real inspiration to me, a foundation to my way through life

[MiddleAgeMiddleEngland]

I was fortunate enough to meet her once, briefly, a long time ago. She was lovely.

I saw this on the news earlier and thought that I should get some of her books out and re-read them.

RIP

[Ilovexmastime]

I'm sorry to hear that, I've really enjoyed those books of hers that I've read.

[mousmous]

very sad.
I actually met her without realising a few years ago. we lived in her part of town.
she seemed very nice (and she complemented me on my baby dc).

[MistAllChuckingFrighty]

Oh, how sad. I am a fan too.

[saragossa2010]

She had a very significant impact on me as a teenager.

[SkaterGrrrrl]

Amazing writer and an inspiring feminist too.

94 years, 50 novels and a nobel prize. Well done, that woman.

[UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea]

She is a legend, sad news.

[MistAllChuckingFrighty]

Indeed.

What a fucking brilliant achievement.

[hackmum]

Envious of those who met her - I always wanted to, but never did. She did always seem a bit intimidating, though, when I saw her speak in public.

My favourites? There are so many, but I loved The Golden Notebook, the Martha Quest series, The Good Terrorist and her two volumes of autobiography. There are also two non-fiction books that are very funny - the one about cats and one called In Pursuit of the English, about her initial impressions of London in the 50s. I don't normally think of Lessing as being a humorous writer so these are a real surprise.

[lookatmycameltoe]

I've never read one of her books (although 'the grass is singing' and 'the golden notebook' have been in my wish list forever.

Any fans recommend a book of hers to start with?

[peacefuleasyfeeling]

I am gutted! For so long I wanted to write her a letter, telling her just how much she meant to me, and I never got it together. She is much loved by all the women in my family. And Cameltoe, I would recommend the Canopus in Argos: Archives series, the first of which is Shikasta. This is actually science fiction, but it allows you to see her at her most insightful, radical, moving and humorous. It's a series of books to just get completely lost in (permission to leave rigour and analysis to one side and just allow yourself to be laid open to the Lessing-effect...), and come out feeling like you've just been washed clean somehow; intellect, heart and spirit. You have such a wonderful discovery ahead of you!

[StrangeIdeas]

I love her books. I feel so sad - I cant write anymore.

[hackmum]

lookatmycameltoe - The Good Terrorist is a cracking read. I think if I were you I might start with Martha Quest, as there are five books in the series and if you like the first one you can read the others!

[Hullygully]

yy to Canopus in Argos, less known than the rest, but brilliant.

[EduCated]

DP is writing a thesis on her at the moment. I'd never heard if her before, but she's become quite a part of our lives over the past few months We raised a glass to her Monday night. Will definitely take some of the recommended reads from here.