Where to start with Margaret Drabble

[clemetteattlee]

I was listening to an interview with her the other day and realise I haven't read anything she has written. Anyone a fan - can you recommend a good one to start with?

[DuchessofMalfi]

Try one of her earlier ones. I've read this one and it's good The Millstone

[MiddleAgeMiddleEngland]

I would suggest The Radiant Way or The Witch of Exmoor. I didn't enjoy The Sea Lady at all, but have enjoyed The Millstone in the past.

Have you also tried Penelope Lively and Margaret Forster's books? They're not exactly the same, but I tend to 'lump' all three authors together. (I know someone will be along to tell me how that's not right, though!)

[NotAnotherPackedLunch]

A summer bird cage is an early one I enjoyed.
It's about sisters and it's impossible not to read it without thinking about Margaret Drabble and her sister A.S. Byatt.
A.S.Byatt wrote her own novel about sisters called The Game and it is fascinating to read the two novels together.

[DuchessofMalfi]

I tend to group together Penelope Lively, Margaret Drabble, Nina Bawden and Anita Brookner, because they were all my mother's favourite authors, so I tend to see them as similar or at least appealing to the same type of reader.

[clemetteattlee]

Thank you. I have read a lot of Forster, not so much Lively. I have to confess to not coming across Nina Bawden at all - any recommendations there?

[DuchessofMalfi]

Nina Bawden. She wrote for children and adults. I read her children's books but none of her adult ones. I'm going to have to put that right now.

[hackmum]

I like the earlier ones the best. I've re-read The Millstone and A Summer Birdcage loads of times.

Also quite fond of some of the 80s ones - The Radiant Way trilogy for example (can't remember what the other two are called).

Haven't read anything she's produced recently, but was just thinking about getting the new one which is called something like The Golden Baby.

[Arabesque1]

I agree. Her earlier ones are more enjoyable - A Summer Birdcage, The Garrick Year and The Millstone are my favourites.

[clemetteattlee]

Thanks everyone.

[tumbletumble]

I like A Summer BirdCage and Jerusalem the Golden. Love Penelope Lively too.

[drudgetrudy]

The Peppered Moth is very goods. The Millstone is a good place to start and The Radiant Way Trilogy also good

[hackmum]

By the way, I recommend you don't get The Pure Gold Baby - I just read it and it's bloody awful!

[bibliomania]

Another vote for The Millstone.