Which living authors do you think will still be remembered/read 100 years from now?

[FajitaQueen]

Hi all.
Inspired by the recent discussion of Top Ten favourite books, I wondered which modern living authors do you think would still be widely read 100 years from now.
I’m not necessarily thinking about “classics” (although that might be part of the reason for long-term popularity.)
My initial contenders are Kazuo Ishiguro, Sarah Walters, Margaret Atwood, Alice Walker and Alan Garner (I looked him up and he is still with us at 91 years old!) They’ve all written books that have original voices and could, in my opinion, stand the test of time.
I’m conscious that authors fall in and out of fashion so making such a prediction is tricky. But that’s part of the fun!

Alan Garner wrote for children originally. I think his style of writing may not be particularly accessible to modern tastes but, as I posted, he has a “voice” and strong stories to tell. Perhaps it will become rated in the future?
I have read a lot of Michael Morpurgo. Some of his story lines are very strong and also very accessible to his target audience. I just don’t know if he will be widely read in 100 years.

I think Margaret Atwood - I can see Handmaids Tale being taught for A level lit for a long time or being a text like 1984 politics students are told to read.

I do think children’s authors have the sticking power as adults buy the books for kids and will buy the ones they remember reading and enjoying. So JK Rowling, Michael Morporgo. Im slightly worried it’ll be David Walliams that future parents will buy for their dcs like boxsets of Rohl Dahl are bought now.

@efeslight I’m not convinced that Bill Bryson has written books that will be read in 100 years time but I have enjoyed some of them very much.
Perhaps Notes From A Small Island will be a potential as it’s well-written, funny and an astute observation of British life at the different times he’s writing about.
Counterpane?

Michael Rosen.

I would be shocked if he wasn't.

I think the popularity of David Williams’s books is over @FancyBiscuitsLevel .

Tell us you haven't read Ian McEwan's latest without having told us you haven't read it!

I love Word of Mouth on Radio Four - have you heard it? Brilliant show yesterday on Tourette/Tourettes.

@efeslight my favourite line from "notes from a small island...."getting up at 5am to travel to Newquay (they pronounced it nookie) 🤣🤣 always be my favourite book

I loved Alan Garner books, particularly the Weirdstone of Brisingamen. Although I blame it for my lifelong claustrophobia; there is such a well written account of Colin getting stuck in tunnels whilst escaping the Svartbrood that it made me feel panicked and I'm convinced it's why I'm still hideously claustrophobic.

Colin getting stuck in tunnels whilst escaping the Svartbrood

I remember that. I always skip over any potentially claustrophobia inducing passages in books now.

I don't think literary quality necessarily has anything to do with it.
Out of interest, these are some books published in 1926 that are still read and talked about today:
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
Clouds of Witness
These Old Shades
Jo of the Chalet School
Winnie the Pooh

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Ann Tyler, Wally Lamb, Stephen King, Colm Toibin, Robert Harris, Ann Patchett, Richard Russo, Elizabeth Strout and Alice Hoffman. I think the books they write are universal and will stand the test of time.

My first thoughts were JK Rowling and George RR Martin. I agree with Stephen King too. Possibly also Tolkien and CS Lewis, but the language might be too hard for people in 100 years.

Maybe Zadie Smith?

Agree with JK Rowling and Stephen King.

I think Mick Herron books- The Slow Horses series - might be read like Agatha Christie!

Think Suzanne Collins and The Hunger Games series too.

Ken Follett. I think Sally Rooney might. Definitely Margaret Atwood.

I read "The Weirdstone of Brisingamen" as a child. I grew up in the Northwest. Perhaps Alan Garner is better known in the area he lived in and wrote about?

I am not sure which authors will still be read in one hundred years. There are so many brilliant books that I have enjoyed. Authors who write about issues and situations that will always affect people. Perhaps authors who give an insight into life in the first half of the twenty first century.

Thank you all for your input.
It’s interesting reading about different people’s take on books.
Alan Garner’s stories are based on a small area of Cheshire. I loved his books even before I experienced going down the caves in Alderley Edge for myself (in a very regulated set-up.) I’m assuming he had a much freer access to that cave/mine system as a child before Health & Safety (quite rightly) became an issue.
The folklore attached to the area is fascinating.
I have yet to visit The Wizard Inn but it’s on my list.
There is a clue in the name…

That’s a fascinating list. I’ve never heard of at least six of the authors on there and have only actually read anything by three of them (and I read quite a lot, always have).

I note they’re almost exclusively American authors; perhaps they are better known in the US?

Agree Stephen King / Kazuo Ishiguro/ Sarah Walters / Margaret Atwood /Alice Walker / Ian McKewan /

Adding
William Boyd
Toni Morrison
Isabel Allende
Neil Gaiman

I think they have all written at least one novel that stands the test of time.

Hopefully Neil Gaiman and David Walliams won't make the cut...

Agree Margaret Atwood (especially The Handmaid’s Tale), Kazuo Ishiguro. I love Sarah Waters so hope she will still be read too. Agree with the children’s authors including JK Rowling and Julia Donaldson. Maybe Suzanne Collins for the Hunger Games.

Someone mentioned David Mitchell upthread, I haven’t read anything by him in good few years but I found his books stunning so again hope they will be still be read.

I suspect Ann Patchett may be another one - The Dutch House is a particular favourite of mine. Also Percival Everett and Donna Tartt (I think The Secret History is already considered a modern classic already). John Boyne I think is getting better and better.

Also Sally Rooney (at least Normal People)/ Elizabeth Strout/ Claire Keegan.

Curve ball - some Emily Henry books?

Agree!

Loads of them. It's a golden era of writing.

You like the same authors as me! William Kent Kreuger too

Slightly off topic, I see a lot of people saying John Boyne. Are his adult books better researched than his children's ones?

I used to teach Boy in the striped pyjamas which I thought was well written if harrowing, but reading the criticism of it from the Holocaust trust was very illuminating and thought provoking - wouldn't go near it now.