Thank you to the poster that recommended trying Ann Patchet

[Ineedanewone]

I've just finished State of Wonder and really enjoyed it. It starts off in Minnesota and then travels to the Amazon forest, and is about a drugs research project, ethics and the bravery of one woman and the single mindedness of another.
I feel like I have travelled into another world, of which I knew nothing and the main character Marina is somebody I would love to know.
It's a book that will stay with me.

I must look out for that. Have you tried Bel Canto? That left me feeling similarly transported.

Sadly Bel Canto doesn't appear to be available on my kindle, unless I want try reading it in German!
Think I'll pop to the library at the weekend.

There are a few Ann Patchett fans here, OP, so I'm not sure whether it was me or someone else who gave you the recommendation but I'm really pleased you have discovered and liked AP's writing.

I was lucky enough to be in the audience when she was interviewed at Hay-on-Wye - what a warm and intelligent woman. I really recommend going along to hear her talk if you get the opportunity.

Bel Canto is excellent and Run is also well worth a read.

I have State of wonder in my stash. I loved Bel Canto. I gave it away at a hose move, and it's one I regret losing. I don't have Kindle. Yet.

house move, not hose move!

Run was the last one of hers I read. She is great.

Hello High I think you are the one, as I remember the Hay on Wye reference.
Glad she's on my radar, I find it quite hard to pick out new writers, especially as I have a serious Attwood crush, and enjoy Ann Tyler, Kate Atkinson, Barbara Kingsolver and Angela Levy.
not sure I can recall a male author I have loved recently...

Hello again OP

I've recently rediscovered Barbara Kingsolver, having read The Poisonwood Bible years ago and somehow not come across her again for years. Have just read Flight Behaviour and Prodigal Summer, which I thought was great.

We seem to like similar authors and with that in mind you might take a look at Kate Grenville particularly Secret River and The Idea of Perfection. Also Rose Tremain is excellent .. Music and Silence and Restoration are great books set in the past, and The Road Home is much more recent and set in London. And Sue Gee's Earth and Heaven is one of my favourite books. I'm always mentioning her on these threads as she's a really good writer who deserves to be more widely known.

I find I read an equal number of male and female authors. This year I've been rereading Steinbeck which I've really enjoyed. Like Ann Patchett his style is so unobtrusive; he writes with intelligence and clarity. I'm planning to read more of his work this year.

Hi Highland
I like RoseTremain and loved those too, especially Restoration. I've also read the Secret River and Prodigal Summer, although the latter took me ages to get into, and I kept starting it over and over. ( especially liked the cantankerous older neighbour, and the rather sexy coyote hunter)
I'll check out Sue Gee, as never come across her before.
I did quite enjoy a recent male novelist Matthew Haig who wrote The Humans, a sort of comic science fiction account of an Alien landing in modern day Cambridge intent on mischief. Although it was bit 'trying too hard' at times. Worth a borrow rather than a buy perhaps.
I may revisit Steinbeck too, have you read A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley? An American mid west take on the King Lear story? I remember really enjoying that one.