Kate Atkinson recommendations

[MargotMoon]

Over the years I keep seeing people recommend Kate Atkinson very enthusiastically. I've always had it in my head that I read 'Behind the Scenes at a Museum' and thought it was just OK but I've just now read the blurb and am fairly certain (crap memory though) that haven't.

So now I'm thinking I should give her a go and wondering where to start - with that one? Or something else? And can anyone summarise what style of writer she is?

Life after life is my favourite Kate Atkinson book, I love it and recommend it to everyone. I didn't think much of god of ruins.

I also like the Jackson Brodie series

*A God in Ruins

Anyone else have a crush on Jackson Brodie?!

I read Behind the Scenes when it first came out and thought it was amazing. Have enjoyed all the rest but none were as good as that IMO.

Behind the scenes has to be my favourite ever book, It's just woven so cleverly, love human croquet too and also have the audio book which I listened to in the car to and from work. It enabled me to survive a job I detested and loathed. Also loved life after life but actually preferred a god in ruins - utterly heart breaking. I LOVE Kate Atkinson.

Me midlife

I don't especially like Behind the Scenes but everything else is wonderful.

Emotionally Weird is especially funny for anyone who was at a Scottish university in the 1970s.

I prefer her earlier ones ( Human croquet, behind the scenes, and yes Emotionally Weird as I grew up on the outskirts of Dundee in the 1970s/80s ;-)) but over time her books got darker and darker, culminating in When Will There Be Good News, which I loved but is very hard going at times.

Life after Life was excellent, much bigger than all her earlier books in every sense of'the word.

The Jackson Brodie books are great, but I agree they are very different. Having a male protagonist changes everything I think.

Thanks for all of these! I've nearly finished Behind the Scenes and will definitely be reading more.

I'd love to know what book it was that I read years ago and had thought was KA which put me off her - it was somebody's bestselling debut and very underwhelming...

A God in Ruins is my favourite of hers that I've read.

Announced today - her new book is out next September:

www.thebookseller.com/news/new-kate-atkinson-novel-transcription-coming-next-year-687491

@MargotMoon was it Labyrinth by Kate Mosse that you read years ago and had since confused with Kate Atkinson?

Thanks to this thread I've started reading our after life again and this is the first time EVER I e read a book for the second time. Read it a few years ago and loved it. Also listened to A god in ruins. You really feel like you're in the books, loving them.

Yes, her books are very immersive to read. I very rarely buy hardbacks but will be buying her new one next year.