If I like Elizabeth Strout what else will I like?

[BuwchGochGota]

Recently discovered Elizabeth Strout. Have read Olive Kitteridge and Olive Again and loved them. Am halfway through My Name is Lucy Barton and have got Anything is Possible, Oh William! and Lucy by the Sea lined up to read next.

Those of you who have read and loved her books, what else would you recommend?

If you don't mind going back into the past quite a bit, then maybe Elizabeth Taylor. She writes with great intelligence, insight, and close observation of everyday life. I love both writers, and I can similarities between the two.

... I can SEE.

Edit button, edit button, edit button now ....

Have you tried Sally Rooney?

Agree with the Elizabeth Taylor suggestion. Barbara Pym? Similar in some respects - an earlier era though.

Ann Tyler.

Maggie O’Farrell?

I love Elizabeth Strout! I'd recommend Ann Patchett, Kent Haruf and maybe Anne Tyler. Anne Tyler not as gritty as the others but they all do small town America so beautifully.

Alice Munro as well, although she does short stories.

I think you’d also enjoy a book called I’m Sorry You Feel That Way by Rebecca Wait.

I just finished My Phantoms by Gwendoline Riley which has a similar vibe to My Name Is Lucy Barton although it's UK based. It's very good.

Ann Patchett.

Lily King.

Anne Tyler, definitely.

I love her books too. One of my favourite reads of last year was Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead - might be worth a try.

I've also recently discovered the Olive books, and keen to read more. She's such a good writer. Did you know there was an HBO Miniseries of Olive Kitteridge starring Frances Macdormand?

Thank you, I haven't read anything by her so I'll have a look.

I didn't enjoy Normal People as much as I thought I would. Haven't read any of her others though, so maybe.

Again I haven't read any Barbara Pym, I'll have a look. Thank you.

I started reading A Spool of Blue Thread when it was first published, but didn't finish. Maybe I should revisit it.

Good call. I didn't love Hamnett but I've just reserved The Marriage Portrait from the library.

OH I lived The Dutch House by Ann Patchett, I read it in a day on holiday last year. I'd actually forgotten how much I loved it. Haven't read any Kent Haruf.

Loved, obviously.

Second the need for that edit button

Oh that's on my to read pile, thank you for reminding me.

That’s not her best, tbh. I recommend Ladder of Years and Amateur Marriage. French Braid, the latest, is wonderful, too.

I agree about Anne Tyler, but she is very variable. The 2 best, imo, are Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, and St Maybe.

My absolute favourite of Elizabeth Taylor's, and one which I think is pretty uncharacteristic of her work, is Angel.

Barbara Pym is superb, I'm just rereading Excellent Women for the nth time.
Sally Rooney? I'd have thought she was the antithesis of ES.

Enjoy.

I loved Angel! So refreshing.