Recommend Female Authors to me

[AvidMerrian]

I have decided to only read female authors for a while.

i tend to read literary fiction or non-fiction.

Some Books I have liked are

Milkman
a visit from the goon squad
Ducks Newburyport
Wolf Hall trilogy

Stuff I didn’t like
Donna TarT
Annue Ernaux
Doris Lessing
Elin Shaflek
A little life.

My two favourite all time authors are Samuel Beckett and Knausgaard.

Ann Patchett? I liked Bel Canto best
Alice Hoffman
Alice Munroe
Margaret Attwood
Emma Donohue
Barbara Kingsolver

Anne Tyler
Barbara Kingsolver (latest book Demon Copperhead) is a masterpiece
Elizabeth Strout
Kate Atkinson
Anne Enright

Not sure if you'll like these options as they're fantasy/SF but give Ursula K. LeGuin and Anne Mccaffrey a try.

Especially the first one, she was (died a couple of years back) an incredible story-teller and though it's fantasy it doesn't come over that way.

For first reads I'd suggest the EarthSea trilogy, the Left Hand Of Darkness and her short stories, A Fisherman Of The Inland Sea.

For McCaffrey I'd look at Killashandra and the first Pern books (Dragonflight, Dragonsinger, etc). Plus her Ship Who Sang stuff.

Hope that's enough suggestions!

I love Elizabeth Taylor and am working my way through her books this year. I think my favourite so far is A View of the Harbour.

I'm also reading my first Hilary Mantel, Beyond Black, and enjoying it very much.

I really recommend The Sea, The Sea by Iris Murdoch - especially the audiobook read by Richard E Grant.

Jane Casey
Tana French
Sophie Hannah

Thank you all, some of these I have read- a big Anne Enright fan.

I started the Pousonwood Bible but actually didn’t get far into it.

Also liked The Sea The Sea- but can remember n neither the plot nor the characters!

Anna Kavan
karen Blixen (under Isak Dinesen)
Angela Carter
shirley jackson
James tiptree (interesting life story too!)

Elena Ferrante

Rebecca Watson , A Little Scratch (since you listed some experimental stuff)

Lydia Davis

Alice Munro

Han Kang, The Vegetarian

Robert Galbraith (JKR)
Shona MacLean

Try Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver, it's a joyous read.

Tsitsi Dangarembga has written a good set of books. There are quite a few good Zimbabwean and South African female writers out there. NoViolet Bulawayo and futhi ntshingila being another 2 (apologies if misspelt!)

I've just realised I only read female authors. It's not a conscious thing. I suppose I want some relatability.

Madeline miller, Jodi Taylor and Robin Hobb. Maybe more fantasy than you’d like but they’re my favourites

I love :

Diana Gabaldon
Jean Auel
Ann Cleeves
Denise Mina
Elly Griffiths

Ali Smith

Amy Tan

Jane Gardam

Clare Chambers

I think you would definitely be glad if you gave Barbara Kingsolver another go. The Poisonwood Bible is one that people often say is their least favourite of all her books, so I think you were just unlucky to start off with that.

Same here.
I agree with the pps suggestion of Elizabeth Taylor’s A View From the Harbour, I also very much liked Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont.
Anne Tyler.
I enjoyed Laura Cumming’s On Chapel Sands.
Persephone books have mostly female authors, lots of great books to choose from.

Elizabeth Stroud
Would also recommend giving Barbara Kingsolver a second go - Lacunae
Edna O’Brien
Maggie O’Farrell

Katherine Mansfield
Clarice Lispector
Jeanette Winterson

Lucinda Riley
Rhys Bowen

Never been disappointed with either of these female authors.

I agree Persephone Books are great. Discoveries from them are Dorothy Whipple, Richmal Crompton and Mollie Panter-Downes.

I would second Maggie O'Farrell - brilliant storyteller. Her autobiography (in the form of short stories) was amazing.

Sarah Marie Griffiths - marketed as YA but quite quirky and surreal. Becky Chambers has created an interesting alternative galaxy and I enjoy her stories.

I love Margaret Atwood - Cats Eye, Alias Grace and the Oryx and Crake trilogy are all good shouts.

Claire-Louise Bennett (recommended by my husband based on your likes and dislikes).

Rachel Cusk!

I loved Glory by NoViolet Bulawayo, which reminded me of the amazing Chimamanda Ngosi Adiche

Joan Didion
Sloane Crosley
Nora Ephron
Meghan Daum
Jhumpa Lahiri
Elissa Altman
Curtis Sittenfeld

Sophie Hannah for definite!
Also Maggie O'Farrell and Kate Atkinson...but SOPHIE!!