If I love AS Byatt and Iris Murdoch..

[LadyPoncenbyFroglett]

Any other, similar women writers might I enjoy?

Looking for writers with a similar prose heavy academic style. Angela Carter a tad too 'magical-realism' for my tastes but I did love the non fiction work of Marina Warner. I am also fond of Sylvia Townshend Warner (Lolly Willowes is my heroine!) and Katherine Mansfield, although would prefer something from the AS Byatt era, I think.

Helen Dunmore

Ooh new to me! Thank you, will have a look.

Anita Brookner.
Edna O'Brien.
Rose Tremain.
Penelope Fitzgerald.
Rachel Cusk.

Doris Lessing?

Rose Tremain
Marge Piercy
Pat Barker
Isabel Allende
Sarah Waters

Gosh, such a lot here to look through, thanks everyone, much appreciated!

Margaret Forster
Elizabeth Taylor
Mary Wesley

Have you tried Margaret Drabble? She's AS Byatt's sister (although not as prose heavy).

The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton.
Hilary Mantel
Rachel Cusk as mentioned above.

Any particular books?
I am looking for something that I can get lost in, reminiscent of Byatt's short stories but perhaps longer, I lived The Matisse Stories and Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye.
Something ponderous, prose-y, with a bit of dreaminess and realism combined.

No I have never sampled Drabble! Might be time to take a look!

Margaret Forster
Hilary Mantel
Margaret Drabble (AS Byatt's sister)

Cusk looks very interesting.

Margaret Forster's 'keeping the world away' looks like my cup of tea - anyone read this?

Plus - you must have read Woolf? Tell me you've read V Woolf?
If you haven't - get thee at it!

Yes. I'd recommend both her fiction and her non fiction.
Hidden Lives
Precious Lives
Plus her biographies of Daphne du Maurier and Elizabeth Barrett Browning

I'm going to have to re-read those Margaret Forster now! Thank you for the reminder.

I loved Diary of an Ordinary Woman, Lady's Maid and Shadow Baby, in particular

Thanks songlines, and everyone else, this is like walking into a toy shop for me!

Isn't it fabulous when you discover a prolific new author?

I love the entire Bloomsbury group era (from film to painting to writings on bohemian life), although can't put my finger on why I don't jive with VW.

I could give Woolf another chance? Although I started 'the mark on the wall' last year and had to put it down. No idea why. I have no issue with her writing style.

Dorothy L Sayers? Strong Poison, Murder Must Advertise and Nine Taylors are my favourites.

Just so, so much here, am going to compile a reading list, thank you all again:)

Anne Tyler. All of her books (there are many), in chronological order.

@Songlines your copy of "The Battle for Christabel" looks as well read as mine. Wonderful book.

I'll add Penelope Lively and Carol Shields (especially "Unless" ) to the list, and for something a bit lighter and more modern Anne Tyler.

Just have to check if you've tried The Waves, The Voyage Out, Mrs Dalloway and To the Lighthouse? If you have then you have of course given her a fair crack of the whip!

Which reminds me to add Katherine Mansfield (but it sounds like you will have read her).