If you like reading Jonathan Coe, who else do you really love?

[pruners]

Message withdrawn

I have whinged elsewhere about how much I hated "Norwegian Wood". (Eachpeach, didn't you find his women frustrating ciphers who were only there for the unlikeable main character to shove his dick into occasionally?...)

other suggestions: justin cartwright, charlotte mendelson.

Pruners I think you would like Charlotte Mendelson. I haven't read When We Were Bad but The Daughters of Jerusalem is great.

erm no....UD
a) Murakai is my favourite author, and he can do no wrong

b) I would never phrase suck a sentiment so uncouthly

Also, why have I never heard of the dwarves book???

oops- Murakami of course

Gah! 'suck a sentiment'????? What was I on at lunchtime?
such

Michael Frayn, Julian Barnes, Justin Cartwright (probably spelt wrong). Pat Barker is superb, and I love Helen Dunmore but reading other posts I gather that she's not to everyone's taste! I like Murakai too, completely bowled over by Kafka.

Coe enthusiasts may wish to know (just in case you didn't already) that June's book of the month is going to be The Rain Before It Falls. No news yet on author chat but TillyBookClub says she'll keep us posted...

Ooh good, about to take that on hols. Coe fans should read novels by David Nobbs (check out his website) - he created Reggie Perrin but is an underrated novelist and Coe is a big fan of his and always recommending him (they are friends). Start with: GOING GENTLY (unpromising title but really fab) or for straight comedy, Pratt a Manger.

I remember reading 'What a Carve Up' on the beach really glad that I wasn't on the tube as it was making me laugh out loud so often.

I'm just reading JC's biography of BS Johnson. It doesn't make me want to read any of his books so far really, but it's still an interesting read (it's not funny though, maybe I should warn people).

Oh and UnquietDad - I found Norwegian Wood terribly boring.
I probably would have never picked up another Murakami if I hadn't such a terrible memory for names and forgot who had written it.
Good job I did though because The Wind Up Bird Chronicles is one of my favourite books.

If you've never tried Coe before, for god's sake don't start with Rain Before it Falls. Maybe it's just me, but I thought it was derivative, sentimental tosh. Reminded of Sebastian Faulks, whom I find deeply annoying (in a kind of, 'I'm a male author, but I think women are SOOO interesting and sympathetic' way - is it just me??). Weird, because I love everything else Coe's written.

Other books I've really liked recently - The Time Traveller's Wife, The Testament of Gideon Mack. Would also put in a big vote for Vikram Seth. And McEwan, anything except Saturday.

Patrick Gale
Armistead Maupin
Iain Banks

Christopher Brookmyre
Ian Rankin
Ian McEwan