I like Carver, Tartt, Proulx, Byatt, Amis. Tell me what to read next.

[franch]

I think I'm on novels rather than short stories at the moment. Thanks ...

Honestly thought it was a baby name thread.

Right ... Tartt would be an interesting choice ...

Didn't notice Tartt

If you like Carver, you might like Ali Smith. Similar pared down style in some ways. "Hotel World" and "The Accidental" are fantastic.

Ooh yes I've read Hotel World which was brilliant. Will put The Accidental on my list - thanks nicky

omfg... i thought for one awful moment this was a baby names thread!

Her short stories are excellent too, btw.
"The Whole Story and Other Stories", "Other Stories and Other Stories" and "The First Person and Other Stories" which is new and which dh bought me today - extra brownie points for him, then.

Tell you what I just re-read which was brilliant; Small Island by Andrea Levy.

Oh yes - been meaning to read that choccy

Also Hilary Mantel.

What do you recommend by Mantel choccy?

Well done nicky's DH!

I've read others of hers (can't remember names), but The Hilary Mantel that I really liked was called Beyond Black. I found it really clever and intriguing ... but noticed on the blurb that it was " a masterpiece of wit" which I did not agree with...[puzzled]
I've also enjoyed Kichen God's wife by Amy Tan (though took a few chapters to get into it) and Sky Burial by Xinran. (Chinese name)

BTWI don't have such fantastic recall powers as to quote blurb. Couldn't even remember the name of the book, or where I'd put it (turned out to be with the other books where I first looked). So picked up the best of the other ones that I'd read in the last six months from the pile by the bed.

i adore Carver but loath Tartt so bear that in mind with what foloows..

Have you read Kate Atkinson's first novel, "Behind the scenes at the the Museum"? Very funny, very witty, very good.

If you want to go thrillery, Hurting Distance by Sophie Hannah is very, very good... scary, perceptive, female etc

Chandler? Yes, I think you'd like "Behind The Scenes At The Museum" and "Hotel World". I hated "The Accidental" though, for what it's worth.

Have you read "Winter In Madrid" or the Matthew Shardlake books by CJ Sansom?

Following the baby names theme ... Trollope is good.. I mean Anthony though not Joanna !

Thanks choccy! Am starting a list.

pofaced I've just read Atkinson's Case Histories which I disliked so would need persuading to try Behind the Scenes - DH (similar taste to mine) gave up on it.

Will try the rest!

Behind The Scenes ... is the only one of hers I've liked.

I loved 'Behind the Scenes' but not her others, apart from the most recent 'When Will There Be Good News'.
'The Book Thief', 'Child 44', and 'A Quiet Belief in Angels' are all excellent.

Margaret Atwood? I'm a huge fan of hers and haven't read a bad one yet.

Also John Fowles. The Magus is a real brainstormer; lots of twists and turns for the hero and the reader.

Oh great John Fowles - never read him - great idea. Ditto Atwood.

Still need convincing about Atkinson! Will read the others first!

The Book Thief is lovely. I hated "A Quiet Belief In Angels" tbh; I seem to be the only person in the world to feel this way though.

Atwood - "The Handmaid's Tale" is far and away the best of the ones I've read.

It's funny referring to them all by their surnames. Makes us sound like the Self-Righteous Brothers from Harry Enfield.

"Now, Atwood, I like a bit of Atwood."

"Oh, yeah, Atwood's yer real fing."

"But I tell yer what. If Atwood came round my 'ouse I'd say, "Atwood! I appreciates yer complex characters and yer intricate plottin'!" but if she tried to get all feminist on me, I'd be sayin', 'OY! ATWOOD! NOOOOOOO!'"