Favourite Authors

[Cheyne]

Ok peeps this is the thread where you can discuss amongst one another which writers stand out in your mind. What makes their writing so addictive/compelling? What techniques do they employ and what genre is their forte?

Bryce Courtenay and Wilbur Smith stand out. Courtenays Aprils Fools Day is superbly written and is a must in anyones collection.

(ps... trust me to have a typo in the heading of a literature thread :o )

[graceonthebass]

J.K Rowling all the way!!

[Bocks]

Edgar A. Poe

cant spell. writes some insane stuff for his time and genre.

Dan Brown - writes good action

and OH DaViD MaLOuF iS A GeNiUS

[Neo]

John Marsden

enough said

[Hinny]

The usual. Orwell. Tolstoy. Conrad. Dickens.

Also love Kurt Vonnegut and Primo Levi. For more contemporary stuff, Nick Hornby writes a mean pop novel.

Orwell's writing had the greatest effect on me. That guy just stands out from the pack.

[Falling]

Anius Nin

[talz0r]

J.K.Rowling, Anthony Horowitz, Dan Brown,

[whiskey]

Well I love Margaret Mitchell (GWTW rules!), Tolstoy, Samuel Taylor Coleridge,Tennesse Williams and Aldous Huxley... Oh and Harper Lee, 'To Kill A Mockingbird' was powerful stuff.

and I also love Enid Blyton, Ludwig Belmanns and L.M Montgomery for a bit of nostalgia :)

[Cheyne]

The usual. Orwell. Tolstoy. Conrad. Dickens.

Also love Kurt Vonnegut and Primo Levi. For more contemporary stuff, Nick Hornby writes a mean pop novel.

Orwell's writing had the greatest effect on me. That guy just stands out from the pack.

Orwell and Conrad for mine. Heart of Darkness was sensational...

Capolla's appropriation was a fair effort as well...

Aristotle, Plato and Hegel also appeal for their philosophical merits.

[swede]

Sir Swedey Swede the 5th... he wrote a lot of novels that really connected you to the outside world, got you to think and question the way in which the world works

[Baby Grand]

Paullina Simons, Di Morrissey & Wilbur Smith

[.:mMm:.]

Ayn Rand

[bek]

My most favourite author ever is Jodi Picoult!! i'm a bit of an obsessed fan!!! she's amazing!! check out her books!!!!

[Hinny]

Robert Manne writes these wonderfully insightful essays on all that's wrong with the country.

[JOLENE]

i would tell you mine, but i would lose all respect! :D
like i have any anyway

[:: katie b ::]

who is it....gretel kileen ?

[JOLENE]

who?

[:: katie b ::]

ahhhhhh ure a kiwi. never mind. :)

[jimmy]

i havent read a fiction book since yr 12... hang on a minute i didnt finish reading my hsc english novel either..

[Hinny]

i havent read a fiction book since yr 12... hang on a minute i didnt finish reading my hsc english novel either..
Philistine.

[angelblue]

I'm with bek on Jodi Picoult... randomly picked up one of her books about a month ago called 'My sister's keeper' and i would have to say it is one of the best books i've read so far.

Also love John Marsden... if anyone here hasn't read the 'Tomorrow' series, you should be shot. I got the first book when i was 12 and couldn't get past the first page but about a year later I started it and then had to hang on for every other book that came out! I must have read those 7 books at least 3 times over but I still love it!

Also, John Grisham.. he writes a lot of crime/law books and in the end they can all end up being similar but he has written a book called 'A painted house' which is loosely based on his childhood, and I must have read that about 3 or 4 times too.

Also, a young kiwi novelist called Erin Skiffington... she was 14 or 15 when she wrote her first book and I quite liked that one too.

[Hinny]

Hinny's best purchases of the past year-

1. Phillip Roth - The Plot Against America
2. Kenneth Cain, Heidi Postlewait & Andrew Thomson - Emergency Sex and Other Desperate Measures : A True Story from Hell on Earth
3. Lewis Lapham - 30 Satires

[Choppy]

Hmm yeah JK all the way. I dont realy like Dan Brown for some reason. I mean, shes good and all, but the number one selling book? The books are structured well its just the way he writes its not all that appealing to me. A bit ordinaly...

[swede]

id struggle to read a book more than once

[:: katie b ::]

ok so i read this REALLY ace book over the weekend, no lozzy, twas not harry potter. it was called "the battles to be like me" by this AMAZING author Sir Swedey Swede the 5th.

he goes on to discuss how this whole group of people, a "forum" if you like, all strive to be like this one girl. it's bizArre really...they start changing their names to things such as:
tomas_t
lozzy_p
jenno_what
ella_idiot
k_san

tis really weird. they start a whole cult trying to be like this one girl, with underscores in their name and what not.

anyway, i dont want to spoil it. but if u wanna know about some more of the chapters - let me know ;)

[lozzy]

ok so i read this REALLY ace book over the weekend, no lozzy, twas not harry potter. it was called "the battles to be like me" by this AMAZING author Sir Swedey Swede the 5th.

he goes on to discuss how this whole group of people, a "forum" if you like, all strive to be like this one girl. it's bizArre really...they start changing their names to things such as:
tomas_t
lozzy_p
jenno_what
ella_idiot
k_san

tis really weird. they start a whole cult trying to be like this one girl, with underscores in their name and what not.

anyway, i dont want to spoil it. but if u wanna know about some more of the chapters - let me know ;)
i want to know more.

[swede]

as clever as this here katie b is trying to be...

nehow, he truely is the greatest author... definitely inspiring and thought provoking!

[:: katie b ::]

thought provoking.....u can say that again.

so, chapter 3 goes on about this girl everyone wants to be like.... kinda like background knowledge.
i.e.: how she was the most beautiful baby girl ever. in fact, it was proven that on the 23rd June in the year of 1986 - the world fell silent for 1 minute. totally overwhelming apparently.

anyway, so yeh this chapter also talks about her amazingly good looks, which carried on her years since birth...only now they were so much more stunning. FHM shoots, playboy what not.

chapter 4, like WHOA....

[lozzy]

thought provoking.....u can say that again.

so, chapter 3 goes on about this girl everyone wants to be like.... kinda like background knowledge.
i.e.: how she was the most beautiful baby girl ever. in fact, it was proven that on the 23rd June in the year of 1986 - the world fell silent for 1 minute. totally overwhelming apparently.

anyway, so yeh this chapter also talks about her amazingly good looks, which carried on her years since birth...only now they were so much more stunning. FHM shoots, playboy what not.

chapter 4, like WHOA....
*cough* says something inaudible *cough*

[swede]

katie is trying to make him sound like a perverted author of sorts, neway he discusses issues of politics, philosophy, religion and the like.

[vivy09]

Also love John Marsden... if anyone here hasn't read the 'Tomorrow' series, you should be shot. I got the first book when i was 12 and couldn't get past the first page but about a year later I started it and then had to hang on for every other book that came out! I must have read those 7 books at least 3 times over but I still love it!


OH YEAH!!!! i totally agree with you angelblue!!!
i got the first 2 for my birthday and didnt have much interest and then one day i started reading 'tomorrow, when the war began' and i could not put it down!!! i have read that series sooooo many times!!

and i got 'the ellie chronicles' for christmas the other year and honestly i read it in like 3-4 days cuase it was soooo good and i missed on reading about ellie & her mates.
i keep hearing rumours that a movie might be made based on these books...if there is a movie, how cool would that be!!
ahh im soo excited now lol!

i also love reading stuff by a guy named Ken Follett - great writer! books include, Code To Zero, The Third Twin, A Dangerous Fortune, Hornetflight & his new one Whiteout (which i can not wait to read!! :))

[lozzy]

Tomorrow series was great.

[:: katie b ::]

read angels and demons or catch 22.

if not, and ure soft. try for "the lovely bones" by alice sebold.

[jimmy]

Philistine.

u'll have to explain later hinny, my vocalbury dont go that far..

[:: katie b ::]

however, these are not my fav authors. so i just made an unnecessary post.

[Hinny]

u'll have to explain later hinny, my vocalbury dont go that far..
It's supposed to be insulting. Think of it this way.

Jerms, you arts student.

[jimmy]

Jerms, you arts student.

im still lost.... perhaps if i were an arts student i would get ya.

[Hinny]

im still lost.... perhaps if i were an arts student i would get ya.
Dammit. Engos are sposed to get really pissed off when they are compared to arts students.

[jimmy]

lol we do, hahahaha.... i thought u seriously thought i was an arts student, so i corrected ya.. ive already had a bitch about being told im an arts student to swede and noo....LOL

[:: katie b ::]

im an arts student. and a law one. therefore, i will one day sue you for saying such things.

[jimmy]

im an arts student. and a law one. therefore, i will one day sue you for saying such things.
LOL... and ill make a plane and fly it into YA HOUSE, ya mofo

[:: katie b ::]

omg osama - is that you?

[jimmy]

omg osama - is that you?

u got me... "osama bin jimmy" right here

[:: katie b ::]

wow - ima gonna go and tell george now.

[bek]

Courtenays Aprils Fools Day is superbly written and is a must in anyones collection.

(ps... trust me to have a typo in the heading of a literature thread :o )


i totally agree!! I cant really get into Courtenay's other stuff but April Fools Day was so passionate and emotive. It was the first time i've cried in a book! loved it!!!

[JOLENE]

ahhhhhh ure a kiwi. never mind. :)

I wish being a kiwi got me of the hook every other time!

[JOLENE]

My fav authors are Danielle Steel .. and Diana Gabaldon
I also think Stephen King books are pretty impressive, he really has a dark and mysterious mind!

[thatgirlmichelle]

I don't really have a favourite, I also don't read as much as I should hehe. But Enid Blyton was definitely my favourite from my childhood, I had so many of her books.

[angelblue]

Vivy... I started reading the first book of the "Ellie chronicles" and couldnt really get through it..... In the end i think it was because i thought that 7 books was just enough! It ended perfectly and he came up with that many different intertwining storylines i didn't think he needed to bring war into it again..... but anyway, maybe i will be able to, one day, pick it up and read it through.

[jimmy]

i get into poetry a bit.. im a bit of a fan of Henry Lawson. He's got some great poems that speak out about social injustice, situations that seem to be occuring these days.

[:: katie b ::]

t.s. eliot is the king of all poets. so depressing though. poor c**t.

[Hinny]

I never thought I'd see the words t.s. eliot and poor c**t used in the same line.

[:: katie b ::]

katie is a magic woman hinny. ;)

[vivy09]

Vivy... I started reading the first book of the "Ellie chronicles" and couldnt really get through it..... In the end i think it was because i thought that 7 books was just enough! It ended perfectly and he came up with that many different intertwining storylines i didn't think he needed to bring war into it again..... but anyway, maybe i will be able to, one day, pick it up and read it through.

yeh i totally understand what you are saying. things ended so well after the inital 7 books but personally i just wanted to know what was going to happen next. lol

[Hinny]

Finally managed to finish Che Guevara's The Motorcycle Diaries.

I wanna jump on a motorbike and travel across South America. NOW.

[Miss Fishy]

My favourite authors... well, there is several.

I'm mostly into fantasy. I am a Very dedicated Harry potter fan (half blood prince rocked!) and am very glad i am surrounded by other potters on this forum. I love Tolkien, CS Lewis, philip Pullman etc.

I also really enjoy Oscar wilde and Ben Elton, oh and ofcourse the brilliant Douglas Adams.

And I am quite partial to the Tomorrow series (John Marsden) having read them every winter throughout high school. Anyone know when the next Ellie book is coming out?

[lozzy]

I'm mostly into fantasy. I am a Very dedicated Harry potter fan (half blood prince rocked!) and am very glad i am surrounded by other potters on this forum.
you are cool :cool:

And I am quite partial to the Tomorrow series (John Marsden) having read them every winter throughout high school. Anyone know when the next Ellie book is coming out?
no idea sorry. good series though :)

[Hinny]

Che Guevara makes me wanna visit Cuba to see what it's really like.

[Miss Fishy]

you are cool :cool:


Thanks. but really, who can deny the brilliance of JK rowling. Even a die hard fan must admit that there has to be SOMETHING about the books to draw in such a large fanbase.

[kerrysan]

miss fishy. I AM SURROUNDED BY HARRY POTTEER FANS!@! ITS REALLY GETITNG TO ME!!!!

BUT... the tomorrow series is awesome and probably the only series/book that i have actually read with enthusiasm. so that means that YOU ROCK.

[lozzy]

read Harry then kel. you will understand. geez.

[Hinny]

Thanks. but really, who can deny the brilliance of JK rowling.
Hi, I'm Hinny. I don't think we've had the chance to talk before. :cool:

[Miss Fishy]

Hi, I'm Hinny. I don't think we've had the chance to talk before. :cool:

I'm Fishy. Pleased to meet you.


Up with the HP Love. <3

[kerrysan]

may i arsek how yo ugot the name fishy?

and no lozzy, i dont read.

[Miss Fishy]

may i arsek how yo ugot the name fishy?


Ermmm... everyone else had an animal name except me (and the one we call sugar), so seeing as i liked ocean, had pet fish and wanted to be a marine biologist, the nickname was spawned.

Wait, no, Thats right. Three of us had fish for dinner, so they decided that shall be my name.

it was so long ago, i fail to remember.

[kerrysan]

hahaha! awesome. pleased to know it has nothing to do with your scent. :)

[Miss Fishy]

hahaha! awesome. pleased to know it has nothing to do with your scent. :)

No, although it did spark many questions after i got 'fishy' printed on my leavers jumper. :rolleyes:

[whiskey]

Enid Blyton was definitely my favourite from my childhood, I had so many of her books.

Amen! She rules totally. What about the adventure series? Heavy, thought provoking stuff. They were like the famous five but there were only four of them and they had a parrot instead of a dog.

[Hinny]

Just picked up Scott Heim's novel Mysterious Skin after seeing the film. No time to read it yet, but if it's anywhere near the film in being as emotionally powerful, this will be one great book.

[murfinator]

I like Sara Donati, Diana Gabaldon, Danielle Steel, Cathy Kelly and Mary higgins clark

[missy_rulez]

Hey Katy i quite like Mary higgins Clark as well, hahaha i dont really have a favourite, i like stephen king, patricia cornwell, a few others...

[murfinator]

Hey Katy i quite like Mary higgins Clark as well,

Have you read her new book? No Place Like Home, it's really good

[missy_rulez]

Have you read her new book? No Place Like Home, it's really good
Nahh i havent at the moment, im reading umm 'night time is my time' right now its pretty kool too

[murfinator]

Yeah that's a good one