Can Anyone Recommend Any Decent Authors?

oldngrumpy

Hi folks.

I am trying dearly to get into reading.

In the very brief times I have done this in the past. My mind became slightly sharper, and I think it improved my memory.

Anyhow. I am leaving myself open for suggestions...

Any recommendations on Authors, that you  think may kick start my reading habits.

Any offers, apart from Romance.

Thank you

chiarieds

Hi @oldngrumpy - as far as fiction authors go, my favourite is Robert Goddard - most of his novels go back to a historical period, but are also about the present day, e.g. his first novel. 'Past Caring'  relates back to the time of the suffragettes, his second novel, 'In Pale Battalions,' goes back to WW1. I can't put him into a particular category, but I enjoy the twists & turns in his books. Some info here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16246.Robert_Goddard 

I'm also a fan of Iain Pears art world mysteries (the Jonathan Argyll series); I've also enjoyed his other novels apart from 'The Dream of Scipio,' tho still have a couple to read. I also enjoy Derek Wilson's Lacy artworld mysteries, tho some of these can be hard to find.

Crime novelists books I don't tend to keep other than those of Peter Robinson. Hope these have given you some thoughts. Please say what genres you're interested in, & I may be able to help (used to have a secondhand & antiquarian bookshop).

ShirleyW

Gosh so difficult to recommend because there are so many different types of novels and so many good authors.

What sort of stuff do you think would appeal to you?  Science fiction, fantasy, historial novels, who dunnit, westerns, adventure?  What sort of films or tv programmes do you like to watch?  Many films and tv programmes are based on books.

Here are some of my favourite authors and books:

Elizabeth Goudge  - old fashioned spiritual type novels but very restful and gentle to read, dealing with families and life's problems.  A little romance but not much.

Robin Hobb - briliiant fantasy novels.

Diana Gabaldon - Outlander novels.  Some time travel but mainly historial drama with lots of fighting, adventure, sex and romance.  Very explicit in places.

JRR Tolkien - brilliant fantasy - The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit

HE Bates - The Darling Buds of May - very light hearted and lots of fun.  Both TV series were based on these books.

Julian May - The Many Coloured Land and The Galactic Milieu series.  Fantasy, Science Fiction and Time Travel.  

James Clavell - epic historial novels like The Shogun

Iain M Banks - the best science fiction tales I've ever read

Gerald Durrell - The Corfu Trilogy - the tv series The Durrells was based on his books.  

Len Deighton - SS-GB  all bought what might have happened if the Germans had won WW2.  A TV series was based on it.  Very exciting book to read and tv programme to watch.

Carlos Ruiz Zafon - The Cemetry of Forgotten Books series - brilliant mystery novels.

EM Forster - Howards End - some romance but an excellent book about families and life set in the early 1900's if memory serves me right.

Steig Larsson - The Girl with Dragon Tattoo series - very fast and complicated but some very explicit violence.

Liarn Herne - Tales from the Otori series - set in a fantasy feudal Japan of the past.  Very sad ending.

There are loads more.  Get yourself off to the library and see what you can find that might appeal.  Happy reading.

Tori_Scope

Wow- you must read a lot @ShirleyW  

Autumn_Feeling

I recommend Frederik Pohl and Octavia E. Butler.

Terry Pratchett has a great sense of humour.

ShirleyW

Yes @Tori_Scope I do read a lot.  Always have done since being a young child.  It's a great way to escape from your problems.

@Autumn_Feeling I haven't read any Frederick Pohl for years.  Thanks for reminding me. 
I've not heard of Octavia E. Butler, so I will check her out.

And yes Terry Pratchett's books are brilliant and very funny especially the Discworld ones.  

leeCal

So I don’t read fiction but I can recommend any book about the Dalai Lama, especially if you don’t want to escape your problems but tackle them head on. With piercing logic, rationale and compassion the psychology of happiness is usually presented so that even a novice can understand it and grow in contentment and with an increase in inner peace tackle everyday life’s challenges.

At the moment I'm reading “The book of Joy”. 
🙂

Adrian_Scope

Some great suggestions there @ShirleyW. And as you say, the library is a great place to start if there's one close by. It's where I go to broaden my reading a bit and if you pick something up and it ends up not being to your taste, you can just take it back and pick something else.

Sue_Alumni

Well @oldngrumpy - some good ideas for you ? Tell us a little bit about yourself and we can have more of a think of the sort of things you might like.   WOW @ ShirleyW thank you for some amazing suggestions. What was the last book you read and enjoyed ? I love reading and being able to totally immerse myself in a story.  I have a baby granddaughter and I cant wait to start reading with her. 

oldngrumpy

Thanking you Folks

Jo_2022

Hi @oldngrumpy! 😊 Welcome to the community. What a great idea it is that you are trying to get back into reading. I’m reading a biography about Captain Tom Moore at the moment.