Book Loving Kiwis discussion

I'm not talking about books that other people tell you you should have read or books that have had a massive amount of hype.

Which authors do you think you should have tackled by now.

For me

Patricia Grace
Virginia Woolf.
Kate Choppin
Evelyn Waugh

Fpr me, it's Woolf in particular. I'm a massive Mansfield fan don't know why I haven't tackled her rival.

I've missed the whole Terry Pratchet, Disc World phenomenon. Recently he passed away and this brought his writings to my attention. Also have shied away from Woolf and tried Dylan Thomas once in my youth and didn't understand a word but always intending to give him a second go.

Dickens. I once signed up to some service that will email a readable chunk of a classic every day so that you can eat it in bite sized portions, but I didn't get past day one. (can't even remember what book. Bleak House, maybe?)

I think for me one of the authors I should have read but haven't is Edith Wharton. I absolutely loved the BBC drama The Buccaneers, which is obviously based on one of her books, and The Age of Innocence movie. But unfortunately - or fortunately - joining Goodreads has definitely opened my eyes to so many great authors and so I have an increasingly long list of "want to reads!" But The Buccaneers was/is a stand out for me.

John Webster, John Dryden, Alexander Pope, and Grey's elegy, Patricia Grace and the new modern Americans.

Webster always sends me back to Shakespeare. Pope Dryden and Grey just drive me off to Milton and Blake.
Grace is just one of a whole range of NZ writers I just find dry or trivial or boring.
The modern Americans are so messy!

S.K.Fischer wrote: "I've missed the whole Terry Pratchet, Disc World phenomenon. Recently he passed away and this brought his writings to my attention. Also have shied away from Woolf and tried Dylan Thomas once in my..."

Same here SK, lets get one Pratchet done at least before the end of this year...

I have a whole raft of authors on the backburner. Too many..

Yes Ace. I'm up for the Pratchet challenge. Wondering which novel was his best work. Time for a little research. Stuck in Wellington as flights cancelled to Queenstown this morning. Try again tomorrow.

Don't get blown away there in Wellington airport!!!

I think my hubby has read them all so I'll come back to you with a plan SK and anyone else who wants to join in...

S.K.Fischer wrote: "Yes Ace. I'm up for the Pratchet challenge. Wondering which novel was his best work. Time for a little research. Stuck in Wellington as flights cancelled to Queenstown this morning. Try again tomor..."

Shame I'm home now, huh?

In Wellington, I would recommend the 2 Gallipoli exhibitions, although the Air NZ one was good as well. The walk along the beach at Island Bay through to the quarry was good as well.

Kathleen wrote: "I'm a long time Terry Pratchett fan and always look for an excuse to read him, so count me in if there's a challenge. don't know that I'd like to recommend a first read though - it's ages since I s..."

Will do Kathleen...

SK, Kathleen, re Terry Pratchett I think I'd like to start at the beginning of the Discworld books, so I'm planning to read The Color of Magic. Evidently not THE best of his works but I'm a bit funny with series and I feel like I'm missing something if I don't start at the beginning. I'm still a bit hesitant about the humor, but let's see how we go!

September, more likely October would be good for me...

Ace wrote: "SK, Kathleen, re Terry Pratchett I think I'd like to start at the beginning of the Discworld books, so I'm planning to read The Color of Magic. Evidently not THE best of ..."

Also been thinking the first book would be the one to read then, if I like his style, I could read a few more. I'm in! Thanks Ace and Kath.

Kathleen wrote: "Ace wrote: "... I think I'd like to start at the beginning of the Discworld books, so I'm planning to read The Color of Magic. ...

September, more likely October would be good for me..."

Excellen..."

Where do you think would be best? Here in the Book Talk folder or in the Popular Series Discussion folder? Let me know and I'll happily do that.

Ernest Hemingway. I've read plenty of books influenced by his minimalist style but yet to read any of his work.

Kathleen wrote: "Ella's Gran wrote: "...Where do you think would be best? Here in the Book Talk folder or in the Popular Series Discussion folder? Let me know and I'll happily do that. ..."

In the Popular Series, ..."

All set up. Enjoy ☺

Benny wrote: "Ernest Hemingway. I've read plenty of books influenced by his minimalist style but yet to read any of his work."

Hi Benny,
Recently read a book of his short stories but could not cope with his bullfight descriptions. Wanted to rush in and save the bull and the horses.

And thank you to Carol who started this.

We have a similar thread in another group where Stephen King is being suggested. Apparently he does write Non-horror. I'm even scared to touch on of his, let alone open the cover. I may try The Green Mile one day. Another is Iris Murdoch which I'm going to do a buddy read of in September.

Hey Ace,
Stephan King is a really good writer. I dodged him for years because I thought he was creepy but he is a brilliant writer,above and beyond what you may think.

Thank SK. I went to the library yesterday and they had many of his creepy ones, but I checked for both Joyland and Green Mile but they didn't have them.

I picked up the Pratchett though! Its a tiny book.

I started A Little Life so another new author for me..

Hey Ace,
Don't shy away from Stephan King. I think you can handle him. I like to say that he takes very ordinary people and puts them in extraordinary circumstances.

S.K.Fischer wrote: "And thank you to Carol who started this."

No problem! :)

Hey, Star Bright Carol! Trying to thank you on many levels plus this.

Hi S.K.,

For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Sun Also Rises are the two that have been recommended to me. I expect to encounter a certain amount of bloodsport in Hemingway's novels, his reputation precedes him. I just hope it informs the narrative in some way.

OK. The truth...if you expect a great story then Hemingway is not the master but...read for your pleasure and enlightenment.

Hemingway might not be considered the master, but he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature which I consider would make him pretty special.

Don't forget his The Old Man and the Sea and A Farewell to Arms which were two of his many books that were made into very successful movies.

Kathleen wrote: "Ace wrote: "... Another is Iris Murdoch which I'm going to do a buddy read of in September. ..."

I read a number of Iris Murdoch when I was 15 - so long ago I have no recollection of the titles. T..."

We are reading The Bell if you want we can set up another read here.

I was always lurking in the adult section of the library too Kathleen!

S.K.Fischer wrote: "I've missed the whole Terry Pratchet, Disc World phenomenon. Recently he passed away and this brought his writings to my attention. Also have shied away from Woolf and tried Dylan Thomas once in my..."

Argh. Meant James Joyce, not D.T.