Who Is Your Favourite Author?
Posted on 19. Oct, 2009 by Rachael in Books
It’s one of those almost scripted questions that people ask when you start talking about books.
It falls out of our mouths as easily as a sleazy salesman in a hotel bar trots out the words “do you come here often?” It’s the banal question “are you going anywhere nice on holiday this year?” from a back-street hairdresser. However, unlike the two examples above, I REALLY want to answer this question. I’ll happily tell everybody and anybody who will listen who my favourite author is.
In a world where we have a plethora of modern gadgets to allow ease of communicating with other people; where lots of us are openly reporting exactly what’s going in our day-to-day lives using things like Twitter or status updates on Facebook (e.g. today I have learnt that one of my friend’s dog is sick, another has gone to the doctor for anti-Malaria jabs, and I had unfortunately found it necessary to broadcast that I was in fact parading around wearing a bracelet on my head as a tiara – well it is my birthday 
/), reading seems like a very basic and anti-social act. No gadgets are required, just you, the printed page and your imagination. (Incidentally, I’m already very excited about how many more ways we will be communicating when using SPARKLE!)
A book doesn’t mind having the ‘tap end’ when you share a bath with it; it is company on the train; an agreeable bed-fellow; it is about learning something new. It takes time and effort to read a book, it requires more of you than watching a film or listening to music does. This is why we become so personally attached when we stumble across fantastic a book!
Without further ado – may I introduce to you my favourite author? The very wonderful….
Patrick Gale.
I will not tell you a lie…I’ve loved everything he has written. From his heart-wrenching, heavily involved, family based novels like Rough Music & Sweet Obscurity – through his collection of short stories (I’m not normally a big fan of those, but that’s a subject for another day) – to the, quite frankly bonkers, almost trippy, Facing The Tank. I’ve sobbed onto the pages of some and laughed out loud at others.
In reviewing one of his books The Sunday Times said ‘Gale is intoxicated with words and feeds upon them with a kind of manic relish… Gale speedily unleashes his merrily black mischief…’
This is why I can’t get enough.
So…here I go: Who is your favourite author – why do they bring Sparkle into your life?
P.S. I’d like to assure you that unlike the above hairdresser – I really do want to know.
Patrick Gale’s website: www.galewarning.org
19 Responses to “Who Is Your Favourite Author?”
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Phil Evans
19. Oct, 2009
That is bizarre !!!
I have just finished a book yesterday that I picked up at a car boot. I did not even look at the author until I finished it – and loved it.
“Notes from an exhibition” – Patrick Gale
Spooky
Rachael
20. Oct, 2009
The timing on that is very spooky!
“Notes from an exhibition” is a great book. So cleverly done. You can almost see the art pieces can’t you? I reallllly want an art studio like Rachel Kelly’s! I like the Quaker element to it too – I learnt about something I knew nothing about previously.
Zara
01. Nov, 2009
Robert Goddard, every time love every book he has written and a close second Nelson Demille
Rachael
01. Nov, 2009
Oh fab Zara, I love new recommendations! What is it you love about these authors’ books?
Bea Holden
02. Nov, 2009
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Have read just about all his books and, if I had to have a favourite, it would be The First Circle. All his books are powerful and come from personal experience. Writing this has made me realise I should re-read them as I first read them a long, long time ago.
Andy Montgomery
03. Nov, 2009
Oh, there have been so many over the years from Richard Brautigan in my student days, through Maeve Binchy to Khaled Hosseini but one that I think will probably always hold the number one spot is Louis de Bernieres. Jack introduced him to me with the trilogy ‘The War of Don Emmanuel’s Nether Parts’ and I was instantly completely hooked and love everything he’s written. Ironically, Captain Corelli is my least favourite.
Rachael
03. Nov, 2009
Goodness me Andy…yes…‚ÄòThe War of Don Emmanuel‚Äôs Nether Parts‚Äô is a brilliant book, loved it! I‚Äôd totally forgotten about it until I read your comment ‚Äì duh I don‚Äôt know how with a title like that
Do you know what though? I couldn‚Äôt even be bothered finishing Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, ha are you getting the impression that I‚Äôm a really easy going, tolerant reader?!?
So tell me Рwhat are the 2 following books in the trilogy like? I’m ashamed to admit that I haven’t read them (and can’t believe it)!
Jack
04. Nov, 2009
God, that’s a really hard one.
I used to go through phases where It would change on a regular basis from Jake Arnott to Barbara Kingsolver to Stephen Marlowe to Margaret Atwood and so on.
Louis de Berniere is still up there and Alex Garland will always have a special place, but how can you follow an inspiration for a generation like ‘The Beach’?
Nowadays, it tends to be individual books which leave a lasting impression rather than authors.
Andy Montgomery
04. Nov, 2009
Se√±or Vivo and the Coconut Lord and The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman are both every bit as good as Don Emmanuel. I love the fantasy world that De Bernieres weaves around his characters. If you enjoyed the first, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the other two.
Rachael
04. Nov, 2009
Hey Jack, I know what you mean…little one-off gems that you stumble across or that someone recommends. I‚Äôm in that stage now after completely exhausting everything by Partrick Gale! I pounce on and pre-order each of his new releases and probably always will – even though his more recent stuff has not been as off the wall
I hope writing talent doesn’t run-out as I blogged about in “Favourite Author Part II”.
Have a look at some of my recommendations at the end of that blog – there are some little beauties in that list
Mike
04. Nov, 2009
Mine has to be Gay writer Armistead Maupin.
I loved his “Tales of the City” in which there were six books set in San Francisco.
His last book was “Michael Toliver Lives” in 2007 which revisited one of the main characters who is now a 50 year old man living with HIV.
It took me three days to read (usually takes me a month!) loved it.
Rachael
07. Nov, 2009
They sound great Mike. Oh my reading list is getting longer and longer thanks to Sparkle! I may need a six week holiday to catch up
John
09. Nov, 2009
well I have 2 fav authors Anne McCadfrey ( Dragons of Pern book ) and Terry Brooks.
Love there books
Phil
09. Nov, 2009
I got 2 Patrick Gale books at the car boot – just reading “Rough Music” and loving it and then I have “The whole day through”
Rachael
09. Nov, 2009
RESULT!!! Yay…well Phil your car booters are definitely a better calibre of reader than anything I’ve ever come across in Liverpool Cricket Club on a Sunday! You can’t move for chic-lit and spy novels.
Will you let us know how you got on with “Rough Music”?
You’ve heard of force feeding – I’m guilty of a spot of ‘force reading’ with that book. I’ve made everyone I know and love borrow it off me, and if you’re really special I may have even bought a copy of it for you!!!
Everyone who has read it, loved it. Although there is one person who hasn’t even finished – you know who you are
Dave
09. Nov, 2009
Hi Rae
Yes I know and yes I apologise. I got half-way through and got distracted by my “comfort” books. Am currently reading The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, which has me totally hooked – and guess what?…it isn’t a crime thriller! Am sure I will come back to Rough Music very soon as I broaden my reading horizons.
Thanks for the reminder
Jack
12. Nov, 2009
I loved The Shadow of the Wind; such a beautifully written book.
I read it immediately after reading ‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’ and its lyrical style was the perfect anecdote to ‘Kevin’s’ brutal and disturbing reality.
Jack
12. Nov, 2009
…it might even have been the perfect antidote as wel! – DOH!
Helen
23. Nov, 2009
My favourite author(ess) is Emily Bronte (Wuthering Heights), other authors that I admire include Daphne Du Maurier (Rebecca), Harlan Coben (Tell no one) and Kate Mosse [not the model] (Sepulchre).