I'll keep the party going! One of my favorite American authors, in fact one of my favorite writers of all time, is William S. Burroughs. I've read everything he ever wrote and I simply never tire of his work. A singular, revolutionary author.
One of my favorite American authors would have to be James Baldwin. His perfect novels, his brilliant essays . . . his short stories, his plays, his poetry . . . even his interviews, conversations and public speaking engagements are still powerful and prescient. Definitely one of the greatest American authors, thinkers and orators of all time.
One of my favorite American authors is, hands-down, Cormac McCarthy. He was able to say so much with such sparse prose. His work has influenced me greatly, especially his novels “The Road” and “Child of God.” His dark, gritty writing style accurately depicts how ruthless the world can be, but that there can be some beauty in the darkness.
Yes! Cormac McCarthy is brilliant and "The Road" actually knocked me to my knees in a way I had not expected. I think you're going to love North Woods by Daniel Mason based on this response. Thank you!
Okay, we argued over who gets to claim Paul Bowles--we decided we have to share. Chris claims George Saunders, and I call Marilynne Robinson (Housekeeping, especially!)
I love your answer! Especially because Paul Bowles, George Saunders AND Marilynne Robinson have been on my long reading list for ages (it's a *very* long list). (I do love Jane Bowles by the way.) So I have one more question . . . where to start with each? I assume Housekeeping for Robinson. What about the other two? The Sheltering Sky? Lincoln in the Bardo? Will add all three to the short list once confirmed!
My suggestions for Bowles and Saunders would be Yes and Yes to those titles.
The Sheltering Sky is quintessential Bowles and so good. I would add in 2-3 short stories: A Distant Episode, Pages From Cold Point, and The Delicate Prey. Each of those has what most hooked me on Bowles long ago--this sense of a purely human horror story.
Lincoln In the Bardo is phenomenal. So strange but funny and deeply moving, all the things that make Saunders my other longtime author hero. You’d think Lincoln in the Bardo is just a symbolic title but, nope, he’s telling you exactly what to expect.
Again I’d recommend his short fiction (both of these authors occupy that tiny space of brilliant short story writers, which was my first true fiction love).
I’d say pick up his collection Tenth of December. If you wanna visit the 90s again (and who doesn’t) you could read Civilwarland in Bad Decline, which is what I first read. But I think his dark humor only got better and more human with age, so Tenth is wonderful.
I actually met George a few years ago, after a talk he gave. I went down to shake his hand and tell him how much he meant to me as a writer. So I did and George being George he stopped me mid-fawning and said “what’s your name?” and I thought...MY name? Who cares about MY name? I honestly forgot it for a second. It was like a god shooting down out of the sky to ask you how your day was. The most starstruck I’ve even been.
Your meeting George Saunders story is absolutely precious. Brilliant! Lincoln in the Bardo is now on my e-reader and ready for consumption.
And Sheltering Sky, yes. I read it about 30 years ago because of my love of Burroughs. But I have to check out the short stories again. I think I read them at the same time but I obviously must go back to them.
I love that you met George Saunders . . . what a great story! Thank you for sharing it! I'm definitely adding Lincoln in the Bardo and Tenth of December to the shortest version of my reading shortlist. (Which now contains at least five books from this very discussion thread!)
Yes! I love the textile works as well. And his digital works. And his installations. And the book covers (Mrs. Dalloway!), the champagne labels . . . We chose to focus on the oil paintings for this podcast (and because there are currently art prints and original art available for sale!) , but Rafael Silveira’s work in *every* medium is amazing. Aesthetic arrest. And he has an upcoming exhibition in L.A. at the end of June!
People have been recommending Ann Patchett to me for years, and her books have been sitting for *far* too long in my to-be-read pile. This settles it. I have a copy of Bel Canto, so I'm adding that one to the shortlist now. Thanks for the recommendation!
So many great writers that I love. Willa Cather is a favorite. I've read all of her novels at least twice. Louise Erdrich is also one of my favorites. The first of her works I read was The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse and I was hooked on her writing ever since.
Willa Cather and Louise Erdrich are two of my favorites as well! Love both those choices. And I just realized we've never talked about Willa Cather on the podcast . . . we'll definitely need to rectify that omission!
Northwoods does sound like an fascinating book. I normally don’t read novels because I listen to people’s stories all day long and their tragedies. So it’s the last thing I want to do after work.
Honestly, I think you would love this book, Cheryl! And there's actually a great audio version of the book with multiple voices doing the parts of the book. Check it out!
I had great literature teachers all the way through school starting in seventh grade all the way into college. I was very lucky they introduced me to many of the great authors
Ditto! We're both so lucky. For me it was my librarian in Junior High, Mrs. Liebenow. She absolutely changed my life. I spent my entire lunch hour of 7th, 8th and 9th grade with her, just talking about books. She steered me toward so many authors I love to this day!
I think it's because of my love for science fiction, more for the actual science IN the fiction, but as a storyteller my choice is, Michael Crichton. He literally (pun intended) wrote "The Andromeda Strain" while he was a student in medical school; he wrote many other stories under pseudonym, John Lange, so the school wouldn't know. Many a book he's written has transformed to the big screen-
TV Series, "ER" written, directed & produced.
Jurassic Park, Congo, Andromeda Strain, Prey, The Terminal Man, Sphere, Coma . . . The Great Train Robbery, Twister & Westworld.
All of you have already picked my faves, except Kerouac.
He probably had some friends in the defense departments and space agencies aside from technical advisors because so much of what is featured in his films are real technologies that aren't available to the public.
I'll keep the party going! One of my favorite American authors, in fact one of my favorite writers of all time, is William S. Burroughs. I've read everything he ever wrote and I simply never tire of his work. A singular, revolutionary author.
Great choice. You introduced to me Burroughs (many years ago) and for that I am grateful. The Red Night Trilogy might be my favorite.
Cities of the Red Night is one of my all-time favorite books, period.
Burroughs, hot dog, you beat me to it!
One of my favorite American authors would have to be James Baldwin. His perfect novels, his brilliant essays . . . his short stories, his plays, his poetry . . . even his interviews, conversations and public speaking engagements are still powerful and prescient. Definitely one of the greatest American authors, thinkers and orators of all time.
Could not agree more! If I hadn't said Burroughs, I would have said Baldwin. ICON.
One of my favorite American authors is, hands-down, Cormac McCarthy. He was able to say so much with such sparse prose. His work has influenced me greatly, especially his novels “The Road” and “Child of God.” His dark, gritty writing style accurately depicts how ruthless the world can be, but that there can be some beauty in the darkness.
Yes! Cormac McCarthy is brilliant and "The Road" actually knocked me to my knees in a way I had not expected. I think you're going to love North Woods by Daniel Mason based on this response. Thank you!
Fantastic choice. I *loved* The Road. And Child of God is on my reading list.
Same, same!
All I have to say right now is “oh my god, the textiles that Silveira co-created with his wife!!! I’m gobsmacked.
I know, right??? They are both amazing artists.
Ok, so we're dying to know one of YOUR favorite American authors. And Chris Rock too. Give it up!
Indeed! I second this query!
Okay, we argued over who gets to claim Paul Bowles--we decided we have to share. Chris claims George Saunders, and I call Marilynne Robinson (Housekeeping, especially!)
I love your answer! Especially because Paul Bowles, George Saunders AND Marilynne Robinson have been on my long reading list for ages (it's a *very* long list). (I do love Jane Bowles by the way.) So I have one more question . . . where to start with each? I assume Housekeeping for Robinson. What about the other two? The Sheltering Sky? Lincoln in the Bardo? Will add all three to the short list once confirmed!
Hey all! I’m diving in!
My suggestions for Bowles and Saunders would be Yes and Yes to those titles.
The Sheltering Sky is quintessential Bowles and so good. I would add in 2-3 short stories: A Distant Episode, Pages From Cold Point, and The Delicate Prey. Each of those has what most hooked me on Bowles long ago--this sense of a purely human horror story.
Lincoln In the Bardo is phenomenal. So strange but funny and deeply moving, all the things that make Saunders my other longtime author hero. You’d think Lincoln in the Bardo is just a symbolic title but, nope, he’s telling you exactly what to expect.
Again I’d recommend his short fiction (both of these authors occupy that tiny space of brilliant short story writers, which was my first true fiction love).
I’d say pick up his collection Tenth of December. If you wanna visit the 90s again (and who doesn’t) you could read Civilwarland in Bad Decline, which is what I first read. But I think his dark humor only got better and more human with age, so Tenth is wonderful.
I actually met George a few years ago, after a talk he gave. I went down to shake his hand and tell him how much he meant to me as a writer. So I did and George being George he stopped me mid-fawning and said “what’s your name?” and I thought...MY name? Who cares about MY name? I honestly forgot it for a second. It was like a god shooting down out of the sky to ask you how your day was. The most starstruck I’ve even been.
Your meeting George Saunders story is absolutely precious. Brilliant! Lincoln in the Bardo is now on my e-reader and ready for consumption.
And Sheltering Sky, yes. I read it about 30 years ago because of my love of Burroughs. But I have to check out the short stories again. I think I read them at the same time but I obviously must go back to them.
Thank you for these amazing recommendations!
I love that you met George Saunders . . . what a great story! Thank you for sharing it! I'm definitely adding Lincoln in the Bardo and Tenth of December to the shortest version of my reading shortlist. (Which now contains at least five books from this very discussion thread!)
Yes! I love the textile works as well. And his digital works. And his installations. And the book covers (Mrs. Dalloway!), the champagne labels . . . We chose to focus on the oil paintings for this podcast (and because there are currently art prints and original art available for sale!) , but Rafael Silveira’s work in *every* medium is amazing. Aesthetic arrest. And he has an upcoming exhibition in L.A. at the end of June!
I love Ann Patchett -- particularly Bel Canto and The Magician's Assistant.
People have been recommending Ann Patchett to me for years, and her books have been sitting for *far* too long in my to-be-read pile. This settles it. I have a copy of Bel Canto, so I'm adding that one to the shortlist now. Thanks for the recommendation!
Now I want to read it again. :-)
I think I'm going to start reading it this week! Thank you, Mary!
So many great writers that I love. Willa Cather is a favorite. I've read all of her novels at least twice. Louise Erdrich is also one of my favorites. The first of her works I read was The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse and I was hooked on her writing ever since.
Willa Cather and Louise Erdrich are two of my favorites as well! Love both those choices. And I just realized we've never talked about Willa Cather on the podcast . . . we'll definitely need to rectify that omission!
Northwoods does sound like an fascinating book. I normally don’t read novels because I listen to people’s stories all day long and their tragedies. So it’s the last thing I want to do after work.
Honestly, I think you would love this book, Cheryl! And there's actually a great audio version of the book with multiple voices doing the parts of the book. Check it out!
John Steinbeck, in my younger days was my most favorite American author. I loved his work.
After that, it became Leo Tolstoy.
John Steinbeck! I, too, read him at a very young age. The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden were certainly major canonical works!
And I do love Tolstoy as well!
Sorry, I think I diverged. Leo Tolstoy is clearly not an American author
This is true! A great author but definitely not American!
I had great literature teachers all the way through school starting in seventh grade all the way into college. I was very lucky they introduced me to many of the great authors
Ditto! We're both so lucky. For me it was my librarian in Junior High, Mrs. Liebenow. She absolutely changed my life. I spent my entire lunch hour of 7th, 8th and 9th grade with her, just talking about books. She steered me toward so many authors I love to this day!
I think it's because of my love for science fiction, more for the actual science IN the fiction, but as a storyteller my choice is, Michael Crichton. He literally (pun intended) wrote "The Andromeda Strain" while he was a student in medical school; he wrote many other stories under pseudonym, John Lange, so the school wouldn't know. Many a book he's written has transformed to the big screen-
TV Series, "ER" written, directed & produced.
Jurassic Park, Congo, Andromeda Strain, Prey, The Terminal Man, Sphere, Coma . . . The Great Train Robbery, Twister & Westworld.
All of you have already picked my faves, except Kerouac.
The Andromeda Strain - a classic sci-fi story! Crichton has definitely earned his chops as a revered writer.
He probably had some friends in the defense departments and space agencies aside from technical advisors because so much of what is featured in his films are real technologies that aren't available to the public.