Oct 13, 2001 10:43 PM
3263 Views
OK here goes not sure if I can come up with ten favourite authors but I will have a try. I am going to use the term'author' quite loosely i.e. anyone who writes a book be that book a novel, a play or a non fictional book, hope that is OK.
Terry Pratchett
=========
I am an avid reader of this man's work, ever since someone lent me the first book of the discworld series I have been hooked. The discworld books(about 26 in all) are works of science fantasy set on a fictional world but despite this have a lot to say about this world and life in general and they are laugh out loud funny so don't read them on the train unless you want people to look at you strangely!
William Shakespeare
===============
I have been an avid reader and watcher of his plays since I had to study one for a course three years ago. Before that I always assumed that the language would be too difficult for me but rubbish this man wrote about life and people and delved deep into human nature which is why he is still popular. Most of his insights are as relevant today as they were 400 years ago. Among my favourites are twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, King Lear and Romeo and Juliet.
Christopher Hill
============
This author is an historian who write particularly about the English Civil war and write'history from below' that is the history of the ordinary people which I like. My favourite is The World Turned Upside Down.
Jane Austen
=======
Pride and prejudice. sigh! Mr Darcy. sigh oh sorry got a bit distracted there! Needless to say this aauthor is a writer of classics, insightful and satirical I have read Pride and Prejudice so many times the cover has fallen off!
Sue Townsend
========
Writer of the Diaries of Adrian Mole which were very funny but also a lesser known book called The Queen and I which was about what would happen to the British royal family if they had to go and live on a council estate, I still can't read this book without laughing.
Agatha Christie
===========
Queen of crime fiction or so they say, I love to read these books for the twist in the tale and for the sense of history they convey, and only once in thirty odd books did I know whodunnit!
Dick Francis
========
Another writer of crime fiction this time centred on the horse racing world, again I love the twists in the tale.
Helen Fielding
==========
Being an undergraduate I spend an awful lot of time reading textbooks so when I get time to myself(!) I like to read lightish funny novels and Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones Diary ans its sequel fitted the bill nicely. The books are funny and real and describe situations we have all found ourselves in(OK then I have found myseld in!). Another one not to read on the train because you will laugh out loud.
Mike Harding
========
Northern British comic from years ago he also wrote books that were very very funny. My favourite one was about his early childhood and schooling and was called'You can see the angels bum Miss Worswick' and even after about ten years it makes me cry with laughter.
Tony Harrison
=========
Yorkshire poet who writes poems about not always doing what those in charge tell you to! Perfect.
WOW got to ten without too much trouble, and now you know I like a good laugh when I get time to read what I want rather than what I have to. I'm sure once I have submitted this I will think of others I should have included but these will do. for now
