Harper Lee

[glasfryn]

Yup, I'd agree with that.

My point was there aren't that many authors who have written more than one really oustanding book.

And of the ones who have - Grisham, Clancy, Forsyth, even Jeffery Archer - there tends to be lots of similarities between their books.

Even the greatest of them all in my opinion - P.G. Wodehouse - used pretty much the same plot line in the vast majority of his books.

Doesn't mean they weren't enjoyable though. If you find a winning formula stick with it.

I've read virtually all of John Grisham's books and will continue to read any new ones he writes, but when he deviates from his normal format I think he misses a trick.

another to add to your list ,Robert Tressell (the ragged trousered philanthopists) another book that had me reading it several times and should be read (even if you are not a socialist)and even if we don't all live in Mugsborough.
some of the books I have read have been so boring ..............but had to for school
now prefer pure history

 

[Stato]

a bit of Harper Lee trivia, she was a childhood friend of Truman Capote.

The character of 'Dill' in TKAM is based on Capote. Capote based a character on Harper Lee in his early novel 'Other Voices, Other Rooms.' She was also involved in the research for Capote's excellent 'In Cold Blood.'

I didn't bother with 'Watchman' as I was suspicious of how it came to be published. TKAM is obviously a massively important novel in its own right, but its also a nice entry point for the 'Southern Gothic' of Carson McCullers, William Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor, Harry Crews etc.

 

[catfish]

The character of 'Dill' in TKAM is based on Capote. Capote based a character on Harper Lee in his early novel 'Other Voices, Other Rooms.' She was also involved in the research for Capote's excellent 'In Cold Blood.'

I didn't bother with 'Watchman' as I was suspicious of how it came to be published. TKAM is obviously a massively important novel in its own right, but its also a nice entry point for the 'Southern Gothic' of Carson McCullers, William Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor, Harry Crews etc.

Carson McCullers....now there is a hugely underrated author. Should be far more well known than she is.

 

[Buzzer]

The character of 'Dill' in TKAM is based on Capote. Capote based a character on Harper Lee in his early novel 'Other Voices, Other Rooms.' She was also involved in the research for Capote's excellent 'In Cold Blood.'

I didn't bother with 'Watchman' as I was suspicious of how it came to be published. TKAM is obviously a massively important novel in its own right, but its also a nice entry point for the 'Southern Gothic' of Carson McCullers, William Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor, Harry Crews etc.

I haven't heard of McCullers, I'm going to search him out now. Thanks for the heads up on him. I found out about Harry Crews from him appearing in Jim White's film 'The Wrong-Eyed Jesus' and he's a fascinating character.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Bizarrely donated TKAM to a charity shop just yesterday. Really tried with that book, but it was just too tediocre for me.

I'm glad I'm not the only one.

 

[Stato]

I haven't heard of McCullers, I'm going to search him out now. Thanks for the heads up on him. I found out about Harry Crews from him appearing in Jim White's film 'The Wrong-Eyed Jesus' and he's a fascinating character.

The name is misleading. Carson was a her rather than a him. 'The Heart is a Lonely Hunter' is her masterpiece. 'The Ballad of The Sad Cafe' and 'The Member of The Wedding' are also very good. I was less keen on 'A Clock Without Hands,' which was a bit of a grim read. I believe she wrote it when she was dying.

Jim White's film was great and his album of the same name is pretty good too.