Looking for book recommendations from like minded people?

Question

Some of my favorite authors are:
Matt Ruff, Ken Kesey, Stephen King, Tom Robbins, Clive Barker, John Irving, T.C. Boyle, Steven Millhauser, Weis & Hickman, Poppy Z. Brite, Scarlett Thomas, Patricia Highsmith, Shirley Jackson
Favort Books:
A Case of Curiosities, Love in a Dead Language, The Toy Collector, Motherless Brooklin, Neverwhere, The Prestige, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, Hairstyles of the Damned, The Eleven Million Mile High Dancer, Maybe the Moon, A Cooks Tour, Jane Eyre, Cruddy, As Simple as Snow, Zod Wallop

Have you read and loved some of these books/authors? What books/authours would you recomend to me?
Thanks!

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

I like alot of these authors and books as well, others I am unfamiliar with. Let's see what comes to mind. Maybe:
William T. Vollmann's The Rainbow Stories, Alex Garland's The Beach, Rebecca West's The Birds Fall Down and The Fountain Overflows ( that's 2 titles ), Mary Doria Russell's The Sparrow, John Nichol's The Milagro Beanfield War, absolutely anything Robertson Davies has written, Going After Cacciato by Tim O'Brien, The Songlines by Bruce Chatwin, um, I know there's more I should be thinking of but I hope this sparks your interest. Nice to see grown up book questions. I love telling people about books I like and hearing about other people who read real books. Thanks for asking.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thank you everyone for all the great recommendations - I've gotten a few of them and plan to check out the others. Thank you Reader for all your suggestions (never heard of any of them, except Davies, so that’s exciting) and most of all thanks for stroking my ego, huzzah!

Answer 2

How about Sean Demsmond's ABANDON (published in hardcover as ADAM'S FALL). It's one of those types of horror where you don't know if what is being narrated is actually happened or if the narrator is imagining it. Very interesting book.

Answer 3

librarians and booksellers are an underutilized resource.

Answer 4

If you like Clive Barker and Stephen King, you'll love Neil Gaiman. I see Neverwhere is already on your favorites. Might I recommend American Gods, if you haven't already read it? Sandman is really his magnum opus, but American Gods is my favorite of his novels.

I'm not going to pretend to know all the authors on your list, or all the books, because I don't. But from what I see here, I'd also recommend "Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell," by Susanna Clarke (my favorite book), "Rebecca," by Daphne DuMaurier (actually, I despised it as a cheap Jane Eyre knock off, but I know people, Jane Eyre lovers included, who absolutely adore it.)

Also try "House of Leaves," by Mark Danielewski, one of the bizarrest books ever written, incredibly original, and unbelievably creepy.

"The Thirteenth Tale." More gothic for you. Lyrical, weird, and wonderful.

Answer 5

I've read some of these and will be checking the others out. =) Neverwhere is one of my very favorites!

Lately, I've read (and enjoyed) Patricia Cornwell, John Sanford's Prey books, Christopher Moore, Lee Child, and Laurell K. Hamilton.

Good luck, it's so frustrating to run out of stuff to read!

Answer 6

I liked all of Shirley Jackson's novels except "The Road Through the Wall" and "Hangsaman."

Answer 7

Bentley Little:
The Revelation
The Mailman
Death Instinct
The Summoning
The Night School
The Store
The House
The Ignored
Guests
The Town
The Vanishing....newly released in paper back

Shirley Jackosn recommends these authors:
Iris Johansen
Lisa Jackson
Melanie Jackson
Anna Jacobs
Sabrina Jefferies

Clive Barker recommends these authors:
The Influence by Ramsey Campbell
The Bridge by John M. Skipp and Craig Spector
Wet Work by Philip Notman
The List of Seven by Mark Frost
Demons by John Shirley

Scarlett Thomas recommends:
June Thomson
Nancy Tesler
Rebecca Tope
Alison Taylor
Joanna Trevor

Patricia Highsmith recommends:
King of the Ants by Charlie Higson
Jack Higgins
Robert Heinlein
Sue Ann Grafton
Tony Hillerman
Charlie Higson

The Heart Shape Box by Joe Hill...he is Stephen King's son

Answer 8

I would recommend 'The Secret History' by Donna Tartt. Beautifully written, dark, unusual; wonderful novel.

If you like psychological thrillers like those by Highsmith, then there are several authors you might enjoy. Try Greg Iles, Jeffrey Deaver.

I love horror books, but I've never really enjoyed Stephen King. But there's a great British writer in the same genre: Peter James. Try 'Prophecy' and 'Alchemist' - these two are very commercial fiction but if you like horror, worth a try.

Answer 9

First of all, I LOVE Kesey's work. If you like Ken Kesey and haven't read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, then I recommend that.

I think you'll also enjoy Jack Kerouac, Neal Cassady, and Allen Ginsberg. :-)

Answer 10

Hey, someone else who like Matt Ruff! Sweet!

Christopher Moore writes hilarious stuff on a variety of topics. I'd put him on the same level as Matt Ruff for intelligent humor.
Carl Hiaasen writes goofy mysteries set in Florida. Good stuff.