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Authors worth reading
I haven't written much about books for sometime, since I am reading the mammoth 'Shantaram'. So, I thought of putting down a list of writers I admire, each having his/her own strength. New suggestions/criticisms are most welcome:
1) Lucid, concise and well-argued essays: Paul Graham (Essays in 'Hackers and Painters').
2) Brilliant at articulating and espousing an ideology/idea: Ayn Rand (Atlas Shrugged) and Steven Pinker (The Language Instinct)
3) Words that express emotions and sentiments and touch you: Gregory David Roberts (Shantaram).
I did like to know about good satires/comedies/short stories. Any pointers ?
7 comments:
(a few pointers)
short stories: Roald Dahl, O Henry (if you already haven't).
satires/comedies: kurt vonnegut jr., upamanyu chatterjee, douglas adams, alexander mccall smith, terry pratchett.
Apart from O. Henry, I always liked short stories by Saki and Guy de Maupassant(these will be translated I suppose).
Thanks guys :)
I remember reading a couple of O.Henry's a long time back. Will try the others.
Ryand is too early to make it to the list, dont you think? She probably wrote a classic and nothing else matterred.
Your post reminded me that I havent read any short stories except O.Henry. Wondering why am i not keen either?
Lemme know if you get a good one
Prameela, neither is Gregory Roberts going to write another one, nor did Harper Lee write a second book. But, the best books are the ones that come from personal convictions and experiences. And how much of it can a person have in a lifetime?
As for Rand, in her espousal of an idea, she has been relentless and consistent. And it is quite a feat to weave those articles of faith into a narrative.
Comedy : Scott Adams
For satires, it doesn't get better than Vonnegut's 'Slaughterhouse Five' and Joseph Heller's 'Catch-22'.
For short stories of a contemporary American hue just read the NewYorker online! Jhumpa Lahiri's 'Interpreter of Maladies' is not too bad either.
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