I will add David Lodge to the list and will probably come up with a few more authors when I stop and think about it more.

Naturally, I will add that George Gissing should be required reading. (There ya go, Martin... another 25p in your pocket for me mentioning Gissing.)

PAM

The first one that comes to mind is Taylor Caldwell.

Astonishingly - Graham Greene

I don't recall seeing Toni Morrison's name mentioned here. I think she's an exceptional writer.

Found this old thread in the archives.

After looking it over, I too am surprised at some of the authors who don't show up here in discussions. E.g. -- Evelyn Waugh, Graham Greene, Katherine Mansfield. I would add Iris Murdoch.

Sarah Canary - Maybe Toni Morrison isn't mentioned because she's written so few books? Loved her novel "Song of Solomon." Read it in the '80s, and still remember the woman who didn't have a navel ... people said that she was un-human because of that. So she wore --always -- a tiny metal box dangling from a chain earring. ... It contained her birth certificate.

I'm always surprised that I don't see Neil Gaiman's name crop up, as he is a hugely bestselling and award-winning author. I've read so much of his work I couldn't begin to list it here. Maybe just not anyone's cup of tea?

Nadine Gordimer's book The Pickup is one of my favorite books. I think her writing style can be a bit dense at times. Another author noone ever mentions on this forum is James Michener. Chesapeake was one of my favorite books, too, probably since I live in the region. I believe his books are supposed to be well-researched but I think he's fallen out of fashion.

Native to Kentucky is Janice Holt Giles. I really like her; my favorite is Hannah Fowler, the second in her books that follow one family's descandants on the westward journey of expansion across the U.S. Unfortunately, Mrs. Giles died before she got them to California. There are several stand alone books, too.

Bookmom, I like Michener a lot. My favorites are Hawaii and Centennial.

What a challenge this list is! Good topic -- I'm quite intrigued and it has set me thinking. Perhaps some of them have fallen out of fashion? There is fashion in reading as well as in everything else. Anyway, here are my thoughts.

William Styron - I have considered reading Sophie's Choice, but did not think I could bear the pain of it.

Gail Godwin - I picked up Father Melancholy's Daughter when it first came out, didn't finish it, and just dismissed her from my attention. Perhaps I will give her another try. In your opinion would that be the best book to start with?

Nadine Gordimer - Never gave her a try. I dislike political novels intensely and had the impression her work is all very political. Am I being unfair?

Tim Parks - Forgive me but I never heard of him until you listed him.

Peter Mayle - I read A Year in Provence, or at least most of it. Meh. Now, his two comic sex education books for children are very amusing.

Knut Hamsun - Another writer I don't know.

Paul Bowles - Just one, The Sheltering Sky. A vivid picture of destructive ennui. Very glad I read it, not at all interested in reading any more.

Paul Theroux - Again, just one, The Kingdom By the Sea. Really disliked this book. All through the book he sneered so eloquently and dismissively at working class people and what he saw as their shallow pursuits that I wanted to just smack him. Anyway, he is one of my husband's absolute favorite writers. Tom has read all his travel books. Tastes differ.

Isak Dinesen - thought about it, never tried any of her books, Even bought one and later gave it away.

Alan Paton - I read Cry the Beloved Country when I was barely 15, too young to appreciate it fully, but I was moved nonetheless.

Evelyn Waugh - I mostly think of Evelyn Waugh when I am making the argument about how many girls' names used to be boys' names.

Katherine Mansfield - read several short stories in various lit classes over the years, but no novels.

The other suggested neglected authors follow here:

Never tried David Lodge or George Gissing.

Used to read Taylor Caldwell back in high school.

I really thought I had read something by Graham Greene, but when I looked at a list of titles none of them were familiar. Must have been Graham Something-Else.

Read about half of Toni Morrison's Beloved, but found it too painful to finish.

No Iris Murdoch. Have always meant to give her a try. So many books, etc.

Read a lot of James Michener once upon a time. Eventually got tired of his formula, however well done. And I admit he did do it well.

Neil Gaiman - I've read most of his novels. Clever and enjoyable for the most part. I didn't like The Anansi Boys as well as American Gods or Neverwhere. Saw the movie of Stardust but haven't gotten around to reading the novel yet, though I do plan to.

Janet Holt Giles - read her books when I was in high school as well right...

Isak Dinesen was discussed this past year. I read her for the first time. I discovered (not surprisingly) that several other RPers had read her work, and had interesting opinions about it.

If I may add another name, I am surprised how rarely Thomas Hardy is mentioned.

Also, though her books were very popular when reissued about 10 years ago, I never see anyone mention Dawn Powell on RP.

There are two authors mentioned on this thread whose works we HAVE, indeed, discussed. Some time ago, at RP, we had a thread discussing Evelyn Waugh's "Brideshead Revisited", as well as Thomas Hardy's "The Mayor of Casterbridge." I recall both threads vividly, as the debates were quite lively regarding Catholicism and "frumenty" (a sort of English punch).

Perhaps that is why neither of these authors have been recently mentioned.

I should add that there is now a thread here on George Gissing. As Tim says, we did discuss recently the work of Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen).

And I've posted here about the Neil Gaiman book -"Neverwhere". Mostly takes place in the London subway system, where some magical beings live. One day a "regular" human man becomes involved in their world down there. First time I ever read a Gaiman book -- and I don't care for fantasy genre. I was really enthrall to this book.

Rosefolly - So odd you mention you were 15 when you read "Cry the Beloved Country". When I was 15 it was assigned to my high school English class. I was way too young for it. Didn't read it, and still haven't. I also have an aversion to fiction books that have a heavy political agenda... and that's even if I agree totally w/ what they are espousing.

Woodnymph- frumenty isn't punch, it's a kind of sweetened cracked wheat porridge with dried fruit and sometimes nuts, often served with a tot of rum.
I've just discovered Anna Quindlen and quite enjoying her for a light read.

Actually, I rarely encounter Josephine Tey's name on RP. Just this afternoon, Ipicked up a hardbound compilation of some of her mysteries.