Can anyone recommend a new author for me to read? I like Ian McEwan, David Mitchell, Scarlett Thomas, Audrey Niffenegger, Kazuo Ishiguro - I enjoy existentialist fiction, something that's thoughtful and serious but that also has humour and insight. (Not much of an ask then, lol.) Any suggestions for new reading would be welcome. Stuck in a bit of a rut at the moment. Thanks!

Mirror Bound by Nissa Gordon. its a mixture of sci-fi & fantasy set in the future.

Try Rupert Thompson, Jake Arnott, Cormac McCarthy, Haruki Murakami, Iain Pears.

If you've not already read any of Anita Shreve books then I'd recommend taking a look at them-particularly 'Fortunes Rocks' and 'The Pilots Wife.' Books that stayed with me afterwards and beautifully written.

[Deleted by the author on 8 Oct 2009 10:55 BST]

I'm currently reading 'The Sorrows of an American' by Siri Hustvedt. Before I'd only known her as Paul Auster's wife (shame on me). Now I realise that she is one of the finest contemporary American writers. Check her out.

Hi
Try "The Secret Mandarin" by Sara Sheridan.... it's just out and I couldn't put it down....
Regards
Lorne

Try Haruki Murakami. Difficult to name a book to start with as I love every one of his.

Hi M. Lewis,
You might go for Nails and Bottle by me (D.M. Samson). They're about a car mechanic. Check them out on amazon. Read inside at www.davidmsamson.com.
Cheers
Dave

Carlos Ruiz Zafon - both books.

If you like Ian McEwan you might like mine Danny Volume 1. I can offer you more in-depth discussion on the nature of love, lust and everything in between than you will see in any other novel. Guaranteed. Plus I throw in hatred, envy and revenge - all wrapped up in an addictively compelling storyline. All this AND sex. Very dark though......

Hi Susan!
If you're looking for comedy which is also well written and with brilliant insights I'd recommend 'Education, Edukation, Edukashun,' by James Rainsford.
I was told about it by a teacher friend of mine and I found it absolutely hilarious. In fact, I read it at one sitting, and am now re-reading it. Here's a link where you can read some reviews: Education, Edukation, Edukashun

Anything by Robertson Davies, they're good and meaty. Andrew Greig writes beautifully, particularly "In Another Light". Or how about "Beyond Black" by Hilary Mantel and I've always enjoyed Alice Hoffman. One of my favourite novels of all time is "No Great Mischief" by Alistair Macleod.

Try "Disgrace" by JM Coetzee or "The Descendants" by Kaui Hart Hemmings - well worth a read both of them!

Tibor Fischer and James Lasdun - have these qualities in spades
Paul Auster and John Banville have their moments

Review
Thought-provoking and amusing.... A good read and definitely a novel of its time. --Manchester Evening News, July 18th, 2009

.... And No Wings

I'll second the recommendation for Murakami, and I'd start with The Wind-up Bird Chronicle.

Margaret Atwood
Meera Syal
Elizabeth Kay

I'll third the recommendation for Murakami, but would start with "Norwegian Wood".

Try Michael Faber's Under The Skin - an original take on an alternative world.

Timeless hearts by David J Middleton. He's a fairly new author so he's not well known yet, but his novel is a fantastic fictional read

Hey all,
If theres anyone here who likes a good freebie, I'm giving away free copies of Bringing Forth the End of Days on CD. This is my debut novel which was released back in july. It's an apocalyptic sci-fi thriller with a distinct difference.
If anyone wants a copy I just need your name and address. Please contact me through my website; www.Bringingforththeendofdays.webs.com

Thanks

Try Sharon Griffiths - The Accidental Time Traveller. Light read, funny but a lot to think about.

Another vote for Murakami but I think it is better to start from the beginning with Wild Sheep Chase, Wind Up Bird is an amazing book and I have read it more than once but I know people who have found it heavy going, After Dark is one of his shortest and was in fact my introduction to him, I was hooked.
I also agree with Margaret Atwood, I like her futuristic/post apocalyptic stuff, am currently reading The Year of The Flood, but you should read Oryx and Crake first. Dr Ragab's Universal Language by Robert Twigger is strange, surreal and bizarre but also humerous and contains many wise insights. Also I can't recommend The Hungry Ghosts by Anne Berry highly enough and am so pleased to see that it won the Rising Stars promotion. You could also try Roberto Bolano but I wouldn't advise 2666 as a starting point, his short stories 'Last Evenings on Earth' are a great introduction.

Revolutionaries
Revolutionaries (Paperback) by Jack Blade (Author)
Check this one out if you want a gritty, complex retro thriller [please be aware it freatures some seriously disturbing violence, sex and bad language]... a debut epic!!!
Preview it / read some chapters at www.the5uk.com