Hi

Hi everyone, ive just joined this group, which by the way I think is a great idea!, im new to LibraryThing im really chuffed with it as Im a massive book reader!!

That`s very cool.

Now we`ve got started, what do we think is the best Brit reading.

I`ll make a start by nominating Sexton Blake, pulp detective, who started his career in the 1890s and continued until 1963, with a brief comeback in the `80s.

Unlike others, Blake was never the province of a single writer, which probably didn`t help with reader loyalty. There have been many great Blake writers though. Two notable ones are Pierre Quiroule , actually a pseudonym for W W Sayer , a writer during the `20s, and Jack Trevor Story, who came to prominence in the `60s. W Howard Baker also turned out some classic tales on occasion.

Anyone else like Blake ? Anyone got their own favourites to plug ?

My favourite contemporary British author is probably Ken Follett - intelligent unputdownable thrillers.

John

Oh dear! I'm not too fond of current Brit Lit at the moment - my heart belongs to James Ellroy and several very very dead Greek playwrights and poets. The most novels I've got of any one author are Dickens and Iris Murdoch; however, I did one of my Honours dissertations on Murdoch, so it's not surprising I've got sixteen of her novels gathering dust under my bed.

I can't seem to summon the enthusiasm for current British writers. I know it's wrong, but I see all the novel reviews in the Sunday broadsheets and my heart sinks.

Hello
Delighted to see a group devoted to "Brits"and British writers,and even more delighted to join the growing number of members.I live in the Midlands in Northampton,which although itself completely and utterly useless for books is however fairly close to some quite useful sources for book-buying.(Oxford,Cambridge,London and a lovely little market town a few miles away called Market Harborough which has loads of book buying possibilities) It would be interesting to know where other members of this group live in the country.
Anyway lets hope this group goes from strength to strength.

I'm in Burnham, which is close to Slough. Not really a good part of the country for books - I haven't come across any second-hand bookshops nearby.

My favourite British author? Probably George MacDonald Fraser, the author of the Flashman books.

I'm in S. Manchester which is great for large major chains. Anybody know of any decent 2nd hand shops? I've heard of one in Bury but that's the wrong side of town for me.

I seem to recall there are second hand bookshops in Manchester city centre, but they aren't easy to find.

Googling, I see there is a site that lists second-hand bookshops in the UK, but they certainly aren't comprehensive.

There are two or three in the Shudehill/Withy Grove part of Manchester city centre, but not worth a special journey.

I work in central London, which is obviously great for access to bookshops. Also not too far from Rochester, where Baggins Books is located.

Hello, all! I'm new to this group. I live in southwest Pembrokeshire but will be moving to Cornwall within the year. My favourite contemporary British author is Ian McEwan and my favourite overall (if I HAVE to choose just one) is either Jane Austen or Evelyn Waugh.

I can't think of any favourite British authors right at this very moment but I do have Anne Fine living near me.

Stella Duffy is British although not living here any more. Scarlett Thomas is a firm favourite of mine.

Greetings! I have just joined the group. I enjoy the crime novels of Lindsay Ashford which centre around the English Midlands and Wales. Lindsay lives in Borth. Frozen is the first book in the Megan Rhys series.

8 reading_fox, the best second hand shops in Manchester city centre are actually the charity shops. The Oxfam shop especially though they've just changed their layout and I'm not as keen on how it's presented anymore. The other one I buy from quite a lot is the kind of market trader/cabin type place on the corner of High Street and Church Street.

Hi everyone. I live in Northumberland and am new to this group. Actually, I'm new to this site! My favourite book of all time is a British book - Watership Down, by Richard Adams. My current favourite Brit is Nick Hornby, although that may well change by the time I press "submit" on this entry! It's such a difficult question. And I will always love Thomas Hardy and Charles Dickens.

If you're looking for good independent bookshops in this county, there's one in Hexham called "Cogito" books, and as for second hand bookshops, try Barter Books in Alnwick's old railway station. But if you go, make sure you have all day to spend. It's huge.

Hi there, new to group, there are plenty of good British authors, my favourites are John Fowles and Iain Banks but the list could go on and on......
Must spend some time in a good second hand bookshop one day (if my other half lets me)

Hi Mobbsy!

Barter Books is brilliant!

If you go to the Local tab, and put in your area, you will get a list of the local bookshops and libraries that LT already knows about. Feel free to add any that are missing...

Wow a year and a bit ago the last post on this, weird, I can't recall what I was doing but we know what these guys were doing. It's like if you went back to 1901 in jeans and talking through your mobile phone 'Hey Taylor! TAYLOR? i can't get a good connection, yeah, where I am? I'm in 1901 I'm what?! I'm dumped?'