Any authors similar to Barbara Kingsolver?

Question

I really like her writing style, and subject matter. Any other authors out there that write in a similar fashion?

Answer 1

It depends on what you like about the Kingsolver novels. If you like her strong, but morally ambiguous female characters, Toni Morrison may be a good option. If you like the complex relationships that take place between her characters, you may like Joyce Carol Oates (specifically We Were the Mulvaneys). If you like how fast-paced some of her stuff is (Bean Trees) and her lone heroines (Prodigal Summer) you may like Nevada Barr, but her writing doesn't have quite the quality Kingsolver's has.

If you liked the Poisonwood Bible you may like The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. It is also about a family of Christian missionaries, but they are on another planet. It's more science fiction. Nancy Pearl, a world famous librarian, recommends The Catastrophist by Ronan Bennett as a companion read to The Poisonwood Bible in her bestseller entitled Book Lust.

If you liked the "life journey" aspect of The Bean Trees, and it's unique narrative style, you would probably like White Oleander by Janet Fitch.

All in all, I think Joyce Carol Oates has a style that is the most similar to Kingsolver, but all of these authors are a fantastic read.

Answer 2

You might like the Pendergast books written by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. The first several are supernatural in nature and the characters are quite intriguing. There are currently 8 or so books in the series, and I thought the series really picked up after the third book. I would also recommend The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris. This is by far his best book, and is better than the movie. If you liked the movie, then you would probably like the book as well. I would also recommend Black Sunday. His other books based upon Hannibal Lecter are ok, but start with Silence of the Lambs. For action/adventure try authors such as Clive Cussler, Matthew Reilly (Ice Station, Seven Deadly Wonders) or James Rollins. For thrillers, you might like John Grisham (The Client, The Appeal, The Rainmaker) or Michael Crichton (Timeline, Jurassic Park, Prey - although these might be a little too sci-fi for you). You might also be interested in some of works of authors like Harry Turtledove (Guns of the South), Eric Flint (1632) or SM Stirling (Islands in the Sea of Time), who write a lot of alternate history - stories where something has changed along the timeline of history as we know it and that detail an alternate telling of history. I don't know anything about the religion or politics of any of these authors, but I have read all of these authors and the books noted above and recommend them highly. You should be able to find something to suit your tastes from this list.

Answer 3

I looked at amazon.com and this is what other readers suggested after reading Barbara Kingsolver's books.

Saving Fish from Drowning
by Amy Tan
Digging to America
by Anne Tyler
The Best American Short Stories 2001
by Katrina Kenison
The Tent
by Margaret Atwood
Incantation
by Alice Hoffman


I hope that it helps! good luck!

Answer 4

You may enjoy Marilynn Robinson. Try "Gilead" or "Housekeeping," her two novels. Both are brilliant. I, too, love Kingsolver, and found an affinity with Robinson. Happy reading! :-)

Answer 5

Authors Similar To Alice Hoffman

Answer 6

oh, I wish so,I've read all her work....I'll keep up with the answers.