Here is a list of fiction writers who are among my personal favorites (with a representative book listed alongside). These are not the usual suspects, but some of the lesser-known writers I like.
Richard Yates, "Revolutionary Road";
John Fante, "Ask the Dust";
Nelson Algren, "The Man with the Golden Arm";
Frederick Exley, "A Fan's Notes";
Charles Portis, "The Dog of the South";
John Williams, "Stoner";
Patrick Hamilton, "Hangover Square";
Richard Russo, "Empire Falls";
Richard Ford, "The Sportswriter";
Don DeLillo, "White Noise";
Jim Harrison, "True North";
Raymond Carver, "Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?";
Willy Vlautin, "The Motel Life";
Michael Chabon, "The Wonder Boys";
Ian McEwan, "Atonement";
Colson Whitehead, "John Henry Days";
Orhan Pamuk, "Snow";
Junot Diaz, "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao";
Avram Davidson, "Vergil in Averno"
Recent reading: recommended fiction
The Secret of Lost Things (2006), Sheridan Hay; Absurdistan (2006), Gary Shteyngart; Five Skies (2007), Ron Carlson; Citizen Vince (2005), Jess Walter; On Chesil Beach (2007), Ian McEwan; We're in Trouble (2005), Christopher Coake; Returning to Earth (2007), Jim Harrison; The Lay of the Land (2006), Richard Ford
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