175. Lists - Favourite Writers

I like lists. I write quite a few of them, even if I lose or ignore the vast majority I write. I like other people's lists too, though. I like reading Herself's lists because of the exotic spelling and the written evidence of the way her funny little mind works. I like BF's lists, because they are written in such tiny writing it can take quite a long time simply to decipher them. And I am always interested in famous people's lists - particularly if they are of their favourite writers, or books. So I decided that today I would list my favourite male and female writers - in no particular order:

MALE - Top 5 (as of today, 6th June 2011)

1. Charles Dickens (Duh. Anybody who says they don't like Dickens can't read. End of.)
2. Patrick Gale (Simple, effective, the one to match. For me.)
3. A.A. Milne (He invented Pooh, Piglet, Rabbit, Eeyore, Tigger, Kanga, Roo and Owl. Now go back and imagine your childhood without him. Exactly.)
(I am finding this quite difficult. Mental strobing.)
4. Nigel Slater (Comfort reading becomes comfort food. Perfection)
5. Philip Pullman (A genius.)

FEMALE - Top 5 (as of ten minutes later, 6th June 2011)
1. Jane Austen (The Master.)
2. Elinor Lipman (Funny, perfectly observed, jealous-making.)
3. Nigella Lawson (Always herself. Erudite. Like taking a long bubble bath in good writing.)
4. Stella Gibbons (for Cold Comfort Farm alone. That's quite a novel.)
5. Susan Cooper (underrated. brilliant.)

I could go on with the girls. I could include Dorothy L Sayers, Maggie O'Farrell, Rebecca Tyrrell, Elizabeth David, Sarah Waters, Charlotte Mendelson, Mary Wesley, Donna Tartt etc etc.

Much harder with the boys. Perhaps what they say is true. Or maybe it's just that I'm a bit sleepy and I've been reading more girls than boys recently. I'm going for the latter. You can think what you like...