The Salon.com Readers Guide to Contemporary Authors by Laura Miller

The Salon.com Readers Guide to Contemporary Authors Reviews

• 
  Paul Bryant

  Re-rated to three stars - I read this one pre-Goodreads and we don't need this now, because, come on, you know it, I know it, the time is right, the world is waiting for THE GOODREADS.COM GUIDE TO EVERY SINGLE BOOK EVER
  
  we could do a whole series
  
  THE GOODREADS.COM GUIDE TO MAKING FUN OF TWILIGHT
  
  THE GOODREADS.COM GUIDE TO INSULTING THE CLASSICS
  
  THE BEST OF GOODREADS CELEBRITY DEATH MATCHES
  
  THE GOODREADS.COM GUIDE TO INFINITE JEST
  
  THE BEST OF GOODREADS AUTHOR/READER CAR-CRASHES
  
  100 GREATEST GOODREADS SLANGING MATCHES
  
  that's just the start
• 
  Mike

  Still essential, fifteen years after publication. Maybe the only book I've read to the point where the binding split in half in my hands. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of lazy and mediocre writing in here, and a number of extraordinary writers are neglected. But when it comes to great commentary and recommendations for future reading, this book is a goddamn diamond-studded treasure trove: Michael Silverblatt on John Hawkes, Brian Bouldrey on Kathy Acker, Christopher Sorrentino on William Gaddis, Gary Kamiya on Denis Johnson, Laura Miller on Stephen Wright (and others), Jonathan Lethem on Kazuo Ishiguro (and others), David Foster Wallace's top five neglected American classics, A.S. Byatt's favorite historical fiction, David Bowman on noir novels, John Clute on literary science fiction . . . I could go on. There's a lifetime of reading to be found here.
• 
  Borden

  If it weren't for the mean article about Joan Didion in this collection of essays, I never would have discovered my favorite author. All of the complaints the author had about Didion were virtues in my eyes. Thanks Salon.com!
• 
  Mac

  This is the kind of book I can flip through for hours, learning pointless facts about authors I've never really heard of. I like it even more because it gives you the "best" book by a specific author so you don't have to guess where to start.
• 
  Lara

  A great resource for exposing yourself to new (or atleast new-to-you) authors.
• 
  Chester

  I discovered many new authors through this guide. Opinionated, funny and informative. I wish there would have been updated editions.
• 
  Zach

  Read this book so many times at the Borders by my house. I'd read DFW's list of books to read every time. Such a good pre-massive internet book.
• 
  Heidi

  This is a great precis of all the contemporary writers on the scene. I was pleased to note that I knew most of them, and that those I hadn't read (such as Updike) I hadn't read because I deliberately chose not to. It's amazing -- and a little daunting -- how much talent there is out there. I added books to my to-read list and noted how in the few years since this was published, existing authors had written top books -- Atonement, Empire Falls, for instance -- and other writers had surged into being: Kate Atkinson, Wally Lamb, Jennifer Haigh, Catherine O'Flynn. Marcus Zuzak (sp.)I wish they would do an update every ten years!
• 
  Pewterbreath

  About 10 years ago I picked up this book with the express intent of knowing who was who in contemporary literature. This book really did its job very well, pointing out who was known, who was respected, who was not respected but popular, and the best works of each writer. Now, of course any choice in this book is open to debate, and I'm certain they left a huge amount of writers out, but I'm really glad I had this book. It still pull it out now and then even though it's out of date. A pity that Salon does not have an updated version.
• 
  Roxanne Russell

  I got this book free with my subscription to Salon.com. I was really gung-ho about it helping me sift through all the reading material out there, and at first, like the sheep I am, I was planning to read the ones marked with asterisks and in bold letters like any good list checker-offer would. But when I saw what was chosen of the authors I'm familiar with, I realized I would have to be a little more discerning. I didn't agree with several of the reviewer's assessments.
• 
  Leah W

  You can laugh if you like, but back when I didn't know what contemporary fiction to read, this book helped me find some good stuff. I still have my copy, though I haven't looked at it since I began making money and accumulating maddening quantities of books. Still, it's there for when I need it, books I want to read conveniently highlighted/flagged.
• 
  Cindy

  I'm trying to expand my horizons, book-wise. I love a fluffy mystery but occasionally I like something a little deeper. This book is about 10 years old, so the newest authors are not included, but it covers 20th century American and Brit authors pretty well. It's a good book if you want to find out what an author is about before trying to read one of their books.
• 
  John

  What a terrific guide to contemporary authors. I found an eclectic mix of my favorite authors in this guide and was introduced to many more. The reviews and opinions are certain to spark debates, but that's half the fun. Without a doubt, if you're looking for new books to read, you'll end up with a long reading list after browsing this guide.
• 
  James

  Incredibly helpful and less dated than you'd think. Many capsule reviews written by authors who are themselves now at the summit (Franzen, Foster Wallace, Eugenides, Lethem). Especially precious to me for Laura Miller's demolition of Alice Walker, which I quote to people all the time.
• 
  Tavia

  From the "good old days" of Salon.com
• 
  Michael Smith

  Like most inveterate readers (especially readers trained as librarians), I collect lists of books and authors and I’m a fanatical reader of book reviews. For that reason, I collect recommendary volumes intended for reading groups and book clubs. The Salon web site (Miller was one of its founders) is opinionated and juicy, always worth browsing, and this fat volume maintains that course. Coverage is limited, more or less, to post-1960 authors writing in English, mostly “literary,” but also including including writers like John Grisham, Stephen King, and Amy Tan. All their works are listed, the more important ones are discussed in some depth (by more than eighty reviewers), and there’s a useful “See also” list at the end of each essay. And there are a number of sidebar book lists by the writers themselves. And an excellent introductory essay by Miller on the recent course of English-language literature. My copy is already filled with marginal notes and checkmarks.
• 
  Tracy

  is this on your local remainer table? well pick it up! these are very good blurbs, concise and effective about contemporary writers along w/recommendations.
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  ✨ Anna ✨ | ReadAllNight

  I'm not sure where I picked up this used copy.
• 
  Sarah

  Interesting tips and ideas on contemporary writers. It's good, though already outdated.