The Booker longlist, the top 50 on amazon, the Orange List, Richard and Judy, the chain bookshop promotions, the latest Reading Group favourite...
That is fine to a point but not fine if that is all people read. I am often asked for recommendations for book groups and I always suggest things way beyond the above areas by authors who are neglected or not on everybody`s lips.
Following on from last night`s blog about 'literary no-hopers' - I have got to find a better phrase, I am starting a thread called 'Unjustly Neglected.' Every so often I will throw out the name of an author - and occasionally a title of one of their books, to suggest that they are being unjustly neglected, too low-profile, in danger of slipping out of sight... one or all of those. If we all bought and read even one book by any or all of them and so found authors who deserve to be lifted up to greater prominence so that more reading-lives can be enriched, more reading-horizons expanded, it would make a big difference. And if you are impressed by what you have read, say so to others - word of mouth, the greatest recommendation.
The authors are not likely to be obscure - you will almost certainly have heard of even if not read them. But they will not be in the Best seller or prize lists - yet.
And today`s author is
RUSSELL HOBAN.
Go find.