Underrated Writers

Leonora Carrington

From CAAF (Tingle Alley): "Carrington’s probably best known as a Surrealist painter. But everyone should have her novel, The Hearing Trumpet, on their shelf to pull down in times of overwhelming duress and dumbassery, it’s just consoling to know it’s out there in the world—you can get a taste of its twiggy greatness here (unfortunately not included is a sampling of the book’s pixillating illustrations, drawn by Carrington’s son, Pablo Weisz-Carrington). It’s one of my all-time favorites. She’s written several other books but right now The Hearing Trumpet’s the only one in print—which is why I’m including her on this list."

More about Leonora Carrington
+ Biography
+ A gallery of selected paintings
+ Listen to Carrington's story "The Debutante" at Stories to Go

Kirby Gann

Some of you may remember Kirby Gann from the Lit Blog Co-op's October discussion of his new book and Gwenda's interview with him at the site.  Carrie Frye is still singing his praises and has selected him as one of the most underappreciated writers, saying, "In Our Napoleon in Rags, Gann works language in amazing ways to capture the stories (and varied voices) of the regulars at the Don Quixote, a down-at-heels bar which exists in some parallel Louisville. One of the best books I read this year."

More about Kirby Gann
+  Official Site of Kirby Gann
+  Gann shares his favorite book of 2005 with The Millions
+  Dan Wickett's interview with Gann
+  "Tether" --a short story by Gann

Tayari Jones

CAAF nominated this author "because of her remarkable second novel, The Untelling." CAAF cited, in particular, this novel's "incredible writing about family and about the city of Atlanta" and its well-rounded and believable characters. "It's impressive, and it's also a great read." Her first novel, Leaving Atlanta, drew as much critical praise as her second. Both have gathered a number of awards, from the Washington Post's Best of the Year list to the Lillian C. Smith Award for New Voices. She's also been spotted hanging around with a certain Baltimore blogger, taking down Time's Top 100 list.

More about Tayari Jones

+ Jones's official website and blog
+  A "just the facts" question-and-answer with Jones
+  Review of Leaving Atlanta
+  Jones's faculty bio page at the University of Illinois

Maureen McHugh

This author shares the distinction of being doubly recommended with only one other author in this list. Visitors to either Gwenda Bond's and CAAF's sites know they have been effusive in their praise of McHugh. All the more so since McHugh's most recent publication--a short story collection titled Mothers and Other Monsters--was just recently shortlisted as a finalist for the Story Prize. Bond calls McHugh a "subtle, precise writer" whose "novels and short stories often borrow from Eastern or other multicultural settings and they always do it beautifully, focusing in on and illuminating heartbreakingly real characters." In her recommendation, CAAF calls the collection a "FREAKING KNOCKOUT." Twice. McHugh's Hugo- and Nebula-nominated novel China Mountain Zhang is also highly recommended.

More about Maureen McHugh
+  Her website and her blog
+  Her Wikipedia entry
+  Small Beer Press's page on Mothers
+  A conversation at Beatrice between McHugh and author Sarah Willis

Salvador Plascencia

This author's novel, The People of Paper, grabbed the attention of CAAF earlier this year. She called it "one of those books that makes you feel like there are 1,000 more ways to think about what a book can do than you were previously aware of--a tremendously exciting debut. And how old is Plascencia? Like 12?" Turns out, he's actually 29, according to his bio page at publisher McSweeney's site. Still, the experimentation on the page Plascencia displays and the gorgeous and careful production the text received makes this book one to pick up and this writer another one to watch.

More about Salvador Plascencia
+  CAAF and YPTR read TPoP and e-mail their impressions--Slate Breakfast Table-style--back and forth. (Here's the link to the category at Tingle Alley. Scroll to the bottom or start here.)
+  A profile in LA Weekly
+  A review of TPoP in the SFGate

Rupert Thomson

This author's novel, Divided Kingdom, draws some self-conscious hyperbole from Carrie Frye: "Why this book got left off the Booker longlist makes me question the existence of God. Or at least the presence of someone on the committee with similar taste to mine." Thomson is the author of several other novels: The Book of Revelation, The Insult, Air and Fire, Soft!, and Five Gates of Hell.

More about Rupert Thomson
+  A review of Revelation
+  Official website of Divided Kingdom (includes excerpts, print and video interviews with Thomson, reviews of the book)
+  Thomson's Literature Map
+  One more Divided Kingdom review