Question 48 - A meal with 3 authors

[Faye, The Dickens Junkie]

If you could sit down to a meal and a long, in-depth chat with 3 authors, whether they're alive today or they're magically brought back to life just for you, which 3 would you choose?

[Holly, That Geeky One]

Oh god, this is such a good question!

Immediately, my mind went to Margaret Atwood. She's one of my favourite authors and I'd love to sit down and just quiz her about The Handmaid's Tale. Plus she seems like such a lovely person!

As I've just read 84, Charing Cross Road, definitely Helene Hanff so she can recount other memories of that time period. I'd love to know if there were more letters from that period, and what came of their correspondence past the novels time frame.

And finally, probably John Milton. I was divided between him and Dostoevsky, but I'd love to know more about his writing of Paradise Lost (well, his narration, his daughter wrote it for him), and his influences and how he really saw the Creation story. I find him such a fascinating man. Paradise Lost (and subsequently Paradise Regained) are epic feats to write, even more so when you're blind and narrate a 10,000 line long poem to your daughter.

Ooh, I'm going to have to stretch to 4 and say William Blake. He just popped into my head as someone who I'd love to talk to, actually about modern day happenings. Because he was so forward in his moral views, I'd love to find out his reaction to modern changes such as increased gay rights and the freedoms that he never saw. When studying Songs of Innocence and of Experience, I realised how modern he was in his views, and it's something I'd love to explore!

[Roseanne]

Oh I love this question! Stephen King, George R.R. Martin and Jane Austen. I would be in awe of Mr. the King and Jane Austen. George is a different story he has some explaining to do. The man is driving me crazy! I really just want to interrogate him!

[Melissa]

Jane Austen, would love to hear her views on men and the class system she grew up in. Jan Karon, she wrote the At Home in Mitford series and these well written stories with their inviting characters tells me she has a wonderful insight into people and relationships -- she gets it! On a funny note, with the very first novel that set me off with a uncontrollable belly laugh is Janet Evanovich, she has to be funny in person to be able to write the Stephanie Plum Series Collection.

[Becca]

Stephen King (was thrilled to say just a few words to him), Diana Gabaldo, and Neil Gaiman.

[Cindy (BKind2Books)]

Iasa - you are so right, I would have a terrible time narrowing down my choices. There are so many authors I would love to sit down and talk to.

I have met briefly Stephen King and would love to be able to talk in depth of his novels - I have loved all of them but the later works are so wonderful.

Second on my list is Jim Butcher - I loved the Codex Alera series and Harry Dresden has a depth that is only now hitting its stride.

I'm very torn on #3 - I can think of several that intrigue me - Harper Lee the author of one of my all-time favorites, Diana Gabaldon who has snagged my heart with her Outlander series, Laurell K. Hamilton who just seems utterly intriguing (Anita Blake and Merry Gentry are both such great characters - not to mention all the men…), and the list just goes on…how can I choose???

[Camille]

Number one is definitely Jane Austen.
Then my favourite contemporary author, Belinda Alexandra.
As for the third one, it's quite difficult, but I'm going to go with Roald Dahl, because he is awesome and he wrote "Matilda" (now I wish my husband would let me call our future daughter Matilda, but he won't have it! :().

[Britta]

J.G. Ballard - What a bizarre and wonderful mind! I would love to hear him speak.

T.E. Lawrence - Of course, my all-time hero. Such a gentle, intelligent and powerful soul.

Hilary Mantel - I would die to pick her mind about her Thomas Cromwell series and how she conducted her research.

[Jenny, Certified Bookworm]

Jane Austen Charlotte Bronte Emily Bronte Richard Adams and Orson Scott Card would be mine. Its so hard to choose just three! I would love to talk to Jane Austen and the Bronte susters about hiw relivent thier work stayed and thier thoughts on how things have changed now. Richard Adams I wouls just love to discuss Plague Dogs with as I find it fascinating. Orson Scott Card I woukd want to discuss the Ender Saga and Honecomeing Saga with.

[Marina]

Elias Canetti, Karl Kraus and Edgar Allan Poe. I would simply LOVE to talk to them. I would also be curious to know what they would say to each other.

[Deborah]

Friedrich Engels

Fannie Flagg

Manda Scott or Pauline Gedge

alternatively I would be highly entertained to meet Stephanie Dray, Kate Quinn and Sophie Perinot

agree - quite impossible to choose just 3!

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

Honestly none.

I picked a silly answer but I never wanted to hang out with favorite authors like some seemed to want. I find the experience intimidating.

I met my favorite author at a book signing but that was enough for me.

[[deleted user]]

Jane Green, Judy Blume and Ernesto Quinonez