I have recently finished reading, 'The Haunting' by Margaret Mahy, which won the Carnegie Medal years ago. Brilliant prose. As soon as I had finished, I ordered another of her books online. I know I wont be disappointed.
What authors have had a profound affect on you?
I have read all but 3 of E M Remarque's books (haven't found those 3 yet) and only one dud (Flotsam). These are now almost lost treasures of a bygone era.
I loved Heinlein at one time but now find him very dry/dated
Tom Sharpe had me crying with laughter but seems futile now/at a second reading.
I haven't completed a single JK Rowling and find the films tedious - to me, given the availability of CGI, I find the production extremely unimaginative and poor. I suspect that I might be in a minority on this :-)
The only book I have read over and over is William Least Heat Moon's "Blue Highways". His 2nd book is hard work while his 3rd is impossible.
Terry Pratchet is a good general-anaesthetic for me. I tend to inherit copies rather than buy them though.
There are vast numbers of other authors that have encouarged me to buy second and sometimes third works. Achieving a story that bears re-reading is quite a different thing though.
A A Milne's "Winnie the Pooh" can be dipped into endlessly.
David
I read 'The Bell' by Iris Murdoch and have since bought and read almost all of her other books. It is absolutely one of the best stories I have ever read, and I'd advise anyone who hasn't already read it to do so immediately. At once. It certainly had an effect on me, and I find that a lot of the ideas I've had subsequently have been influenced in some way by its brilliance.
Profound effect?
Elwyn Hartley-Edwards, god of common-sense in all things horse-related.
William Horwood. I thought 'The Stonor Eagles' brilliant but 'Skallagrig' was a really difficult read. And I've never had any inclination to try his moley Duncton chronicles.
I'm happy with entertainment: an uplifting story'll do for me.