I was thinking the other day about which contemporary, living novelists have influenced my own writing the most. I have compiled the below list, each of these novelists has inspired me greatly, and I hugely admire their writing and artistic practice.
1. Jean-Philippe Toussaint
2. Tom McCarthy
3. Stewart Home
4. Tao Lin
5. Gwendoline Riley
6. Gabriel Josipovici
7. Lydie Salvayre
8. Dumitru Tsepeneag
9. HP Tinker
10. Niven Govinden
11. Tony O'Neill
12. Ben Myers
13. Noah Cicero
I think what I admire in each of the above is their steadfast individuality and approach to their work. All their work stands out alone as original and completely relevant. If you haven't read any of the above I would suggest you do so.
I reckon a future influential novelist will be Steve Finbow. Just finished his debut novel Balzac of the Badlands and I can't wait to read more of his work.
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