Friday, November 13, 2009

Ian Rankin's best books

Ian Rankin's Rebus novels are now translated into twenty-two languages and are bestsellers on several continents. He has been elected a Hawthornden Fellow, and is also a past winner of the Chandler-Fulbright Award. He is the recipient of four Crime Writers' Association Dagger Awards including the prestigious Diamond Dagger in 2005. In 2004, Rankin won America's celebrated Edgar Award for Resurrection Men. He has also been shortlisted for the Edgar and Anthony Awards in the USA, and won Denmark's Palle Rosenkrantz Prize, the French Grand Prix du Roman Noir and the Deutscher Krimipreis. His first art-world thriller, Doors Open, is due out in January.

Rankin named his six best books for The Week magazine.

One title on the list:
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark

I studied this novel at university and marveled at its conciseness and depth. Spark packs so much into each sentence and scene. It’s also very funny, with moments of tragedy and horror.
Read about another book on Rankin's list.

Learn about the best selling book Rankin wishes he'd written.

Two books on Rankin's list also number among Laura Hird's three favorite book-to-film adaptations.

--Marshal Zeringue