I cant read anything by james joyce, except The Dubliners. Also, Ibsen and ingemar bergman have such a lousy sense of humor that I can't watch their comedies. Agatha Christie was probably one of the least innovative writers I know, since most of her characters were contemporary types already existing in many incarnations. She just used these better than AEW Mason and the others. I agree with my mother's assessment of Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. It makes an excellent stand on which to reach the top cupboards in the kitchen.