Read Women discussion

Who would you like to be the subject of an author focus thread and discussion? Subject to seeing how the voting participation plays out, we'll either take our top 5 or top 6 and slot them one per month, every other month throughout the year.

Ideally our nominations will be women authors who have published several books, so we're spoiled for choice. Unless someone objects, let's set a floor of at least 4 published novels or book-length non-fiction works. Please limit your nominations to 3 authors. When we get to the voting phase, you'll also be able to vote for up to 3 authors.

Who would you like to nominate for a 2026 Author Focus?

Nominations will be taken until January 17 15, then we'll set up the poll and leave that open for 5 days or so.

Nominations are closed.

Alina Bronsky
Becky Chambers
Kelly Sue DeConnick
Cherie Dimaline
Daphne du Maurier
Cristina Rivera Garza
Ariana Harwicz
Keri Hulme
Tayari Jones
Han Kang
Hilary Mantel
Toni Morrison
Ann Petry
Arundhati Roy
Yōko Tawada
Miriam Toews
Alice Walker
Martha Wells

I nominate Toni Morrison, Hilary Mantel, and Tayari Jones.

I nominate Miriam Toews, Keri Hulme, and Arundhati Roy

GailW wrote: "I nominate Miriam Toews, Keri Hulme, and Arundhati Roy"

Fantastic. I was dithering between Toews and Jones, so am especially psyched to see her in your list.

I nominate Han Kang, Alice Walker and Alina Bronsky

Yall I’m not nominating, maybe not voting either, cuz I’m just not reading nearly as much anymore for a few months now. But I’m loving some of these noms and will just hope to fit them in if my favs here get chosen.

Jen wrote: "Yall I’m not nominating, maybe not voting either, cuz I’m just not reading nearly as much anymore for a few months now. But I’m loving some of these noms and will just hope to fit them in if my fav..."
I’m in the same boat but I’ll still nominate to offer variety.
Martha Wells and Becky Chambers, these are both more sci-fi and fantasy leaning authors, but Becky Chambers’s is also known for her cozy reads A Psalm for the Wild-Built / A Prayer for the Crown-Shy.

I’d like to float the idea of a comic book author, Kelly Sue DeConnick. A lot of her work has been compiled into larger volumes, and she offers some variety. No problem if she doesn’t fit the bill or doesn’t get any votes. Some of her works include Bitch Planet, Vol. 1: Extraordinary Machine, Pretty Deadly, Vol. 1: The Shrike, Captain Marvel, Vol. 1: Higher, Further, Faster, More, and Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons.

Anita wrote: " ... I’d like to float the idea of a comic book author, Kelly Sue DeConnick... "

Oh, even if she doesn't get voted in I am reading the two Bitch Planet books!

i think she fits just fine. We’re looking fir an opportunity to explore more deeply or more broadly. i love the range suggested in this thread. keep ‘em coming.

The previous member comment was deleted as the group has a strict no self promotion rule and this is the Author Focus nomination thread, not a book nomination thread. Thank you.

I nominate Cristina Rivera Garza, Han Kang, and Toni Morrison.
Rivera Garza writes mostly in Spanish, but a number of her works have been translated into English, as well as several other languages.

I've aggregated noms to-date in the initial comment, for ease of contemplation. If I've missed a nominated author, please raise the alert. More noms are welcome!

Does anyone else have any authors they'd like to explore this year? Last call for nominations.

I would like to nominate Cherie Dimaline

Misty wrote: "I would like to nominate Cherie Dimaline"

Oh! Canada! She is new to me and her books look like a fun explore.

If it’s not too late I’ll nominate Daphne du Maurier, Ariana Harwicz, and Yōko Tawada.

I read Red Rooms by Dimaline in 2020 and loved it. Short stories set in a hotel with indigenous patrons. I honestly think it’s the book that set me into short story collections.

it’s not too late! great noms, too.

i’ll set up polls later today.

I'd like to nominate Ann Petry.

Claire wrote: "I'd like to nominate Ann Petry."

done.

The poll is up. You get 3 votes, 1 in the poll, up to 2 more in a comment you submit.
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...

We'll decide how many authors we'll focus on based on voting participation and where there's a natural break. Ideally, 4 - 6 because who doesn't like to explore an author new to them?

Han Kang interest is strong enough that it's safe to designate her our first Author Focus for the year. Do you want to start mid-February or beginning of March? I'm leaning toward mid-February, which is almost 3 weeks, but appreciate that lots of members plan their reads out some time in advance. What say you all?

My library has a bit of a wait time for most of Kang's audio and ebooks. They don't have Greek Lessons which is a disappointment so I'll have to buy that but luckily it's my birthday in a couple of weeks :) Will the discussion go on for 1 or 2 months? If it's 1 then I vote for March

Hannah wrote: "My library has a bit of a wait time for most of Kang's audio and ebooks. They don't have Greek Lessons which is a disappointment so I'll have to buy that but luckily it's my birthda..."

I'm hoping each AF will be active for 2 months. Practically speaking, members typically have the most energy in the initial 4 weeks although threads stay open. You make a great point, though, about the popularity of her books and potential wait times especially on the most recent ones.

Mid Feb appeals to me, but happy to go with the flow. I have We Do Not Part, so have something to start with. I also intend to acquire Human Acts. I have read Greek Lessons and may skim reread to join in. The Vegetarian doesn't appeal to me, so will give that a miss.

I have The Vegetarian! And I regret selling back my copy of Greek Lessons in an overzealous purge 😭 I would revisit it. Not one of her most popular, the only one I’ve read but I think it was really interesting, evocative and kinda dreamy.

For those who do NetGalley, her Light and Thread is available as an ARC there--at least it is for US readers.

I’m ok with mid-Feb I already have We do not Part and it’s on the smaller side so I will likely start with that. I’ll be gone for almost three weeks so will likely have some decent reading time.

Ok, let's do mid February as there's momentum 🙂

Hannah wrote: "My library has a bit of a wait time for most of Kang's audio and ebooks. They don't have Greek Lessons which is a disappointment so I'll have to buy that but luckily it's my birthda..."

Hanna - are you in the US? I use Thriftbooks when the library doesn't have something. I have gotten several Han Kang books there for under $6 each :)

I'm next in line for my library's We Do Not Part. I started it last year and just wasn't in the right headspace for it, so I'm going to try again.

Also own The Vegetarian and have been looking for a good excuse to pick it up :)

Lindsey wrote: "Hannah wrote: "My library has a bit of a wait time for most of Kang's audio and ebooks. They don't have Greek Lessons which is a disappointment so I'll have to buy that but luckily ..."

Thanks Lindsey but no I'm in the UK. However I've managed to find We Do Not Part on eBay and Greek Lessons on world of books. Not for that cheap unfortunately but it's my birthday soon so I've treated myself:)
And The White Book is available via my library by mid February so that's plenty!

Hannah wrote: "Thanks Lindsey but no I'm in the UK. However I've managed to find We Do Not Part on eBay and Greek Lessons on world of books. Not for that cheap unfortunately but it's my birthday soon so I've treated myself:)"

Yay for Birthday Books!