Readers Delight discussion

Who are your favourite authors? What authors do you recommend to other readers?

Fave authors are Nora Roberts/JD Robb, Kristin Hannah, Tess Gerritsen, Linda Castillo, Emily Giffin, Patricia Briggs, LaVyrle Spencer, John Grisham

I think I gave too many of these in my series list... LOL!

JD Robb, Tess Gerritsen,Dana Stabenow, Erica Spindler, Alex Kava, Stuart Woods, Stephen Cannell, Carol O'Connell, Kathy Reichs, Karin Slaughter, Chelsea Cain, Janet Evanovitch, Joann Fluke, Jonathan Kellerman, Faye Kellerman, JT Ellison, Jefferson Bass, J.A. Konrath, Donna Andrews, Nancy Martin, Jennifer Crusie, Johanna Lindsey, Debbie Macomber, Carl Hiaasen, Charlaine Harris, Carly Phillips, Meg Gardiner, Julie Garwood, Linda Howard, Lisa Gardner, Jeffery Deaver, Joy Fielding, Meg Cabot, Stephen King, John Saul, Dean Koontz, Ed McBain, Tami Hoag

Lord.... I could go on and on and on.... I'm always looking for new authors and I usually love what they write.

I've read several book by each of the following authors, and have not been disappointed (yet) ...
Stephen King
John Steinbeck
Jane Austen
Edith Wharton
Truman Capote
Kaye Gibbons

Others who are high on my list
Barbara Kingsolver
Agatha Christie
Donald E Westlake

This will be a rather long list, as I've been lucky enough to discover many good authors, most of which write for the Fantasy genre.

-Terry Brooks
-John Flanagan
-Rick Riordan
-Robin McKinley
-Ursula le Guin
-Tamora Pierce
-Brandon Mull
-Katie Di Camillo
-Victor Hugo
-Jules Verne
-Jane Austen
-J.R.R.Tolkien
-J.K.Rowling
-France Hodgson Burnett

I'm sure there are some lady authors I'm forgetting. There are many standalone books I love, but I don't know if I feel the authors to be "favorites" as I've only sampled one example of their work

Favorite authors - the ones I read their stories multiple times - Georgette Heyer (not fantasy but great Regency stuff), Scott Lynch, Sarah Monette, Jane Fancher, Elizabeth Bear, Patrick Rothfuss, George Martin, Lynn Flewelling, Moira J Moore, Jaida Jones & Danielle Bennett, Guy Gavriel Kay, Dave Duncan, Anne Bishop Carol Berg, Jim Butcher,Naomi Novik

I like Charlaine Harris.
I have read the first book in the Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood Series and enjoyed it.
I also like R.L. Stine.
From Goosebumps to Fear Street and more,
he is a really great author.

I have quite a number of favorite authors ranging from popular to obscure. Here are a few.
-C.S. Friedman
-Brian Keene
-Tim Lebbon
- Kevin J. Anderson
- Kurt R.A. Giambastiani
- Frank Herbert
- Julia Czernada
- Eric Brown (the British Sci-Fi not the American horror)

What makes an author addictive?

I, too, know the thrill of going, "Oh! Donna Leon has a new book out" and snatching it up at lightning speed. And the agonizing moments before I can get to it in peace are interminable.

I think quality control is the key -- that each book, while different, will be up to that author's standards.

I also like authors whose prose is their own, whose voice is unmistakable. I want to be able to read a page or two and say, "Ah...Pat Conroy"

What does it for the rest of you?

I have a tendency to like the content more than the authors themselves. There are some authors who I enjoy a few books from, but not every book they have written just because of the author's name on the front. For instance, I was engaged in the Twilight series, but I don't care to run out and grab up the next Stephanie Meyer book.

I guess it is the REPEATED release of well-written and captivating books by certain authors that really gets me hooked when I do get hooked on an author. He or she basically has to prove him or herself a lot to capture my attention with a name.

My very incomplete list includes: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, P.G. Wodehouse, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Peter Straub, Scott Nicholson, R.L. Stine, Blake Crouch, Ian Woodhouse, J.A. Konrath, Joshua Scribner, Jack Kilborn, Murray Leinster, Iain Rob Wright, J.R. Rain, H. Rider Haggard, Ken Follett, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tim LaHaye, H.P. Lovecraft, Jules Verne, H.G. Wells.... Note that a number of these I'd never heard of until I discovered GoodReads, but in going through my list of books I realized their names kept showing up, so they MUST be among my favorites! And to all those I didn't list, both living and dead, blame my failing memory; it was not intended as a slight to you. So many books to read, and so little time to do it.

My list is as follows:

Henry James
Ernest Hemingway
F. Scott Fitzgerald
John Steinbeck
herman Wouk
James Michener
Alice Hoffman
Ann Tyler
Jodi Picoul
Alice McDermott
Luanne Rice
Neson DeMille
Daniel Silva
Ken Follett
Jeffrey Archer
Anna Quindlen and
Nora Ephron

Grampy - if I may call you that - are u saying that Stepen Kind and Peter Straub are the same writer. Didn't King write a book with his pseudonym?

"all of Stephen King's various alternate pen names (e.g., Peter Straub, et al"

Nancy wrote: "Grampy - if I may call you that - are u saying that Stepen Kind and Peter Straub are the same writer. Didn't King write a book with his pseudonym?

"all of Stephen King's various alternate pen nam..."

Hi, Nancy! Yes, you may call me Grampy. And, yes, I did say Peter Straub (and several other well known "authors") are pen names he sometimes uses.

In response to your question I did some research to support my comment, and have been totally unable to find any supporting documentation. I have, therefore, edited my original post and removed the apparently incorrect reference to King and Straub being the same man. (I imagine they are both relieved to learn that!)

One thing I DO know, and found ample proof for, was that Richard Bachmann was a King pseudonym until it became public knowledge, after which King "killed off" Bachmann. Cause of death was listed as "cancer of the pseudonym" on the jacket cover. I will have to add Bachmann to my Favorite Authors list.

I also found a reference to another pen name, John Swithen, but I had never before heard either that name or the book he wrote using that name.

Nancy wrote: "Grampy - if I may call you that - are u saying that Stepen Kind and Peter Straub are the same writer. Didn't King write a book with his pseudonym?

"all of Stephen King's various alternate pen nam..."

Nancy - After quite a bit of online searching, I have found documentation confirming that King wrote under the pseudonym Richard Bachmann until a Library of Congress research proved they were one and same. I also found a citation which stated "King also wrote under other pseudonyms such as John Swithen..." which implies there may have been others. I've found numerous places listing at least 6 different authors he has collaborated with, including Peter Straub. BUT, nowhere have I been able to find anything stating that Peter Straub IS Stephen King. I have therefore edited my earlier posting, removing the reference about Straub being a pen name (although I retained Straub as a favorite author).

King freely admits to Richard Bachmann and John Swithen, but I could find no other admitted pseudonyms. Thank you for calling me on my statement, and I apologize for posting erroneous information. Deep down inside, I have long thought Straub was a King pen name. Now, I'm not at all convinced.

One note of interest I found was that when the Richard Bachmann name was positively linked to him, and made public, King "killed him off" on a book jacket, listing cause of death as "cancer of the pseudonym".

Again, I am sorry for not confirming my information before I posted it, but I appreciate the fact that you didn't just let it slide. I will review my other posts and revise any more errors I may find.

And here all this time I thought I was something of an "expert" on Stephen King!

That's OK Grampy. It's possible that I misundestood what you wrote. As for King I pretty much stopped reading him after I read Pet Cemetary which horrified me. Up to then I read all of his books and really enjoyed them. Since that time I read The Green Mile and have downloaded his new book about Kennedy's assasination.

Nancy wrote: "That's OK Grampy. It's possible that I misundestood what you wrote. As for King I pretty much stopped reading him after I read Pet Cemetary which horrified me. Up to then I read all of his books..."

No, you didn't misunderstand me at all... I absolutely was certain Peter Straub and Stephen King were the same guy! You have helped me straighten up my mental files, and I really am grateful.

I know what you mean about Pet Cemetary; it was pretty gruesome. He also wrote a couple books featuring pedophiles, and one featuring a very domineering husband who insisted on very kinky, dangerous sex with his wife, until she kicked him away from her one night and he died of a heart attack while she was hand-cuffed to the bed post.

I doubt you would like any of those, either. They gave me the creeps, and I thought I had a pretty strong stomache until I read those. But it has been quite a while since I've read anything recently written by him, so maybe it's time to start checking out the yard sales again!

Nancy and Grampy: I really enjoyed King's newer one 11/22/63. It's not horror but is still unmistakably Stephen King. If you get a chance to read it, I certainly recommend it.

I also think that 11/22/63 is well worth the read, probably King's best work to date.

Jolene - I began reading 11/22/63 and must admit I couldn't get into it. Rather than struggle I closed my I PAD and will try another day.

Grampy - don't like anything with pedophiles or abuse of any sort.

Nancy wrote: "Grampy - don't like anything with pedophiles or abuse of any sort."

Neither do I. It's bad enough that it exists, I certainly don't want to read it for entertainment!

This brings up an interesting predicament. I know I am reluctant to even try some authors. I didn't want to read Lonesome Dove as I was prejudiced against Westerns, though it turned out to be an all time favorite.

Do you find that you like or don't like the gift of books. I like picking my own. What about you?

Dixie
www.dixieswanson.com

Dixie wrote: "This brings up an interesting predicament. I know I am reluctant to even try some authors. I didn't want to read Lonesome Dove as I was prejudiced against Westerns, though it turned out to be an al..."

In my extended family we "gift" with a universal gift certificate, otherwise known as cash. Gifting someone a book can be a dangerous undertaking! My dad happens to be going thru a "Western" phase right now, and I've got a couple books I'd like to give him, but until I read them first to make sure there's nothing in them to set him off, they'll stay on my bookshelf. At 81, with several types of cancer and heart problems, he doesn't need to get worked up over a scene in a book! And from personal experience during my teenage years, I know it doesn't take much to get him worked up.

Grampy wrote: "Dixie wrote: "This brings up an interesting predicament. I know I am reluctant to even try some authors. I didn't want to read Lonesome Dove as I was prejudiced against Westerns, though it turned o..."

And furthermore... I use to love the old black and white monster movies, because they were so campy they were funny. So when vampire books became the rage, I downloaded a whole bunch of freebies. Imagine my surprise to learn that vampire books nowadays are mostly pornography without the pictures. At least zombies are still mindless, stumbling brain eaters!

Nancy wrote: "Jolene - I began reading 11/22/63 and must admit I couldn't get into it. Rather than struggle I closed my I PAD and will try another day."

I found that the story dragged along. It took me quite a while to get into it.

Nancy wrote: "Jolene - I began reading 11/22/63 and must admit I couldn't get into it. Rather than struggle I closed my I PAD and will try another day."

Sorry to hear it wasn't your thing Nancy. Maybe some other time. I really enjoyed the story.

I don't give up on a book so easily Jolene. I try it again at least two times before I say not for me. Woiuld you believe it took me three times to get into The Thorn Birds and when I finally did I read the whole book in three days.

Also I don't judge a book by one author. When I read a book I don't necessarily love, I do try at least one or two more books to say that's it. I do think I am very fair when I finally quit a book or author. LOL

Nancy wrote: "I don't give up on a book so easily Jolene. I try it again at least two times before I say not for me. Woiuld you believe it took me three times to get into The Thorn Birds and when I finally did..."

Glad to hear there is still hope, Nancy. I loved the Thorn Birds too. A very epic story. I have not read anything else by Colleen McCullough but I own some more of her books. Perhaps I will get to them eventually.

I haven't read much else by Coleen McCullough and never got into her Rome book series.

I love epic stories. Are there any you can recommend?

Nancy wrote: "I haven't read much else by Coleen McCXullough and never got into her Rome book series.

I love epic stories. Are there any you can recommend?"

I will have to take a look at my bookshelves and see what I can come up with. I am sure that I can recommend some but none are coming to mind right now.

Jolene wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I haven't read much else by Coleen McCXullough and never got into her Rome book series.

I love epic stories. Are there any you can recommend?"

I'd recommend Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. A great story, characters and plot. Grabs you right away, or at least I felt that way. But I have enjoyed all his books.

S.B. wrote: "Jolene wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I haven't read much else by Coleen McCXullough and never got into her Rome book series.

I love epic stories. Are there any you can recommend?"

I'd recommend Pillars ..."

I loved Pillars of the Earth and also the sequel World Without End. I am hoping to get into his newest trilogy soon. Great recommendation S.B.

Jolene, if you haven't read any of his earlier books, they are all terrific. You are in for a treat.
I read the first of the trilogy, and he's always good, but it wasn't my favorite by a longshot.

Jolene wrote: "S.B. wrote: "Jolene wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I haven't read much else by Coleen McCXullough and never got into her Rome book series.

I love epic stories. Are there any you can recommend?"

I'd recom..."

If you haven't

I LOVED The Winds of War and War and Remembrance by Herman Wouk. Fabulously epic story of a Navy family during WWII.

Another big book is The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher.

And you can't get any more epic than War and Peace which I finally read. First I watched the movie with Mel Ferrer and Audrey Hepburn, (to figure out the names), then I downloaded it for free on my Kindle. It is wonderful, almost as good as Anna Karennina.

Let me know what you end up reading.

Dixie
www.dixieswanson.com

I just read Winds of War and War an Remembrance again this year, after finding the dvds in a sale rack. The movie series was great, but the books are much better. Great recommendation!
Dixie wrote: "I LOVED The Winds of War and War and Remembrance by Herman Wouk. Fabulously epic story of a Navy family during WWII.

Another big book is The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher.

And you can't get..."

Dixie wrote: "I LOVED The Winds of War and War and Remembrance by Herman Wouk. Fabulously epic story of a Navy family during WWII.

Another big book is The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher.

And you can't get..."

The Shell Seekers was great as are all of Rosamunde Pilcher's books.

I've been reading Ann Tyler's books ... I love her quirky style of writing. She is a real character writer. I'm reading " Dinner at the Homesick Restuarant" and thoroughly enjoying it.

I would read the phone book is Susan Isaacs wrote it. My fave is Shining Through, but she wrote one (Midnight Hour?) in a man's voice. That's a tough trick to pull off.

Shining Through was made into a messed up movie, but if you only read one WWII novel with a female lead character, Shining Through is for you.

I'd read it again, but I've read it so many times, I know what is coming next!

Dixie