December 4, 2008
This week’s Booking Through Thursday made me really think…
1. Do you have a favorite author?
2. Have you read everything he or she has written?
3. Did you LIKE everything?
4. How about a least favorite author?
5. An author you wanted to like, but didn’t?
So. Do I have a favorite author?
Actually, no, I don’t. (Well, other than me. And I’m in print now! I can become your favorite!)
I have a ton of authors I adore. Colleen Gleason (I just posted a giveaway featuring her first Gardella book over at Win a Book, so I’ve got her on my mind). Linda Fairstein. Pam Houston. India Edghill. Robin Hobb. Jennifer Estep. (Darn it, where are the men? Why aren’t any of them coming to mind?)
These are names you’ve seen here over and over again. There’s a reason for that.
In some cases, yes, I’ve read everything they’ve written. When I get a favorite author, I try to do that. You know it’ll be a treat to read; it seems like a no-brainer to me. Of course, it’s not always possible to catch up on a huge backlist, especially when the titles are similar. Then it becomes a question of “Did I read this…” — something that’s easy enough to check when you’re at home, but when you’re in the middle of a bookstore, it’s much harder. (No, I don’t print out the list and bring it with me!)
Know what? I just read my first Rhys Bowen. Loved it. Can’t wait to read more. But I’m not ready to count her as a favorite yet. Not based on one book. Same for authors like Don Bruns or James Alan Gardner (a-ha! The men have arrived!). I need more. More, I tell you! (and more time to read, too!)
Did I like it all? Probably. I know in some cases — like the Faye Kellerman series — I don’t love every book in the series, but I’m willing to keep reading because I liked the ones I didn’t love. There’s no reason to stop.
Now, the negative… do I not like certain authors? Yup. And yep, there are authors I’ve wanted to like, but failed in the attempt. Too many to count, really. Let’s not try, either. I like to be more positive than that. I’d hate to see my own name on someone’s list of authors they don’t like. So I’m doing unto others and not listing them.
By the way, if I’ve only read one book by a certain author, I’m generally not listing them here. For one, we’d be here until next week. For another, how can you call someone a favorite based on such a small sample size?
Sally
December 4, 2008 5:15 pm
I agree that it takes more than one book for an author to become a favorite; however, one book is enough to me if I don’t care for the author. Please visit to see my answers.
robert bourne
December 4, 2008 6:11 pm
Wilbur Smith is my favorite..nice new digs..:)
Lauren
December 4, 2008 10:18 pm
Looks like a nice new home Susan! Congrats! Horray for WordPress 🙂
Pearl
December 4, 2008 10:23 pm
Hi Susan, Netchick bumped me over here. You have a book now? Shapeshifter, huh. Does that mean you’d like Kelley Armstrong? There’s a romance line running thru some of them.
1. Do you have a favorite author? Her or Wen Spencer for fiction. For poetry, it’d be a much harder choice.
2. Yes.
3. Yep, pretty much.
4. Unliked is 90% of the written universe.
5. Many. Not the right place or person when I came to the word to complete them with myself guess.
sarah
December 4, 2008 10:26 pm
love the new look!! I was trying to think my my favorite author but no one even stands out. I need to start reading more… seriously. im so embarrassed, lol
Thomma Lyn
December 4, 2008 11:14 pm
Cool, new authors (to me) to check out! Oh, so many books, so little time. 😀
The new blog looks great, my friend!
Shea
December 4, 2008 11:21 pm
Holy new layout! Needs a little tweaking still, but very nice.
Also, no, I lack a favourite currently. I read randomly whatever looks interesting and i have this annoying habit of looking for books that are entertaining rather than good. And I so rarely read everything someone’s written, so I don’t really latch onto an author.
I do read series though. But still, reading an author a lot has never made them a favourite. If I can find an author whose books I can keep rereading over and over, then I’ll have a favourite. Ah well, one day.
Tanya (aka NetChick)
December 4, 2008 11:54 pm
Hi Susan, NetChick sent me… Oh, wait, that’s me 🙂
It’s weird not saying “Michele” sent me!
I’m often asked if I have a favourite author, and my answer is always the same — I don’t. My tastes are so wide and eclectic, that many times, I’ll like one book, but not the next of a particular author.
The good thing about that is that I get to read a lot of different books!
Have a great weekend, and I hope to see you back “at my place” to play along some more! Cheers…
Rene
December 5, 2008 11:56 am
As the old song goes, I tend to love the one I’m with when it comes to authors. So my favorite changes all the time.
Ivanhoe
December 5, 2008 12:01 pm
My absolute favorites are Patricia Cornwell and James Patterson. I read just about everything by PC and almost everything by JP. Sure there are some books I loved and some that I just liked…
Mrs. Mecomber
December 5, 2008 3:24 pm
Wow! Nice red hot theme! 😀
Leah Braemel
December 5, 2008 6:35 pm
Wow, here you are! Ditto all the others – love the new look.
Favorite author? Right now (I’m fickle) it’s Patricia Briggs and her Mercy Thompson series.
Lisa Nevin
December 5, 2008 7:47 pm
I’m more inclined to have favorite books, I’m not too loyal about rushing off to get every book someone has written before. I once did when I was younger.
I read some author who had one too many unkind comments in regards to cats and she’s on my permanent crap list. I even wrote to her and complained. I liked her work for the most part, although I found her too wordy at times, i did alot of skimming, but after the anti cat comments, it went down hill. now I see her books as good kindling.
You mentioned on Tia’s blog that blogger was threatening to delete your account – why would they delete your blog?
Ann
December 6, 2008 10:50 am
Dude! Love the new look. And the t-shirt.
Sorry blogger thought you were spam, if anything I’d classify you as more of a comfort food (sorry, couldn’t resist). 🙂
Alice Audrey
December 6, 2008 7:11 pm
I’m like you, there are authors I wanted to like and just couldn’t.
There are a fair number of authors I like, but so far if I’ve come close to reading their entire backlist there will be something in there I didn’t like.
Jennifer Estep
December 8, 2008 3:32 pm
What a cool shout-out. Thanks so much! 🙂