Author dies

[Janice, Moderator]

I learned that Gene Wolfe died yesterday, April 14. His Book of The New Sun Series starting with The Shadow of the Torturer was always one of my favourite series.

[Cherie]

I recognize his name, but I do not have any of his books marked as "read". I have one on my TBR list, and added the one you showed. I probably read a short story or two of his, though, nothing comes to mind.

[Janice, Moderator]

He did write short stories as well though I didn't read any of them.

He was 89 when he died.

[Sarah]

How odd?! I saw the knews about Gene Wolfe and it made me instantly think of Cherie. Why was that?! For some reason I thought you'd read a lot of his books. I've clearly got mixed up somewhere along the lines.

[Cherie]

I read/listen to the Nero Wolfe series books, written by Rex Stout, Sarah. I am sure that is why you thought of me. :0)

You might enjoy Gene's book The Fifth Head of Cerberus. I am pretty sure that I read it years ago.

[Sarah]

Ah that might be why then!

[Cherie]

It is probably a bigger reason that I recognize his name, although he is commonly grouped in with a lot of science fiction writers all in the same age group, like Joe Haldeman, and Robert Silverberg.

[Sarah]

Yes I feel I should probably have read one of his books by now given the genre he wrote most of his books in.

[Lisa]

Judith Kerr, the author of many children's books including The Tiger Who Came to Tea and Mog the Forgetful Cat, died on May 22nd. She was 95. 'The Tiger Who Came to Tea' was my favourite book when I was little.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Tony Horwitz apparently collapsed suddenly and died today.
I didn't know he was married to Geraldine Brooks

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/28/ob...

[Sandra, Moderator]

So young! He had just published a new book this month...

[Lisa]

That’s very sad about Tony Horwitz.

[Janice, Moderator]

While Tony Horwitz's name is familiar, I don't think I've read any of his books.

Stephen King tweeted yesterday that Dennis Etchison died.

[Cherie]

I have not read any of Horwitz's books, but his latest sounds interesting. At least I know who the subject of the book is.

[Debra]

Etchison wrote some great stuff. It's so sad to hear of his death and the other authors who have passed on. They all leave behind great legacies. It's a form of immortality.

[Janice, Moderator]

Toni Morrison, author of Beloved and many other well know books passed away on Aug 5th at the age of 88 years. She was an amazing voice, the first African-American woman to receive a Nobel Prize. She leaves behind a great legacy in her work.

[Margo]

She certainly does Janice. I've never read her stuff myself. I tried to listen to one last year but the recording quality was terrible. All I remember about it is that there was a character called Milkman something.

[Janice, Moderator]

I listened to Beloved on audiobook. She narrated it herself. It was a little too breathy from what I recall.

[Renee]

I fell I n love with Morrisons when I read The Bluest Eye. She had the gift of making you feel and understand what her chars felt. My life is very different then the people she wrote about. I feel Morrisons writing has helped me understand people very different from me

[Debra]

She really does leave behind an amazing legacy.

I've read a couple of her books, but remember Beloved best. I wasn't listening to audiobooks at that time, so I've no comment on the narration. I just remember enjoying the book.

[Cherie]

I have had Beloved and one of her other books on my TBR list forever, but never got around to reading them, so I
cannot say anything about her work. It is too bad.

[Almeta]

It has been a while since I have thought to post here. I was prompted to do so now by recent deaths of

Anne Rivers Siddons and
Toni Morrison

While I was at it, thought I'd see who I had missed in 2019. I found these authors a well:

Judith Krantz
Tony Horwitz
Andrea Camilleri
Herman Wouk
Les Murray
Rachel Ingalls
Gene Wolfe
Vonda N. McIntyre
Patricia Nell Warren
C.Y. Lee

Here's an interesting death that I noticed while investigating:
Todd Bol, 62 (2018)
Todd Bol is the founder of the non-profit Little Free Libraries which now has free libraries on lawns in 88 countries.

[Janice, Moderator]

I've been meaning to come on here and mention Anne River Siddon's passing, but keep getting distracted. Thanks for the recap of all the authors who have passed away in 2019. We've talked about some of them, but not all.

[Almeta]

You are welcome!

[Cherie]

Interesting how I can identify some of the names of the authors listed, but I have never read any of their books.

I only read one of Siddon's books, and that was for last years yearly challenge. I read her The Girls of August. I did not care too much for it, but it is not a genre I am enamored with, either.

Morrison's book Beloved was on my yearly challenge for the Pulitzer Prize task, until I just finished Kavalier and Clay.

Camilleri - I was given a shopping bag of old, yellowed paper back books that had belonged to a resident at the retirement home that my daughter works at. There were 12 or 13 books about Inspector Montalbano inside. I have not read them.

McIntyre - I have her only book on my TBR list. Of course I do, it is about Sherlock Holmes.

Gene Wolfe's name is totally familiar from books of short stories he had edited, but I have not ever been able to get into his books. I have tried, but his stories never pulled me in.

Of the others, I have The Caine Mutiny on my TBR list, because I think I should read it someday, his is the only one.

Last week, I discovered a new Little Library on the street, one over from where I live, but I have not had a chance to walk over and check it out. It was on my to do list for this weekend. I know of two others, on the other end of town.

[Janice, Moderator]

I just read on Twitter that another author has passed away. Ernest J. Gaines. I haven't read any of his books though I do recognize some of the titles.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Janice wrote: "I just read on Twitter that another author has passed away. Ernest J. Gaines. I haven't read any of his books though I do recognize some of the titles."

I haven't read anything by him, but A Lesson Before Dying is in my TBR

[Cherie]

Janice wrote: "I just read on Twitter that another author has passed away. Ernest J. Gaines. I haven't read any of his books though I do recognize some of the titles."

I have not read any of his books. None on my TBR list either.

[Renee]

Gaines was an amazing author. He started as a shar cropper. His books were beautifully written. I remember his Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. It was a moving story of a women surviving bigotry

[Almeta]

Renee wrote: "Gaines was an amazing author. He started as a shar cropper. His books were beautifully written. I remember his Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. It was a moving story of a women surviving bigotry"

I've not read it, but I remember being impressed with the film starring Cicely Tyson..

[Janice, Moderator]

Autobiography of Miss Jane Pitman was the title I recognized the most.

[Janice, Moderator]

I just read that Marion Chesney who wrote under the pen name M.C. Beaton (and others) died on Dec 30th. She was 83 years old.

Her Agatha Raisin cozy mystery series seemed to be quite popular. I've always wanted to give it a try but never got to it.

[Margo]

My husband loves her Hamish McBeth series.

[Janice, Moderator]

Margo wrote: "My husband loves her Hamish McBeth series."

I've heard that series was good as well.

[Almeta]

Janice wrote: "Margo wrote: "My husband loves her Hamish McBeth series."

I've heard that series was good as well."

I've always enjoyed her easy reads. A good go-to author for Topplers. Sorry to hear that she is gone.

[Sarah]

I read a couple of her Agatha Raison books for topplers years ago. They were quick reads and fun, although not really my kind of thing. Sad to hear she died. I had no idea she was that age.

[Renee]

Oh I love both her series. I will miss her clever and funny stories

Oh Janice wrote: "I just read that Marion Chesney who wrote under the pen name M.C. Beaton (and others) died on Dec 30th. She was 83 years old.

Her Agatha Raisin cozy mystery series ..."

[Cherie]

I saw this post yesterday, but did not respond. I have Agatha on my TBR list, but never gotten to it. I do not think I have ever read any of her other books.

[Sally]

Dorothea Benton Frank died in Sept. 2019
Sullivan's Island

[Janice, Moderator]

Sally wrote: "Dorothea Benton Frank died in Sept. 2019
Sullivan's Island"

I haven't read any of her work. I have one book on my wishlist.

[Cherie]

I have her first series book on my TBR list but that is all too. Sad.

[Lori Z]

I just saw that Mary Higgins Clark passed away. She was 92 years old and died of natural causes. She was always one of my favorite authors and in fact I'm reading one of her books right now.

[Janice, Moderator]

What a great age! I read a number of her books when I was younger and always enjoyed her stories.

[Margo]

I used to enjoy her work to. I hope it was peaceful.

[Renee]

I loved he one char. I think her name was Elvira. She was a lottery winner. She and her husband solved mysteries together. They were light reads done well,

I miss the days of well written mysteries with likeable detectives. MHC will be missed

[Sandra, Moderator]

I listened "AS TIME GOES BY" from that series a couple of months ago during a long drive, Renee. It made good company.

[Cherie]

I looked through her list of books and have only read one. It was in 2013.

[Debra]

I know I've read a few of Clark's books, but none are marked on Goodreads. It was a long time ago. I remember my mother having many of her books, so I'm sure that's how I ended up reading a few.

[Almeta]

Debra wrote: "I know I've read a few of Clark's books, but none are marked on Goodreads. It was a long time ago. I remember my mother having many of her books, so I'm sure that's how I ended up reading a few."

Yes, me too.

Mom and I went to a book signing luncheon to meet Mary Higgins Clark, Carol Higgins Clark and Ann Rivers Siddons. Very gracious ladies.

[Janice, Moderator]

Clive Cussler died on Monday. He was 88 years old and was widely known for his Dirk Pitt series.

I've read a couple of his books. They're great for challenges because he had a variety of settings.