A book written by someone you admire

[Noina]

J.K. Rowling is the first thing that came to my mind... But I'm already reading Career of Evil for the author who uses a pseudonym... I could read the Tales of Beedle. Or I could pick Delphine de Vigan one of my favorite authors but I've read almost all of her books.

[Alaina]

My great grandfather was a published poet. I have several of his collections, and have read poems from each, but never all the way through. I so admire him - and his middle name is my son's first name! He went through many struggles in his life including losing his first wife, then a daughter, fighting in WWI, giving up his inheritance (primogeniture) of the family farm because his younger brother was devastated when he was told to leave, etc.
Here's one of his Canadian Born, and Other Western Verse, and some others are Old Timer, and Troopers in France.

[Anna]

I just read March: Book One, all in one sitting. (It *is* only 130 pages or so.)

I'd originally thought to use it for "book with pictures" or "book with a red spine," but, honestly, I can't think of a better category than this. And it seemed important to read it on Martin Luther King's birthday.

Highly, highly recommend this one.

[PatchesEsq]

I'm reading 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened In Benghazi for this one. Kris Paronto is a personal hero to me.

[Kirsten]

Anna wrote: "I just read March: Book One, all in one sitting. (It *is* only 130 pages or so.)

I'd originally thought to use it for "book with pictures" or "book with a red spine," but, honestl..."

I heard all 3 of the series sold out on Amazon after Trump insulted the author!

[Kirsten]

PatchesEsq wrote: "I'm reading 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened In Benghazi for this one. Kris Paronto is a personal hero to me."

But... it's not written by Kris Paronto...

[Johanna]

At first I thought this was going to be a difficult one. Then I remembered that my mom wrote a book when I was a little girl. I've never read it cover to cover so that is what I'm going to do this year, because there's no one I admire more than my mom!

[Caity]

I adore and admire Felicia Day, so I've been toying with the idea of reading her autobiography You're Never Weird on the Internet. I bought it on a whim at a book store in Grand Central Station one day and have been wanting to read it since. This task is a great excuse to do so.

Also, any other fans here who are excited she's having a baby? AHHH

[PatchesEsq]

Kirsten *I support diversity in my reading and my world!" wrote: "PatchesEsq wrote: "I'm reading 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened In Benghazi for this one. Kris Paronto is a personal hero to me."

But... it's not written by Kri..."

Kris and the other survivors of the Annex Security Team are co-authors. That's good enough for me, and I'm not sure why you would object...

[Michelle]

Caity wrote: "I adore and admire Felicia Day, so I've been toying with the idea of reading her autobiography You're Never Weird on the Internet. I bought it on a whim at a book store in Grand Cen..."

Confession: I BARELY knew who she was when I read her book last year, but it ended up being one of my favorite reads in 2016. So, so good! I've never highlighted so many passages in a Kindle book!

I can't believe she was able to keep her pregnancy a secret for so long!! That's impressive!

[Sarah (is clearing her shelves)]

I will be reading Cloak and Dagger for this prompt. Nenia is a friend of mine here on GR and the founder of the only social group (other than this) I take part in. She's a reader before she's an author and vocally defends readers' rights to voice their opinions and be safe from trolls. Above and beyond all that she's a lovely person and enjoys nothing better than chatting about her favourite subject, bodice rippers, with her Unapologetic Romance Readers group members. I admire her as an author, reviewer, and friend.

[[deleted user]]

For this one I am currently reading Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls, and Everything in Between

I love Lauren Graham because she reminds me of my mama and I am interested to hear what she has to say. I am listening to the audio book that is narrated by her. I always love listening to audiobooks that are read by the author because they know exactly how everything is meant to be said.

[Linda L Isler]

I plan on reading Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist

[Elyse]

I picked The Casual Vacancy because who doesn't admire J. K. Rowling?! Especially as of late (her Twitter feed is awesome!). I'm already using The Cuckoo's Calling for "A book by an author who uses a pseudonym." I've only read the Harry Potter universe, none of her other works. Now's the time!

[Elyse]

Nadine wrote: "I'm struggling with this one. How does one define "admire"?

admire (verb, with object): to regard with wonder, pleasure, or approval.

And that's no help at all!!

Is it just an author I like? An..."

J. K. Rowling IS the answer to everything! :)

[Elyse]

Nadine wrote: "I read a book by Jimmy Carter once, and I was gifted another, and yes I DO admire him, very very much! But I found his book was a bit dry, so I'm not so much champing at the bit to read another. (I..."

Casual Vacancy wasn't written under her pseudonym. But all of the Cormoran Strike books were!

[Emanuel]

I read Vaticanum of José Rodrigues dos Santos, an author that I love, but, this time, I don't liked so much.

[Pat]

As a child I loved "horse" books and feel JANE SMILEY wrote the best horse book ever!! "Horse Heaven".
Going to read her "The Greenlanders" for this task..

[Emma]

I'd like to recommend Agatha Christie's autobiography. She had a fascinating life. Unfortunately I've already read it so I need to think of something else! Casual Vacancy I tried and got bored with. Perhaps I need to pick it up again. I found her Scottish detective story much better. It's also published under a pseudonym if you are double dipping.

[Mirel]

Johanna wrote: "At first I thought this was going to be a difficult one. Then I remembered that my mom wrote a book when I was a little girl. I've never read it cover to cover so that is what I'm going to do this ..."

That's what I was thinking--that I wished my mom had written a book, because there's no one I admire more than her. But unfortunately for me, she hasn't written one...

[Christy]

Emma wrote: "I'd like to recommend Agatha Christie's autobiography. She had a fascinating life. Unfortunately I've already read it so I need to think of something else! Casual Vacancy I tried and got bored with..."
Agatha Christie's autobiography is one of my top ten reads of all time! I strongly second this recommendation.

[Nadine in NY]

I'm currently reading Purple Hibiscus and it just occurred to me that I do admire Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, so I think I'm going to use it for this category. I had been planning to read something by Carl Sagan, and I hate letting that idea go, but I'm reading this now and I might as well check off the category. Doesn't mean I can't still read something by Sagan later in the year!

[Ramona]

I'm waiting for David Sedaris' newest book to come out this year and I'll count it toward this category. He is my number one inspiration as a writer.

[Kirsten]

PatchesEsq wrote: "Kirsten *I support diversity in my reading and my world!" wrote: "PatchesEsq wrote: "I'm reading 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened In Benghazi for this one. Kris ..."

I think my point was the challenge is read a book by someone you admire. If he is a co-author, okay. But, if not, then it doesn't really fit. Though no one is judging you. Not even me. I was just pointing it out.

[Baroness Ekat]

I just finished by book for this prompt and LOVED it.



How can you not admire these two men and their mission to bring Joy to the world. Every chapter resonated with me and I know it will be a book I end up reading multiple times.

[Felicia]

I wish I hadn't chosen to read this book. Some things are hard to swallow when the person you admire turns out different than you hoped.
The Princess Diarist

[Chinook]

I read The Princess Diaristas well, but I liked it. I found her story of being a bit adrift as a young woman in movies very relatable.

[Miriam]

I had a bit of a problem with the whole concept of "admiring" because I don't admire authors as a rule. I might admire their books but since I don't know them personally I can't admire them. But when I gave the whole thing some thought, I realized the prompt only says "someone you admire" rather than "author". So I decided to tweak the prompt a little.

When I think of a person I might admire besides family members the first person that comes to my mind is one of my professors back at the university, who was a mentor to me in a particularly difficult time during my studies. And while he is an author and has published several book about classical history that's not the stuff one would read for fun. Not even as nonfiction. Instead I will go for a book he gave me as a present for my 30th birthday but that I never got round to read till now.

So, I gonna read The Past in Hiding but as the German translation "In einem unbewachten Augenblick" (as soon as I figure out how to add it...).

[Elyse]

Miriam wrote: "I had a bit of a problem with the whole concept of "admiring" because I don't admire authors as a rule. I might admire their books but since I don't know them personally I can't admire them. But wh..."

Absolutely, someone you admire doesn't have to strictly be an author.

[Rachel]

I'm really at a loss for what to use for this prompt. I can't really think of anyone I admire that I would also be interested in reading a book by, or who might have written a book. I actually can't think of too many people in general that I would say I admire. I'm not interested in memoirs or politics, so I was hoping to find some kind of fiction option. Unfortunately, I'm still completely drawing a blank.

[Melanie]

Rachel wrote: "I'm really at a loss for what to use for this prompt. I can't really think of anyone I admire that I would also be interested in reading a book by, or who might have written a book. I actually can'..."

Pick a favorite author!

[Malaraa]

Melanie wrote: "Rachel wrote: "I'm really at a loss for what to use for this prompt. I can't really think of anyone I admire that I would also be interested in reading a book by, or who might have written a book. ..."

Yeah I certainly wouldn't think it'd have to someone who's a personal hero that changed your life level of admiration, that's certainly not how I selected my choice for it. :)

Maybe in addition to being an author they fund raise for a charity you think is important, maybe they've written something that you thought was clever or incredibly funny in the past, heck, a lot of fiction authors are juggling a full time day job, kids, and still putting out novels - that's a lot of work and plenty admirable right there. :)

[Chinook]

I learned today that John Irving is dyslexic and he credits how slow and painstaking writing and reading are for him as part of why he's successful. I'm tempted to change to one of his novels.

[Tracy]

This one was easy for me. I'm waiting for the release of Confessions of a Domestic Failure. The author is a mom blogger that I follow on Facebook, and she makes me laugh about motherhood on days when I really want to pull my hair out and cry. I admire her candor and her sense of humor. Can't wait for this book!

[Rachel]

Melanie wrote: "Rachel wrote: "I'm really at a loss for what to use for this prompt. I can't really think of anyone I admire that I would also be interested in reading a book by, or who might have written a book. ..."

I was thinking that, but I already have a couple of books from my favourite authors lined up.

[Nadine in NY]

Rachel wrote: "I'm really at a loss for what to use for this prompt. I can't really think of anyone I admire that I would also be interested in reading a book by, or who might have written a book. I actually can'..."

I had a really hard time with this too when the list was first published. I just drew a complete blank. But luckily for me, these discussion threads gave me ideas. First, I was planning to read something short from Fred Rogers, then I decided to read a book by Carl Sagan. I do really admire both of them, for different reasons. But then I found myself reading a book by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and I used that for this category.

I was hung up on what "admire" means and I hit a blank wall. I couldn't think of anyone I admire! What worked for me was to think about different issues that are important to me, then think of prominent people who speak about those issues, and then I found books. Thinking of authors first didn't work for me, I didn't get inspired until I thought the other way around, going issues first. Because most of the books I like to read aren't really by people I "admire" ... they are just books I like to read.

[Ruth]

Alaina wrote: "My great grandfather was a published poet. I have several of his collections, and have read poems from each, but never all the way through. I so admire him - and his middle name is my son's first n..."

My mother has written a few picture books. I'm wondering if it would be cheating to re-read one of them (I have autographed copies on my book shelf.)

Alternatively, I could just re-read something by one of my favorite authors, or wait a few months and read something new by Brandon Sanderson!

[Cindy]

I'm reading "No Higher Honor" by Condoleezza Rice.

[Tara]

Someone you admire definitely can be someone you know! I personally would caveat it with something published but it would be up to you!

[Anne]

Does anyone know if Meryl Streep wrote a book? I can't find much info but the more I hear and see this woman the more I admire her for her work and personality. If I can find a book she wrote I'll go for that, if not I might just read one of the many biographie, although it doesn't really fit the prompt. She is the first person that came to mind.

[Elyse]

Anne wrote: "Does anyone know if Meryl Streep wrote a book? I can't find much info but the more I hear and see this woman the more I admire her for her work and personality. If I can find a book she wrote I'll ..."

I don't think she herself has written a book yet. She has narrated some and done some forewords, but that's it.

[Toni]

I read The Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis. Really enjoyed it.

[Ruth]

Johanna wrote: "At first I thought this was going to be a difficult one. Then I remembered that my mom wrote a book when I was a little girl. I've never read it cover to cover so that is what I'm going to do this ..."
My mom has written a few books too- well, she's WRITTEN dozens, but a few have been published. But, they're all picture books, and that feels kind of "cheaty" to me. Not that I didn't use "The Cat in the Hat" for "a book you loved as a child"- but THAT prompt clearly calls for a children's book.

I admire both Patrick Rothfuss and Brandon Sanderson, so I used Sanderson's newest for this prompt.

[Evelyn]

The person that I admire is Rita Moreno, so I read Rita Moreno: A Memoir. Rita Moreno is the only Latina to have won an Oscar and few of the person who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.

[Jennifer]

Just finished Lone Survivor for this prompt. Was such a. Good book.

[Dixie]

I'm reading Keep Moving by Dick Van Dyke for this.

[Jennifer]

Personally, I chose "No Higher Honor" by Condolezza Rice. I have always admired her. I hope it's a good read

[Beanz]

At the moment, I'm fascinated by doctor/writers. I think I'll read Oliver Sack's autobiography "On the Move" for this prompt. Otherwise I would have chosen something by Stephen Fry.

[Megan]

I settled on Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan for this task.

[Shirley (stampartiste)]

I, too, probably struggled with this prompt more than any other. However, after just finishing The Death of Ivan Ilyich, I can't think of an author who deserves more admiration than Leo Tolstoy. Few authors can so clearly write of the human condition as he did. I loved Anna Karenina. Maybe one of these days, I'll tackle War and Peace.