7. A book by an author with the same first or last name as you

[Jacqueline]

I forgot about Jackie Collins......

[Nikky]

I have all her books I love her writing!! :)

[Jacqueline]

I can honestly say I’ve never read even one of her books. That’s not a good or bad thing. It’s just a thing. And she’s been around as long as I have. She must be pretty good at what she does though because she’s been on the bestseller lists that whole time.

[Nikky]

She’s brilliant, you get a bit of everything with her books xx

[Jess]

Monica wrote: "Sherida, type Sherida in the box above where it says "Search books" and you'll see a number of authors named Sherida."

Would you consider it cheating to use Daphne du Maurier? I'd say it's close enough. The only Jackie author I can think of is Jackie Collins. I assume you've already ruled her books out and I would really not blame you if you did.

[Abbie]

Megan wrote: "I've done some digging on my last name and was not impressed by any of the books that came up. I am thinking Megan or Meg may be my best option, but there are a lot of us out there. Anyone have a b..."
I recently read The Fever by Megan Abbott and really enjoyed it. I have another one of her books in my TBR now as well.

[Abbie]

I may go for a slightly different spelling on this one, possibly Abbi Jacobson but we'll see. One of my last books of 2017 was an author with the same last name as me, so obviously I planned poorly.

[Melissa]

My goal is to read romance novels for 10% or less of these prompts as a means to challenge myself. But this is one of the challenges I am reading a romance. I went with a Melissa Foster romance I already had on my Kindle for an easy win and to catch up as I am "behind schedule"

[Thais]

I have a really unusual first and last name. Would it be cheating if I used a title of a book if the title and my first name are the same?

[Ellen]

My name is Ellen. I was going to listen to one of Ellen's audiobooks, but they were super backed up at the library and it was gonna take a while. I already had Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me on my list so I read that instead since it was quick because it's a graphic novel.

[Teri]

A few years ago, my mom gave me a book (Alibi by Teri Woods) that she found at the dollar store because the author shares my first name, even spelled correctly. Good thing I haven't gotten around to reading it, because it will be perfect for this prompt.

[Lacy]

Lacy Jones?


I like YA the most but am willing to look at anything.

[✨ A ✨]

Thais wrote: "I have a really unusual first and last name. Would it be cheating if I used a title of a book if the title and my first name are the same?"

i say go for it!

[✨ A ✨]

i have an unusual name: Azrah. i dont know what im going to do with this prompt. *crying*

[JoLene]

So far, it seems like people with my first name either write erotica or LDS YA fiction. Talk about polar opposites. My last name seems to be scientific non-fiction that does not seem like a lay person would understand. I did run across a book that had a character with my name — I think I will go with that.

[Christy]

Does anybody have any suggestions for Christy or Christine? My (beloved but unusual) last name is pretty much right out. I saw a bunch of books for authors with that name when I searched, but a lot of them wrote a TON of books so I'm not sure where to start or which are the best ones. Anybody have any favorite Christy/Christine books?

[Johanne]

@Azrah - you could go with an anagram of your name - Zarah (or Sarah). That way you still stick with the idea of the prompt, but it makes it possible for you.

[Johanne]

Just had a look in WorldCat (global catalogue of library collections) and there is a couple of Azrah's, one with quite a lot of cook books published ;) another has a paper on dengue fever and a third Azrah some sugar research... I don't think you should stick with them, I was just curious.

[Teri]

Azrah wrote: "i have an unusual name: Azrah. i dont know what im going to do with this prompt. *crying*"

I suggest changing your name. (joking)

[✨ A ✨]

Johanne wrote: "Just had a look in WorldCat (global catalogue of library collections) and there is a couple of Azrah's, one with quite a lot of cook books published ;) another has a paper on dengue fever and a thi..."
thanks so much, i did a search on worldcat, and you're right they're all just recipe books and a bunch of others are in languages i dont understand, unfortunately English is the only language i know.

[Johanne]

Azrah wrote: "Johanne wrote: "Just had a look in WorldCat (global catalogue of library collections) and there is a couple of Azrah's, one with quite a lot of cook books published ;) another has a paper on dengue..."

Yeah, I say go with the anagram - Zarah, that ought to broaden the field.

[✨ A ✨]

Allison wrote: "Azrah wrote: "i have an unusual name: Azrah. i dont know what im going to do with this prompt. *crying*"
There are a couple things on Amazon, both really short.
Lulu and the Tiny Elephants by Azrah..."

thank you so much!

[Sherri]

There is a really bad romance writer that has the same name as my birth certificate has on it. I picked up one of her books at a bargain basement sale for $2, read it, mostly, and am checking it off. It was a poorly written, stupid book. I won't be reading anything by her ever again, and the book is already in the bag to go the the Planned Parenthood book sale.

[Alexandra]

I'll be reading The Ninth Circle by Alex Bell since it's the short version of my name and could work for both female&male readers with different spellings/from different countries. Seems like an interesting story.

[Lacy]

Lacy

Jones

Any suggestions?

[Linda]

Lacy wrote: "Lacy

Jones

Any suggestions?"

Yes! An American Marriage

[Roxanne]

Hunger- Roxanne Gay.... for the potential Roxane’s out there. It was a pretty good read so bonus.

[Pamela]

Any help with Pamela?

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads)]

Pamela wrote: "Any help with Pamela?"

If you count "Pam" there's this book on my TBR: Echo

ETA: I looked her up on wikipedia and her official first name is Pamela.

[Johanne]

Pamela wrote: "Any help with Pamela?"

I haven't read it, but I love this title: My Head Teacher is a Vampire Rat by Pamela Butchart.

[Laura]

Raquel wrote: "Pamela wrote: "Any help with Pamela?"

If you count "Pam" there's this book on my TBR: Echo

ETA: I looked her up on wikipedia and her official first name is Pamela."

I just read Echo recently and it was beautiful! Highly recommend.

[Ian]

I went with Nutshell by Ian McEwan. It was good. Almost too literary for me, but definitely intriguing.

[Shelley]

I was in a San Francisco indy book store and caught eyes with this book. I ended up buying a different book, but then went on Amazon and bought this one because it is someone who actually shares my first name, same spelling and all: Imagining the Future of Climate Change: World-Making through Science Fiction and Activism. It was way more dry and academic than I was expecting but it made me think and directed me towards other works that I would enjoy, which at the end of the day is totally awesome.

[Cyndy]

I read The Glass Forest by Cynthia Swanson. Twists all around, twisted people and twists in the story. I will say I figured out one of the twists, but only one! I'm still trying to figure out which character was the most twisted. Highly recommended, for the page turner quality alone. I think this could be a great movie.

[The Chapter Conundrum (Stacey)]

Sofie wrote: "I might just fub the spelling of my first name and read something by Sofi Oksanen. I'm not sure I can find anything by Sofie Laguna in the neighbourhood and I don't..."

Check out Sophie Kinsella if you're going to fub the spelling and aren't interested in what you're seeing & enjoy Chick Lit. I really enjoyed The Undomestic Goddess & Can You Keep a Secret?

She also writes as Madeleine Wickham

[Pie]

My name is very uncommon but I was able to find an author with my initials here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of... which I found linked
here https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Tracy]

Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier. She has so many books to choose from and I haven't read anything by her yet.

[courtney]

Having the name Courtney is tough. Although my last name is Anderson and that's SUPER common.

Just finished Sadie by Courtney Summers and I thought it was excellent!

[Kristin]

There are probably other authors out there, but I found Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah at our beach rental house this summer. Since I hadn't done any research into who to choose for this prompt, I took it as a sign that this was what I was supposed to read. A bit slow going at first, but had me crying by the end.

[Aly]

I've don't think I've seen an author named Aly/Alyssa and I've never seen one with my last name Cavalier...

[Becky]

Aly wrote: "I've don't think I've seen an author named Aly/Alyssa and I've never seen one with my last name Cavalier..."

Alyssa Cole
Alyssa Maxwell
Alissa Nutting (not the same spelling though)
Alyssa Ayres
Alyssa Harad

Hope that helps! :)

[Errlee]

Errlee Carruthers - the only thing I can find are some extremely dry looking war histories by something with the same last name. First name is usually spelled Airleigh or Airlie but still no luck? Guess I can resort to middle names? Anne and Elizabeth?

This prompt is driving me nuts!

[Tracy]

Errlee wrote: "Errlee Carruthers - the only thing I can find are some extremely dry looking war histories by something with the same last name. First name is usually spelled Airleigh or Airlie but still no luck? ..."

Well, you'll find plenty of options for Anne or Elizabeth. Your first name sounds beautiful though, I've never heard it before.

[Johanne]

Errlee wrote: "Errlee Carruthers - the only thing I can find are some extremely dry looking war histories by something with the same last name. First name is usually spelled Airleigh or Airlie but still no luck? ..."

Had a look in WorldCat, and you are right - no-one by the name Errlee or Airleigh, but a couple with Airlie:
Airlie Anderson a picture book author
Catherine Airlie outdated (but fun looking) wham bam novels it seems
Shiona Airlie who seems to have a thing for Sir James Stewart Lockhart (whoever he is)
If I were you I´d go with the picture books out of that lot.

For Carruthers, there are a lot more, and they them seem like a clever lot in different fields:
Carruthers Elizabeth teaching maths ;)
Elliot Carruthers teaching Spanish
Peter Carruthers psychology

And titles like:
The Edinburgh Companion to Robert Burns by Gerard Carruthers
The Arts and Crafts Movement in Scotland: A History by Annette Carruthers is it by any chance a Scottish name?

A couple children´s authors:
New Word a Day: 365 New Words a Day - One Word for Each Day! by E.S. Carruthers
Elliot Carruthers a cat trivia author as well... Cat Trivia: Funny Facts

This one actually looks interesting:
Unapologetic: A Black, Queer, and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements by Charlene Carruthers

Got a bit carried away there. So, anyway. If you don´t think any of those look like your cup of tea, I believe you should go for your middle name.

[Errlee]

Thanks so much! I have never used that catalogue. And it’s Irish (Gaelic actually) :)

The activist one does look interesting (although my library doesn’t have it) but depending on timing I might end up reading the Cat Trivia - 99 cents on Kindle and time is getting tight for me to finish the challenge by the end of the year! And people liked it in Goodreads (ok not a LOT of people granted but those who read it , liked it).

Thanks again.

[Abbie]

This is my last prompt and I'm reading Abbi Jacobson's I Might Regret This: Essays, Drawings, Vulnerabilities, and Other Stuff. It's great so far! Can't believe I'm going to finish this year, it's been so much fun!

[Johanne]

You are welcome, Errlee. I am a librarian so I like this sort of thing :)