Announcing the Winning Authors of the 64 Round

[Anita]

I am going to start posting the winners by bracket as it's a bit of a process. I will also be posting the new brackets for the next round and a new participation points tracking thread.

Please continue to track votes as you have been in the existing voting tracking thread. If you run out of room, please follow the protocol that Olivermagnus has established . . .she basically started a new post and linked it on her previous post.

Winners of each match up are bolded below.

Please feel free to discuss! Any surprises? Disappointments? Did any of the authors you bet on get knocked out early?

[Anita]

BRACKET A:

Davis, Fiona v.
Kingsolver, Barbara

Ferrante, Elena v.
Ozeki, Ruth

Hellenga, Robert v.
Sandford, John

Gabaldon, Diana v.
See, Lisa

Hibbert, Talia v.
Morrison, Toni

George, Elizabeth v.
Reid, Taylor Jenkins

Follett, Ken v.
Picoult, Jodi

Hannah, Kristin v.
Russell, Mary Doria

[Anita]

BRACKET B

Connelly, Michael v.
Jones, Stephen Graham

Allende, Isabel v.
Towles, Amor

Haruf, Kent v.
Stilton, Thea

Harmon, Amy v.
Strout, Elizabeth

Andrews, Ilona v.
Patchett, Ann

Hodgson, Antonia v.
Kinsella, Sophie/Madeleine Wickham

Hoffman, Alice v.
Wingate, Lisa

Alyan, Hala v.
Shinn, Sharon

[Anita]

BRACKET C

Boyne, John v.
Krueger, William Kent

Bryson, Bill v.
Moriarty, Lianne

Bowen, Rhys v.
Pratchett, Terry

Atwood, Margaret v.
Tolkien, J.R.R.

Backman, Fredrik v.
Willis, Connie

Center, Katherine v.
Simon, Coco

Caro, Robert v.
Ishiguro, Kazuo

Bradbury, Ray v.
Joyce, Rachel

[Anita]

Albom, Mitch v.
Turow, Scott

Delinsky, Barbara v.
Kristof, Agota

Castillo, Linda v.
Michener, James

Barclay, Linwood v.
King, Stephen

Austen, Jane v.
Shute, Nevil

Hoover, Colleen v.
James, P.D.

Bujold, Lois McMaster v.
Rowling, JK/Galbraith, Robert

Christie, Agatha v.
Morton, Kate

[Rachel N.]

I definitely don't know who the favorite author is :-). I had JK Rowling as winning the whole thing and she didn't make it past round one. I can't remember who I picked for Bracket A and B but at least my pick in Bracket C is still here. I'm surprised by a few of the winners. I'm also having fun reading new authors.

[Hilde]

I definitely don't know either, Rachel :)
I also had JK Rowling as the winner, so I am already out! Very surprised to see both her, Allende, Pratchett and Gabaldon eliminated already. I forgot to vote this round, so I can blame myself for some favorites being gone, ha.

[Amy]

I also had J. K. Rowling. I thought she would be fourth of the four, but would win her bracket. So I am also surprised. I didn’t take into account the popularity of the competing author, that I have seen before that the fantasy lovers really love. I guess you just never know. And my top three and final pick are still in there. I too was surprised that Lisa See won over Gabaldon, but she is a talented writer. It was a good matchup. Also, Ken Follett won over Jodi Piccoult. I guess that’s not so much of a surprise because they are both talented, but I have always had a soft spot for Jodi. Allende is a loss, but Amor Towles is a sure hit. I’d love to hear whatever others surprised us all.

[Holly R W]

I've been following from the sidelines, as I'm not participating in the challenge. Initially when the 64 authors were selected, I was surprised by how many I had never read and not heard of. It shows what a diverse group of readers we really are.

Then, I liked reading some of the reviews, familiarizing myself with authors new to me. I even read books by Ozeki, Kingsolver and Erdich, three authors I have not read before.

Like many here, I am surprised to see that J.K. Rowling was cut. I thought she would be a finalist. Personal favorites of mine that were also cut are: Isabelle Allende and Rachel Joyce. I know that Hala Alyan is not well-known, but I have loved her books and am glad that she made the cut.

I'm enjoying my perch from the sidelines.

[Amy]

Kate Morton was cut! For Agatha Christie. I admit I did not expect that. Was Planning to read the lake house. Still….

[Olivermagnus]

I was surprised by some of the match up winners for sure. Least surprising was poor Robert A. Caro vs Kazuo Ishiguro. I just read my first book by Caro because I felt sure he would be out in the first round. While it wasn't a page turner I do appreciate the amount of research that it takes to write that type book.

I'm going to miss some of the authors from the first round but there are still plenty of good books left. My pick for winner is still in the running.

[KateNZ]

I’m loving this challenge so much - great new match-ups and some wonderfully diverse reading options to suit any mood. Awesome work, everyone (and thanks to Anita!)

Some fabulous authors eliminated, but if I want to read them, I’ll read them anyhow even though no points are on offer any more. So a few slight surprises but no disappointments.

[NancyJ]

The Rowling and Gabaldon losses were the biggest surprises, and a message to everyone to protect your favorites. You can't take anything for granted. I don't know if those were strategic votes, or just a "been there, done that" attitude about extremely popular series.

I lost one of my final four guesses already, but not the one I thought was the biggest risk. Go figure. I knew I didn't have a chance to win the game, but I'm really happy with what I'm reading.

I'm glad I finally read Nevil Shute, Kent Haruf, Toni Morrison and Fiona Davis. I'm sorry Mary Doria Russell is out of the running, but I will definitely be reading more of her. I loved The Sparrow and A Thread of Grace.

I am really happy that Ruth Ozeki was saved. I have two more of earlier books to read.

I'll be sending Good Omens back to the library (I wasn't in the mood right now anyway.)

[Jenni Elyse]

I think my pick is still in the running unless I last-minute changed my mind to Rowling. I hope I didn’t. I think I picked someone I thought the group as a whole loved more…

I’m actually not surprised that Rowling is out with all the bad press she’s gotten lately. There are so many people that won’t even pick up a Harry Potter book anymore because of it. I hear about it all the time in the book blogging world. I’m not sure where people stand here since we’re not supposed to discuss politics.

I’m sad Fiona Davis didn’t make it further. I just discovered her and really enjoy her writing. I’m glad, however, that Liane Moriarty’s still in the running because she’s my personal fave besides Rowling (books not politics, I can separate the two). I'm also glad Frederik Backman wasn't eliminated.

[Linda]

I had also voted for JK Rowling as the winner. I was also surprised that Agatha Christie won over Kate Morton. I have just found Kate Morton and really like her.
I will still read some of the other authors to see if I can find another favorite.

[LibraryCin]

Awww, so the original two I voted to add to the list and the (same) two I put my extra votes toward are both out. But they were both up against tough competition. I knew for sure one would be out (it would have been a huge shock if he wasn't!), but I had still hoped for my other one.

However, the four I picked as possible winners are still in it!

[LibraryCin]

And I'm surprised Sophie Kinsella got through! I read my book to get in the voting point just in time, assuming she'd be gone!

[Booknblues]

I wrote my possible winners on a piece of paper, I have since lost.

I know Rowling and Tolkien were on my list, maybe Gabaldon. So I am wrong on 3.

[Sue]

Interesting winners/losers. My final pick is still in the running.

I'm looking forward to reading more from this great list of authors!

[Karin]

Rachel N. wrote: "I definitely don't know who the favorite author is :-). I had JK Rowling as winning the whole thing and she didn't make it past round one. I can't remember who I picked for Bracket A and B but at l..."

Ah, but there are many Bujold fans, and Bujold is a far better writer, IMO, but if you 've never read her before then I can see why you'd have thought she'd beat Bujold. It's not for nothing that Bujold, who is highly successful in scifi and was one of the first women to win so many scifi awards) now has books that are classic scifi reads :) She also has a fantasy series.

My opinon has always been that Rowling is more of a fad.

I am VERY disappointed that Tolkein didn't win because I am not a fan of Atwood's, but I can't say that I am shocked.

I didn't guess, nor did I vote for every single pair. At least 11 people I voted for made it through, so I feel happy about things overall. My biggest disappointment in a pair where I votes for is Margaret Atwood, even though I am sure that Tolkein wouldn't have gone on to win the whole thing.

[Cheryl]

Like many others I had JK Rowling as the final winner. I only have one bracket choice still in the running. There are so many authors I haven't read yet and I am enjoying reading for the first time.

[NancyJ]

CLICKABLE names

Bracket A
Barbara Kingsolver
Ruth Ozeki
Robert Hellenga
Lisa See
Toni Morrison
Taylor Jenkins Reid
Ken Follett
Kristin Hannah

Bracket B
Michael Connelly
Amor Towles
Kent Haruf
Elizabeth Strout
Ann Patchett
Sophie Kinsella
Alice Hoffman
Hala Alyan

Bracket C
John Boyne
Liane Moriarty
Rhys Bowen
Margaret Atwood
Fredrik Backman
Katherine Center
Kazuo Ishiguro
Ray Bradbury

Bracket D
Scott Turow
Barbara Delinsky
James A. Michener
Stephen King
Jane Austen
P.D. James
Lois McMaster Bujold
Agatha Christie

[Amy]

With the elimination of 6 authors I was soon planning to read and did not expect to go in the first round, I have six books left that I desire to soon read. Four in Bracket B, and one in A and C apiece. Maybe I will try to see if something appeals from D. But the eliminations sure helped me shape my upcoming plans. I'm sure others feel the same.

[Theresa]

@NancyJ - thanks for the clickable names! There are still a few authors whose works are not already on my TBR.

[NancyJ]

Jenni Elyse wrote: "I think my pick is still in the running unless I last-minute changed my mind to Rowling. I hope I didn’t. I think I picked someone I thought the group as a whole loved more…

I’m actually not surpr..."

I haven't heard people discuss it here. I've been avoiding politics as much as possible, especially when it involves non-political people. It's been really good for my blood pressure.

[NancyJ]

Amy wrote: "With the elimination of 6 authors I was soon planning to read and did not expect to go in the first round, I have six books left that I desire to soon read. Four in Bracket B, and one in A and C ap..."

Bracket D is harder for me now too. I was planning to read a Robert Galbraith and the rest of the Notebook Trilogy. I still want to read "new-to-me" authors as well as favorites like Austen. I haven't read Stephen King in 40 years, so he feels new-to-me now.

[LibraryCin]

Karin wrote: "Ah, but there are many Bujold fans, and Bujold is a far better writer, IMO, but if you 've never read her before then I can see why you'd have thought she'd beat Bujold. ..."

That's one of the authors who made it to round 2 whom I've never heard of. There were lots in round 1, but not as many in round 2.

[LibraryCin]

NancyJ wrote: "I was planning to read a Robert Galbraith ..."

I was also hoping to read a Galbraith soon, but it actually didn't surprise me that she's out. We have a large group of literary readers here.

[Theresa]

Just a reminder to all involved in the challenge:

Sophie Kinsella also writes under Madeleine Wickham and I actually prefer those.

[NancyJ]

Theresa wrote: "Just a reminder to all involved in the challenge:

Sophie Kinsella also writes under Madeleine Wickham and I actually prefer those."

Thanks, I loved the movie I saw of Kinsella's most famous book, but I haven't clicked with her other books. I'll try her other persona.

[Karin]

LibraryCin wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "I was planning to read a Robert Galbraith ..."

I was also hoping to read a Galbraith soon, but it actually didn't surprise me that she's out. We have a large group of literary reade..."

Bujold has many ardent fans. I first heard of her when I was able to get in touch with an old friend (we used to be very close--she helped me choose my wedding dress--but time, distance and life changes etc meant we lost touch), and not one I had realized read scifi.