Top 5 Authors You Would Read Regardless

[Jamie]

1. Jane Austen - I'm still trying to aquire some of her earlier works (particularly Sandition and The Watsons).
2. JK Rowling
3. Ann Brashares
4. Stephenie Meyer? - I've yet to read the Host, as the premise doesn't intrigue me, but I'll read it eventually.

[Kiwi]

1. Meg Cabot
2. Sharon Creech
3. Anthony Horowitz
4. Cornelia Funke
5. Jane Yolen

[Jessica]

Right now I've only got three, but that's because I read books from so many different people. So my top 3 would be;
1) John Grisham - every book I've ever read of his, I couldn't put down.
2) Avi - My favorite book is by him, and I've like all the other books he's written.
3) Lynn Viehl - The writer of the Darkyn books. :D

[Jen]

1. Richard Russo- lit.fic. fave of mine- Nobody's Fool or Straight Talk I read when I need a laugh
2. Anne Lamott-her essays are human and brilliant; her fiction is down-to-Earth
3. Nick Hornby- another lit. fic. fave
4. Barbara Kingsolver-it all started with The Bean Trees and Poisonwood Bible only further clinched the deal
5. Kelly Link-an unusual pick for me, but when I thought about it, I have read so much of her stuff-even the Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet that she has a hand in making but not really writing- she's that inventive and good.

[Tricia]

My top 5 would be:

James Patterson- love his books
Louisa May Alcott-I love the way she writes
Laura Ingalls Wilder-think all young people should read her books
Sandra Kring
Sara Dessen

I've only read 1 book each of the last 2 authors but they were so good I'd recommend giving them a shot.

[Atishay]

Nicholas Evans
Arthur Conan Doyle
Sam Bourne
Leif Enger
David Baldacci
Frederick Forsyth

[[deleted user]]

Jen, I like Kelly Link. You are the first person I've seen mention her in your top 5.

[Cheryl S.]

Pat Conroy
Leon Uris
James Lee Burke
Ann Rivers Siddons
Dorothea Benton Frank
Diana Gabaldon
Martha Grimes
Elizabeth Peters
Graham Green

[Jeane]

I think i would have to add also Barbara Kingsolver. I liked a little bit less Poisonwood bible but adored Prodigal summer. Want to read her other books too.

[El]

Michael Chabon
Edith Wharton
Stewart O'Nan (I've just more recently gotten into his writing and I am continuously blown away)
Jonathan Carroll
Margaret Atwood

[Kevin]

1) Harlen Coben
2) Lee Child
3) Dick Francis
4) F. Paul Wilson
5) Robert Crais
6) Sue Grafton
7) Jim Butcher
8) John Dunning
9) C.J. Sansom
10) J.K. Rowling

[Meghan]

The two I keep on my watch list - but who, unfortunately are not very prolific...

* Wally Lamb
* Patrick Conroy

[Kandice]

Stephen King
Collen McCullough
E.M. Forster
Amy Tan
James Patterson

Even if I'm a little disapointed... I'm really not!

[Leshawn]

John Updike
Anne Tyler
Elizabeth Berg
Fay Weldon
Haruki Murakami
A.S.Byatt

I even pre-order their books as soon as I discover they have written a new one.

[Tango]

Elizabeth George
Amy Tan
Tim Winton (a great Australian writer if you haven't tried him)
Isabel Allende
Anne Tyler

[Katie]

Jamie said: Stephenie Meyer? - I've yet to read the Host, as the premise doesn't intrigue me, but I'll read it eventually.
I thought The Host was a million times better than Twilight. So much more insightful and well written and none of that horribly creepy stalker vampire boyfriend stuff *shudders* For me, The Host redeemed her.

#1 - Juliet Marillier~ My favorite author. I have read every single one of her books. I quite literally will read anything that has her name on it. I haven't been disappointed yet. Her Sevenwaters series is phenomenal

#2 - Jane Austen ~ I know that she's obviously not publishing anymore but if something has her name on it I read it. She only wrote 6 full length novels, and I actually haven't read two of them because I know once I do they'll be over. How pathetic is that?

#3 - J.K. Rowling ~ If she ever writes anything else(even if it isn't related to HP) I will definitely pick it up, just because I love her imagination

#4 - Melanie Rawn~ I think she's an excellent fantasy writer.

[JG (Introverted Reader)]

I'll try to keep mine to living authors.

Way ahead of everyone--Charles de Lint--A fantasy author who has great characters. They surface in each other's stories, so it's like checking in on old friends to read a new novel by him.

Lee Smith--Fair and Tender Ladies is by fair my favorite, but the others that I've read are also great. She just gets everything right about people living in the Appalachians. It's nice not to be stereotyped.

J.K. Rowling--Need I say more?

Leif Enger--Peace Like a River is in a three- or four-way tie for my favorite book. His other one was fantastic also.

Khaled Hosseini--His books aren't easy, but they make you think.

[Mary]

Author I would read no matter what....and I hear he has a new book coming out in 2009 (I think in the fall)

Pat Conroy

[DevonAlyse]

I'm working through some Stephen King issues right now. I, stupidly, decided to try and read It but i'm scared of clowns...so it's back on the shelf for the moment. (Dumb I know...)

I love Janet Evanovich but i'm not a big fan of the Plum novels for some reason, but the Full series is really good, and so are her standalones.

I'm just getting into Meg Cabot. I like her writing style.

I also love Agatha Christie. I wish I knew someone like Mrs. Marple!!

[Jeane]

DevonAlyse wrote: "I'm working through some Stephen King issues right now. I, stupidly, decided to try and read It but i'm scared of clowns...so it's back on the shelf for the moment. (Dumb I know...)

I love Jane..."

I also can read any Agatha Christie book whenever.

[Leah]

hmmm good question!

Jasper Fforde - he is my fav author because he is funny and creative
Jane Austen - Have been trying to read all of her books
Nicholas Sparks - I haven't found a book of his I haven' liked.. they make a fun light read

thats really all I can think of!

[Salma]

LM Montgomery!

Stephen King, but I haven't picked up Just After Sunset- so don't know if that makes me a hypocrite.

Daphne DuMaurier

Stephenie Meyer

JK Rowling

Melissa Bank

[Eric]

J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter is a cool dude.

Piers Anthony: His Xanth series is a staple of my childhood.

John Case: I've always enjoyed his ideas for stories.

J A Konrath: His Jack Daniels series has me turning pages for the next horrible (or funny) moment.

Dean Koontz: Just for his Odd Thomas books. If they went downhill, I'd still read them. I am an Odd Thomas loving fool.

[Sonya]

Hi Everyone--I'm new here and really like this question (and see that this thread's been going on for some time).

Annie Dillard (altho, she has said she's "done.")
Cormac McCarthy
EL Doctorow
Marilynne Robinson

Interesting, though, to think about "what happens" to an author's work as he/she ages. Some people have criticized Updike's (RIP) work as getting too autobiographical in his later work, for instance. I believe Edward Said wrote a book about this--artists in their "twilight" years.

[Jeane]

Hi Sonya, which kind of books do these authors write? Don't know any of them.

[Megan]

Kiwi wrote: "1. Meg Cabot
2. Sharon Creech
3. Anthony Horowitz
4. Cornelia Funke
5. Jane Yolen"

I love Sharon Creech as well!

[El]

Sonya, I hadn't heard about Annie Dillard not writing any more! That makes me sad. I liked her latest, The Maytrees A Novel. I will say I haven't been able to make it through The Living A Novel, though I've only tried once and it was not a good time. Her essays and memoirs are incredible.

[Sonya]

Jeane, the authors I listed are all literary fiction writers. All well worth reading.

El, I heard an interview with Annie Dillard on NPR when The Maytrees came out. She said the book got to a draft 1200 pages long! And then she realized it needed to be focused, without a wasted word, so she cut it down to the slim novel it is now; and apparently, it did her in. (I thought it was wonderful, and moving.) But you never know, inspiration could strike again. I listened to The Living on audio, and that was a good way to "read' it.

[Cameron]

Linda Howard
Sandra Brown
Diana Gabaldon
Elizabeth Lowell
JR Ward

[Kim]

Larry McMurtry, William Faulkner, Larry Brown, John Irving, Cormac McCarthy

[Allison]

Elizabeth Peters
Sophie Kinsella
Diana Gabaldon
J.K. Rowling/Stephenie Meyer
Lauren Willig
Tasha Alexander

[Ed]

Cormac McCarthy
Bernard Cornwell
James Lee Burke
Robert Parker
Alan Furst

[Paula]

Steve Berry
Dan Brown
James Patterson
Alison Wier (luv my history)
Clive Cussler (new fave)

[Emily]

Kurt Vonnegut
John Irving
Oscar Wilde
David Sedaris

[Jeane]

Paula wrote: "Steve Berry
Dan Brown
James Patterson
Alison Wier (luv my history)
Clive Cussler (new fave)
"

Paula, great that you added Clive Cussler. He writes great books!

[Paula]

I can't believe I've never read one of his books before. Again, too many books, too little time...

[Ed]

Can anybody help me understand why Steve Berry is so popular? I've only read two of his books but they were not that well written, were poorly plotted and totally unbelievable. Other than that.... (Grin)

[Jeane]

Ed wrote: "Can anybody help me understand why Steve Berry is so popular? I've only read two of his books but they were not that well written, were poorly plotted and totally unbelievable. Other than that......"

Don't even know who he is!:-))

[Ed]

Jeane wrote: "Ed wrote: "Can anybody help me understand why Steve Berry is so popular? I've only read two of his books but they were not that well written, were poorly plotted and totally unbelievable. Other t..."

He's on a few of the lists here.

[Sarah]

Neil Gaiman- he can't put them out fast enough for me
Robin McKinley- she won me over with Sunshine, and now I can't stop
Neal Stephenson - a recent addition, I've discovered I really love his humor
Cassandra Clare- I love her world building. I can't wait to see what else she comes out with.
J.K. Rowling - please, oh, please let her keep writing.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Anna Quindlen
Anita Shreve
Louise Erdrich
Lisa See
Maeve Binchy

[[deleted user]]

1. Howard Frank Mosher: hilarious, and captures Vermonters perfectly.
2. Tom Robbins
3. Stephen King
4. Chuck Palahniuk
5. Silas House
6. Edward Abbey

[Mosca]

In no particular order:

Connie Willis
William Trevor
Louise Erdrich
Barbara Kingsolver
Thomas Pynchon

[Tom]

1. Bill Bryson
2. Carl Hiaasen
3. John Mortimer
4. Mary Roach
5, Michael Pollan

[rebecca j]

Mel - I just saw books by Edward Abbey referenced in the new YA novel Scat by Carl Hiaasen. Have you read many of his books? I was thinking about trying one based on how the characters in Scat responded to it.

[Sandra]

Tom wrote: "1. Bill Bryson
2. Carl Hiaasen
3. John Mortimer
4. Mary Roach
5, Michael Pollan"

Tom wrote: "1. Bill Bryson
2. Carl Hiaasen
3. John Mortimer
4. Mary Roach
5, Michael Pollan"


Sandra

[Tom]

Suddenly filled with doubt, I went slinking off to the book case just to be sure that it is indeed two 'l's.

[Stephanie]

Wally Lamb
Markus Zusak
Jodi Picoult
Harlan Coben
Emily Giffin

[Terri]

Ikiwiki wrote: "In no particular order...

Ted Dekker - contemporary Christian - thriller, suspense, paranormal, and even drama sometimes - My favorite book by Ted is Three, but I'm truly a fan of all his books ..."

I really enjoyed Three and have mixed feelings about the first of the color series? lots of frustration with that one. But I have the second to read soon, so hoping some of that will be resolved

[Tressa]

Anne Tyler
Alice Hoffman
Dennis Lehane
Robert McCammon
Kahled Hosseini