Jane Austen. I can’t really say why I fell in love with her work. But the more I reread her work, the more deeply I engage with it, and just think her work is brilliant. I only wish she had written more in her short life.
Jean plaidy. She is responsible for my love of history.. Non fiction and fiction. After reading her wonderful historical novels as a young adult.. a whole new world was opened up for me!
Stuart MacBride. It’s difficult to explain, but I love his writing style, his humour in the midst of the chaos & carnage he writes about and the characters he creates. His stories were my sanctuary after my mom died. They were the only thing I could concentrate on. I wish I could let him know how much his words have meant to me.
It is so hard to pinpoint one. I love Nelson DeMille, but hated his last one. Jodi Picoult, Anita Shreve, John Sanford, Jonathan Kellerman, Tami Hoag, Grisham, King. I know, I’m cheating. Just can’t say one definitively.
Chris Bohjalian. He’s written such diverse things that I always end up enjoying what he’s written. Plus he does such a great job researching his topics (midwifery, mental illness, parasomnia, etc.) that you actually end up getting more from his work than just entertainment.
Ohh… I have to go on. Amy Tan, Lisa See, Mark Twain, C.S Lewis, JRR Tolkien, Ursula K. Laguin, Kingsolver, Laurie L. King, OMG there are too many more.
Jk Rowling or Rick Riordan. They both have inspired 90% of what I’ve done. They have helped me through bullying, family abuse, depression and took me away from killing myself.
Favorite new author is Nathan Hill whose debut The Nix is one of the best pieces of fiction I’ve read in ages. I also enjoy Maya Angelou and Paul Auster.
Jhumpa Lahiri. Anthony Trollope. Fannie Flagg. Robert Graves. Leo Tolstoy, James Joyce, and Henry James. Alexander McCall Smith. Louis Auchincloss. Jane Austen. George Eliot. Thomas Hardy. Oh, wait. Did you mean just one? Um…Gore Vidal
Top 3: Geraldine Brooks – no two books alike, have loved everything she wrote from NF on Islam (9th Part of Desire) memoir, Foreign Correspondence, and fiction, particularly People of the Book. Barbara Kingsolver who wrote possibly my favorite book, The Poisonwood Bible, and maybe Amy Tan for third place. I have enjoyed everything of hers as well.
Pat Conroy, makes me feel Jodi Picoult, makes me see every side to ethical and moral dilemmas, James Michener, teaches me soooo much about people and their places and how they are bound together, Anne Lamot, helps me define my spirituality and gives such joy for humanity, Barbara Brown Taylor, also for spiritual growth, Wendell Berry, Just because of how his writing makes me love the earth and the membership (his term) of communities. Many more I love.
Margaret Atwood. I love how many different genres her books fit into. I read The Handmaid’s Tale in high school and I’ve only become a bigger fan. Also, when she does readings, she’s got such a great dry wit.
Jim Butcher (Harry Dresden), Patricia Briggs (Mercedes Thompson),Tamora Pierce Alana series and protector of the small. Early Mercedes Lackey Arrows of the queen trilogy.
As stated earlier, Stephen King, but Robert B Parker runs him a close second. In the last couple of years though, I’ve really fallen for Ann Patchett and George Pelecanos
Jack London. I read White Fang when I was a kid and fell in love, but I also enjoy his short stories and science fiction. JRR Tolkein. For starting a genre and doing it well.
Rick rioridan he was the first book I red that was nothing but words and i admired his lightning thief series, it’s what inspired me to pursue writing.
That is a hard one to answer!! I love so many authors!!
Agree. It’s hard to pin down to one.
I totally agree.
I agree! How do I choose?!
Jane Austen. I can’t really say why I fell in love with her work. But the more I reread her work, the more deeply I engage with it, and just think her work is brilliant. I only wish she had written more in her short life.
Stephen King because well, Stephen King.
And beer. Nice.
Book and a beer. I’m easy to keep these days.
How do you feel about his Dark Tower series? I’ve heard a few people say they didn’t like him straying from his roots.
It’s SK for me too, but @Hollie, I gave up the DT series after book three. Maybe the fantasy element just didn’t do it for me.
I can see why they would say that. DT is completely different but I throughly enjoyed the series. He had the story growing inside for a good bit.
Jean plaidy. She is responsible for my love of history.. Non fiction and fiction. After reading her wonderful historical novels as a young adult.. a whole new world was opened up for me!
Dan Brown and Stephen king
Dean Koontz. Because I’ve yet to read a book by him I didn’t like. Some I like more then others, but none I didn’t like.
What book would you recommend first?
Hmmmm. That’s a hard one ?. Well the first book I ever read by him was What the Night Knows so I guess start there lol.
Watchers!
Thanks!
Watchers is one of his best books.
Odd Thomas 🙂 It was my introduction to Koontz and I’ve loved him for it ever since
Lightening!
Dark Rivers of the Heart ❤️
This was accidental!
I was like what relevance does this have ?? ???
Stuart MacBride. It’s difficult to explain, but I love his writing style, his humour in the midst of the chaos & carnage he writes about and the characters he creates. His stories were my sanctuary after my mom died. They were the only thing I could concentrate on. I wish I could let him know how much his words have meant to me.
Sweet! Write his publisher?
George R. R. Martin. All of his characters are grey, his subjects are epic, and I love his style.
His favorite writer of battles is Bernard Cornwell. Check him out!
Which of his books do you think is the best? Which one do you think George Martin would like best?
The Saxon Tales. The entire series from start to where it has left off.
Bernard Cornwell. His prose leave you on the edge of your seat!
Richard Ford – he understands mid life
I so agree!
Isabel Allende. Her words are just so beautiful.
Love her strong, female characters. Didn’t enjoy The Japanese Lover so much but maybe I will reread it.
I do tend to enjoy her earlier novels.
Anne Tyler, Elizabeth Berg, Dennis Lehane, I have too many to list!
I love Elizabeth Berg also!!
Also Wally Lamb and Richard Ford
Many, depending upon genre and mood! First response when reading the question? James Michener!
Lee Child, Michael Connelly, Robert Parker, Walter Moseley and recently Dave Eggers.
Walter Moseley is special.
It is so hard to pinpoint one. I love Nelson DeMille, but hated his last one. Jodi Picoult, Anita Shreve, John Sanford, Jonathan Kellerman, Tami Hoag, Grisham, King. I know, I’m cheating. Just can’t say one definitively.
King, Anne Rice, Vonnegut, George RR Martin, and Gaiman. It’s hard to pick just one!
From childhood, Louisa May Alcott. I first read Rose in Bloom and got to her more famous books later.
I am not sure why, but maybe because of the fact her girls have spirit
Chris Bohjalian. He’s written such diverse things that I always end up enjoying what he’s written. Plus he does such a great job researching his topics (midwifery, mental illness, parasomnia, etc.) that you actually end up getting more from his work than just entertainment.
I totally agree.
I would have to agree. Great stories!
Top of my list also
Pat Conroy.
I don’t have one.
Er… I don’t have ONE.
?
But… If I DID…
Jack McDevitt.
https://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Academy-Priscilla-Hutchins-novel-ebook/dp/B000W94EZG/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1502255236&sr=8-19&keywords=jack+mcdevitt
Barbara Kingsolver, Pat Conroy, Chris Bohjalian, Richard Russo, Greg Iles, Anne Rivers Siddons, Larry McMurtrey. I know I’m forgetting some.
John Irving… his characters are so real and human, that I miss them when the books end.
Kingsolver, Sidden, Ross, McCall – Smith, Thatcher, Dickens, Austen, Brontes (all of them), Lamb, Conroy… too many to name them all.
Ohh… I have to go on. Amy Tan, Lisa See, Mark Twain, C.S Lewis, JRR Tolkien, Ursula K. Laguin, Kingsolver, Laurie L. King, OMG there are too many more.
Harlan Ellison. Powerful , versatile , visceral.
Today, my answer would be Kate Morton. I love her writing more with each book!
I really enjoyed the forgotten garden.
Many. Stephen King. Connie Willis. Madeleine L’Engle. Neil Gaiman. John Steinbeck. Rosamund Pilcher. Laura Ingalls Wilder. JK Rowling. Diana Gabaldon.
Jk Rowling or Rick Riordan. They both have inspired 90% of what I’ve done. They have helped me through bullying, family abuse, depression and took me away from killing myself.
Alice Hoffman
Her prose❤️
Favorite new author is Nathan Hill whose debut The Nix is one of the best pieces of fiction I’ve read in ages. I also enjoy Maya Angelou and Paul Auster.
Tara Sivec – It doesn’t matter what mood I’m in, she can get me laughing.
And Jim Butcher’s ability to make an incredible story out of 2 worn out tropes is seriously impressive.
Louise Penny, Ruth Ware, Elly Griffiths, Connie Willis and always Agatha Christie.
Anne Lamott.
Jhumpa Lahiri. Anthony Trollope. Fannie Flagg. Robert Graves. Leo Tolstoy, James Joyce, and Henry James. Alexander McCall Smith. Louis Auchincloss. Jane Austen. George Eliot. Thomas Hardy.
Oh, wait.
Did you mean just one?
Um…Gore Vidal
Thomas Hardy!
Jude the Obscure is a favorite. Also, he was an excellent poet.
Top 3: Geraldine Brooks – no two books alike, have loved everything she wrote from NF on Islam (9th Part of Desire) memoir, Foreign Correspondence, and fiction, particularly People of the Book. Barbara Kingsolver who wrote possibly my favorite book, The Poisonwood Bible, and maybe Amy Tan for third place. I have enjoyed everything of hers as well.
Pat Conroy, makes me feel
Jodi Picoult, makes me see every side to ethical and moral dilemmas,
James Michener, teaches me soooo much about people and their places and how they are bound together,
Anne Lamot, helps me define my spirituality and gives such joy for humanity,
Barbara Brown Taylor, also for spiritual growth,
Wendell Berry, Just because of how his writing makes me love the earth and the membership (his term) of communities.
Many more I love.
Love Jodi Picoult. Always leaves you with something to think about.
Diana Gabaldon because she is a sassy professor whose writing speaks to me.
@Diana. She is an amazing writer. And person!
I’ve read part of the outlander series, I did enjoy it.
Thomas Hardy and Elizabeth Peters – both just spectacular authors even if they are vastly different
Many, many. It’s dependent on genre.
Ivan Doig, Pete Hamill, Thomas Hardy, R.F.Delderfield, Steinbeck, and many more
John Irving, because he paints the details of his story so well that even the most outrageous things sound real.
I really like Stephen Koontz. He keeps me on the edge of my seat and I have a hard time putting the books down.
Jane Austin. Because!
Margaret Atwood. I love how many different genres her books fit into. I read The Handmaid’s Tale in high school and I’ve only become a bigger fan. Also, when she does readings, she’s got such a great dry wit.
Jim Butcher (Harry Dresden), Patricia Briggs (Mercedes Thompson),Tamora Pierce Alana series and protector of the small. Early Mercedes Lackey Arrows of the queen trilogy.
Tom Perrotta. I become instantly engrossed in his writing. He has a way of capturing his readers. There’s more but he’s one of my favorites.
As stated earlier, Stephen King, but Robert B Parker runs him a close second. In the last couple of years though, I’ve really fallen for Ann Patchett and George Pelecanos
Terry Pratchett, Tolkien, G R R Martin
David Sedaris. He makes me laugh.
Jack London. I read White Fang when I was a kid and fell in love, but I also enjoy his short stories and science fiction.
JRR Tolkein. For starting a genre and doing it well.
Ellison , John kennedy otoole and steinbeck . These would be the books on the deserted island type deal or bunker ( If kim jong has his way) ?
Philippa Gregory – I love the way she gives her own view on historical families/events
RJ Palacio, Mary Pope Osborne, Dr Seuss, I love his stories, and Robert Ripley
Michael Ondaatje! (As for why, read his stuff and you’ll see. If you read The English Patient, you’ll suddenly HATE the movie!)
Asimov
Fred Brown
Robert Sheckley
Ray Bradbury
Bob Shaw
Basically the authors of science fiction between 1945 and 1976
Susan Howatch. I have loved (and reread) every single one of her novels.
Taylor Caldwell. She makes me think and feel
Gail Tsukiyama. She has a gentle spirit that is reflected in her writing. Her stories are rich, complex and meaningful.
Me!
I’m impressed. Is there more in the works?
Yes I’m working on book 2 of 3 as we speak. Lol!
I’m sorry I was the one who posted to verify it was his and I don’t know him. The admins can delete if not allowed.
Sorry, Holly. I thought he had posted it himself. My mistake.
Jack Higgins. Love Sean Dillon. The way he uses his Irish language.
Elizabeth Peters
Also, Rosamind Pilcher. I reread Wi ter Solstice every year at that time.
Elizabeth Berg can describe a great deal in a few words. Anne Tyler love her characters
Jodi Picoult because she has surprise endings and manages to take current issues and makes me look at them from a new perspective
@Raechel an awesome small time author who sends her royalties to Lyme disease research #Loving
Tana French/Stephen King, both are magnificent
Rick rioridan he was the first book I red that was nothing but words and i admired his lightning thief series, it’s what inspired me to pursue writing.
Laura Hillenbrand. No one tells a story better than her and I love the way she structures a sentence.
Unbroken really grabbed me. So impressive.
@Kimberly Check out Seabiscuit. I think it’s just as good if not better.
Dean R Koonz before he dropped the R in his name i actually thought his books were every day happenings