This week’s topic was really fascinating to me. You might say to yourself, “But isn’t that
just a list of favorite authors?” Well, in
very simple terms, yes. But this list also marks out those favorite
authors whose books I’ve wanted to reread so much over the years that I’ve
collected them on my shelves. See, early
on I didn’t have the resources to collect many books (my mother is laughing to
herself across the country – I always found money for books!), and I made a
rule: only buy a book if you’re confident you’ll reread it at least twice more,
thereby making it more worthwhile to own than getting it out from the library
(and possibly running up fines). In later
years it hasn’t been so much about the cost of books as the space for them. So, looking over my shelves and seeing the
books that have survived weeding, have become collectibles, as it were, was fascinating. And… not very surprising. *grin*
Top Ten Authors Who
Occupy the Most Space on My Shelves
1. Garth Nix – I
have one and a half shelves devoted to Nix. I’ve really liked (or loved!) all of his
novels, and I’ve read nearly his entire backlist. The only Nix stories that don’t make my heart
go pitter-pat are his Sir Hereward & Mr. Fitz shorts/novellas, which
feature a puppet and a knight. But hey,
that’s doing really well, considering!
2. Robin McKinley
– McKinley’s books are just… gorgeous. I credit McKinley for my love of fantasy and fairy
tale retellings. I am also, always (not-so-patiently) waiting for
her next novel.
3. Neil Gaiman – If
I can credit McKinley for starting me on fantasy and fairy tale fare, I can credit
Neil Gaiman for my love of dark fantasy, right?
Neverwhere was (for a short
while) in danger of toppling Jane Austen’s Persuasion
as my favorite book. I keep it on hand
for reading emergencies.
4. Mercedes Lackey
– Lackey is a startlingly prolific fantasy writer, and her Edwardian fairy tale
retellings (the Elemental Masters series) are basically like book crack for
me. I buy them hardcover the day they
release and then they go live on my shelf forever. In series order, of course!
5. J.K. Rowling –
I mean… obvious.
6. Sharon Shinn –
Dear Angie of Angieville, I blame this one on you. You turned me on to Shinn, and when I
realized that her books were made of swoon, I (naturally) had to start collecting
them. So, THANKS FOR THAT. For real, though. Love, Me.
7. C.S. Lewis – Lewis
is one of the few writers I loved as a child, and now respect even more as an
adult reader. I enjoy his nonfiction as
much as his fiction. Weird/awesome.
8. Nalini Singh –
If I could only suggest one
shape-shifting romance series to try, it would be Singh’s. Her books… yep. They are for me.
9. Patricia C. Wrede
– Wrede has written many different types of fantasy: from funny
dragon-and-princess escapades to Regency pickpockets-made-over-into-ladies, to an
alternate version of America’s Old West. I’ve loved them all. Wrede is one of my guaranteed, go-to authors,
and I’ve been collecting her books since high school.
10. Meljean Brook
– Brook’s Iron Seas series is steampunk + romance + diversity + ADVENTURE, and
that all adds up to amazing. I find myself counting down the days to the
release of her next book (and owning multiple copies of the ones that are
already out!).
Honorable Mention: Patricia
A. McKillip – Another fantasy love of long-standing. I can count on McKillip for really beautiful
books that are creative, art-filled and intellectual. I can’t think of anyone else who does that
combination quite so well.
Are any of these authors on your collectible list?
13 comments:
Great list. I have to read more Robin McKinley stat.
I still haven't read a McKinley novel I've loved sad to say. I've tried a couple, but none were for me. I know she has tons, so I should seek out something different from her. I <3 HP. I bought the new box set for myself for Xmas.
Fantastic list! We have a lot in common in this particular TTT - J.K. Rowling (duh), Robin McKinley, Sharon Shinn, and Patricia C. Wrede! I absolutely love your taste in books!
Fun topic =) I've heard of all of these authors, but haven't read most of their books. Darynda Jones, Delilah Dawson, Patricia Briggs, and Laurell K. Hamilton take up a lot of space on my shelves.
J.K. Rowling-on so many lists today including mine.
C.S. Lewis is also on my list. I thought he would occupy my #1 spot but it turns out he came in second to another favorite author. I was really surprised.
J.K. Rowling-on so many lists today including mine.
C.S. Lewis is also on my list. I thought he would occupy my #1 spot but it turns out he came in second to another favorite author. I was really surprised.
Cornelia Funke, Diana Wynne Jones, J.K. Rowling, Salman Rushdie, Jane Austen, William Joyce, Lloyd Alexander, Patrick Rothfuss, Louisa May Alcott, Markus Zusak.
+JMJ+
I've been wanting to read Garth Nix's Keys to the Kingdom series for some time . . . but keep putting it off for the most random reasons. Like there never being a proper boxed set at my local bookstore to put on my Christmas wishlist . . . or the books not getting their prices slashed low enough when the bookstore has a sale. =P
How would you compare this series to The Chronicles of Narnia, The Dark Is Rising, or Percy Jackson and the Olympians? (These are some of the few Fantasy series I've completed, but not the only ones I'm familiar with.)
Tamora Pierce has the most space on my shelves, but I need to prune some of them.
Excellent! I just added several authors to my must-reads list!
Jk Rowling? Obviously. Awesomeness at it's finest, really.
Enbrethiliel: Thanks for your comment! I'd say that the Keys to the Kingdom series is somewhere between Narnia and Percy Jackson. I loved it - the books kept surprising me by getting more creative in each volume.
Happy reading!
We share Mercedes Lackey as one of our top shelf hoggers. I have books by a few others on your list, but not in the numbers I do others.
Your Top Ten Tuesdays are always a collection of authors or titles that I immediately add to my must investigate list! There are always so many who are new to me! This list is great and I'm definitely going to be adding a lot of these authors to my tbr.
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