Who is your favorite author?

[oceaneast]

I love:
Zora Neale Hurston
Janet Fitch

[kmmommy]

I love John Grisham and Nora Roberts.

I'm totally into legal stuff so John Grisham is the obvious choice there. And Nora Roberts I just love.

[Jane&Andy]

lately I've been reading a lot of books by:
Belva Plain
Jodi Picoult

[1MegMeg]

John Irving has been one of my favorite authors for years.

[eli1126]

Mave Binchey
Mary Higgins Clark


Beth

[trefoil]

Kurt Vonnegut
David Sedaris

[TX Sweetheart]

Mary Higgins Clark- the first book I read of hers was Weep No More My Lady which I read years ago.... After that, I was hooked...

John Grisham

Sue Grafton

Brian Jacques

J.K. Rowling (how could I forget her!?)

Eoin Colfer

[lawyerlee]

Terry McMillan
Jennifer Weiner
Marian Keyes
Mark Twain

[Witty Username]

It's really hard to pick just one. I've always loved:
John Irving
Kurt Vonnegut
John Steinbeck

[PGirl26]

I love Patricia Cornwell & Janet Evanovich.

[LeslieR]

Nicholas Sparks
Jodi Picoult
Jennifer Weiner
Marian Keyes
Luanne Rice

[flygirl]

For pop fiction,

Lee Childs
Nelson DeMille
and especially John Lescroart

[JillyBean]

Francine Rivers
PJ Tracy
Karen Kingsbury
Jodi Picoult
Mary Higgins Clark
Sophie Kinsella
Meg Cabbot

[tlew12778]

Isabel Allende

[BeakersTrio]

Wally Lamb
Joyce Carol Oats

[it's a bug]

Karen Kingsbury
Lori Wick
Robin Jones Gunn
Robin Lee Hatcher
John Grisham
Maeve Binchy
Rosamunde Pilcher
Nicholas Sparks

[Kimberland30]

Too many to name.

John Grisham is my favorite, but I also like Brad Metzger (for those that like Grisham, try this guy out, he's fantastic!).

Harlan Coben
James Patterson
Patricia Cornwell
Sue Grafton
Perri O'Shaughnessy

There are so many that are on my "must read" list, but these are the main ones.

[sublime311]

Don't hate me, but I love Dan Brown (Angels and Demons, Da Vinci Code, etc). I love that quick writing style. I have to be honest and say that the Da Vinci Code brought me back to reading. It's been years since I've read anything other than school related materials - so to Dan Brown, I thank thee!

Has anyone read "The Rule of Four" or "The Dante Club"? These both have been recommended to me as being in the same style (historical based mystery) as Da Vinci Code and A&D. Any other recommendations???

Thanks, ladies!
Kelli

[ManteoChik]

Nicholas Sparks and Nora Roberts are two of my faves.....I love Nicholas Sparks because he is from NC and all of his books are based on Eastern NC......gotta love 'em!

[mrspugglesworth]

great thread! I am always looking for new authors to try out!

I love>
Stephen King
Dean Koontz (similar in style to King)
Tabitha King (Stephen King's wife--she's a totally different genre)
Donna Tartt

[Katyanne]

Great thread!

I'm a romance novel reader :eek: (LOL) but my favorite are the supernatural type, involving magic, fighting vampires and other interesting enemies.
Christine Feehan
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Melanie Jackson

And I also love reading cookbooks by Nigella Lawson, I just love the way she writes.

[Heather719]

Diana Gabaldon is my favorite author overall. Her Outlander series is amazing (but must be read in order). I will buy any of her books simply b/c she wrote them.

Katie MacAlister and Jennifer Crusie are great, light, quick reads. I adored the first two books in MacAlister's Aisling Grey series- You Slay Me and Fire Me Up.

Lynn Kurland is a great romance writer with a little bit of sci-fi and history.

Jodi Picoult's books break my heart- especially My Sister's Keeper. I haven't cried that hard over a book in a long time.

James Patterson is another favorite quick read. Love his Alex Cross series.

Kathy Reichs is my favorite crime/mystery writer.

And I love Dean Koontz for a good scare!

[LauraPerg]

Great thread, I'm a big book lover.

John Grisham
Barbara Delinsky
Sophie Kinsella
Marian Keyes
Jimmy Buffett

I'm sure there are more, but that's the list for now!

[Jessica]

Has anyone read "The Rule of Four" or "The Dante Club"? These both have been recommended to me as being in the same style (historical based mystery) as Da Vinci Code and A&D. Any other recommendations???

"Rule of Four" sucked. There's no other way to say it. A friend warned by it wasn't good and I didn't believe her, but it was not even worth the effort of borrowing it from the library. I heard "The Dante Club" is better, but I haven't checked it out.

[Tandis]

Definitely agree with Diana Gabaldon and Katie MacAlister :D Can't wait until September when the next "Outlander" book is released! :D

And then there are the other authors that I read as soon as they release a new book:

Jasper Fforde
Kim Harrison (for those that like romance/supernatural books, check out "Dead witch walking." It's fabulous!)
Dean Koontz
MaryJanice Davidson (her Betsy the Vampire Queen series are hiliarious!)
Mary Jane Clark

Sublime311 : My Mom read "Dante club" and absolutely loved it. However, I gave it to my SIL to read and she thought it was too gory in the first chapter to read any farther. So I guess it depends upon your tastes.

[quest]

I LOVE to read but rarely have the time anymore :(

One of my favorite authors is considered a romance novelist :o , although I would never have considered her books romance...she's Susan Elizabeth Philips. Her books are more about 'woman has it all, woman loses it all, woman works her @$$ off to get it all back and overcomes obstacles along the way'. I guess there is slight smut thrown in there, but for me it's mostly about the gal overcoming the odds.

Then, of course there's JKR :D

I also like Jane Green and Jennifer Weiner.

[Lisa&Jason]

Dean Koontz is my fav.. have every single book of his, LOL

Nora Roberts is great too..

and John Sanford and John Grisham are good too!

[jellybeany]

Stephen King :D

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

I have Dante Club (I don't remember whether I have the audiobook or the hard copy) but haven't had a chance to read it yet. I'll have to get around to it soon, because I was entertained by "The Davinci Code" too. (Didn't like "Angels & Demons" so much though.)

My favorite authors... I can't get enough of Elmore Leonard, Carl Hiassen, Dorothy Sayers, and Georgette Heyer. And in a more "literary bent," just love Donald Barthelme and Italo Calvino.

[msnicolea]

John Irving, wihtout a doubt. Honorable mention goes to Jane Austen. ;)

[Ohana]

Ken Follett
Maeve Binchy
Rosamunde Pilcher (yeah, I have a thing for Irish/English authors)
Amy Tan
And don't laugh, but I really like the Clan of the Cave Bear series by Jean Auel

[hockeybrat]

J.K. Rowling
Wilbur Smith
Clive Cussler
Dan Brown

I can't think of anymore off the top of my head.

[ilovepink]

I love reading cookbooks...no particular author though.
Jennifer Weiner
Janet Evanovich (have only read the Stephanie Plum novels)
J. K. Rowling (of course! can't wait til next month!!)
Nicholas Sparks
David Sedaris (have you ever listened to his books on tape, OMG, if you think he's funny in writing...)
Sophie Kinsella

[villanelle75]

Kurt Vonnegut
Jeanette Winterson
John Irving

[Ilovemygeek]

Tom Clancy I can't believe nobody has mentioned him yet (maybe I just missed it).

Agatha Christie My all-time favorite.

[LeslieandPaul]

Candace Bushnell (I own all of her books)
Sophie Kinsella (own "can you keep a secret" and the entire Shopaholic series-and am eagerly awaiting the next installment)

[Rippy1010]

JAMES PATTERSON ... right now only his Womens Murder Club Series. LOVE IT!!!


Also follow:
Jennifer Crusie (just finished "Faking It". HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
Jennifer Weiner
Jane Green
Helen Fielding
Mary Kay Andrews

[JillianS]

Jane Austen
William Shakespeare
Alexandre Dumas
Nicholas Sparks (the movies, while good in their own way, can't even compare!)
J.K. Rowling (9 days 9 days 9 days!) (honestly, probably the most intelligent, complex, underlying books I've ever read if you really get beneathe their surface..)


edited to add: Hmm, just realized that every single one of my faves has had their books turned into movies..funny.

[Hedwig]

John Irving, John Grisham, Nicholas Sparks and of course J.K. Rowling

[greenbunny]

Anne Rice. Despite her histronics and annoying personality, her words are just so lush.

[maxandmolly]

So far I only see one Christine Feehan fan! Surprising. And no Laurell K Hamilton fans, either? Where are the werewolves/vampire/action/blood/gore fans?

[wander_woman]

Fyodor Dostoevsky. By far my favorite author.

[Wrighty26]

I have so many...

Anita Shreve
Wally Lamb
Jane Green
Marian Keyes
JK Rowling (less than week, people!)
Judy Blume (kids and adult stuff!)
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Margaret Atwood
David Sedaris
Jeffrey Eugenides

[MLA]

Kurt Vonnegut is my hands-down favorite. His books are so insightful and funny, and he's really easy to read. I read his stuff over and over.

[gf&js]

Vince Flynn
David Baldacci

(You John Grisham fans could get into these 2 pretty easy)

[hub1176]

Rosamunde Pilcher
J.K. Rowling
Maeve Binchy
Mary Higgins Clark
Elizabeth Berg
Jodi Piccoult


Oldies but goodies:

C.S. Lewis
L.M. Montgomery
Laura Ingalls Wilder

[jimmysgirl424]

Rosamunde Pilcher
J.K. Rowling
Maeve Binchy
Mary Higgins Clark
Elizabeth Berg
Jodi Piccoult


Oldies but goodies:

C.S. Lewis
L.M. Montgomery
Laura Ingalls Wilder

Whew! I was afraid I was the only one who read (and re-read) Laura Ingalls Wilder! Other favorites:

Stephen King
Dean Koontz
John Grisham
Jackie Collins (great Hollywood smut books!! Guilty pleasure!! :D )
V.C. Andrews (only the books written before she died!!)
Ann Rule
Danielle Steele



Just for fun, I would also like to pay tribute to the authors who entertained me during my childhood when I finally discovered the library!! If anyone can help me figure out some names here, that would be great!

The Trixie Belden mystery series (number one, hands down favorite!!)

The Three Investigators mystery series (DH has no idea what I am talking about; he read The Hardy Boys! Has anyone else ever read these books?)

Paula Danziger (she wrote "The Cat Ate My Gymsuit")

Judy Blume

Beverly Cleary

The Sweet Valley High series (when I got a tad older...)

Laura Ingalls Wilder


I'm sure I will remember more! :D :D

[nordey]

J.K. Rowling (12 hours 45 minutes and counting...)
Anita Shreve
Emily Bronte
Jane Austen

[chefker]

MANY favorites...though most are from mystery & sci-fi/fantasy genres...

Anne Rice
Stephen Lawhead
Tolkien
Mary Stewart
Sara Paretsky
Morgan Llewelyn
Sue Grafton
Stephen King
Agatha Christie
C.S. Lewis
J.K. Rowling
Terry Brooks

[chefker]

Whew! I was afraid I was the only one who read (and re-read) Laura Ingalls Wilder! Other favorites:

Stephen King
Dean Koontz
John Grisham
Jackie Collins (great Hollywood smut books!! Guilty pleasure!! :D )
V.C. Andrews (only the books written before she died!!)
Ann Rule
Danielle Steele



Just for fun, I would also like to pay tribute to the authors who entertained me during my childhood when I finally discovered the library!! If anyone can help me figure out some names here, that would be great!

The Trixie Belden mystery series (number one, hands down favorite!!)

The Three Investigators mystery series (DH has no idea what I am talking about; he read The Hardy Boys! Has anyone else ever read these books?)

Paula Danziger (she wrote "The Cat Ate My Gymsuit")

Judy Blume

Beverly Cleary

The Sweet Valley High series (when I got a tad older...)

Laura Ingalls Wilder


I'm sure I will remember more! :D :D

OMG! I'm a HUGE Trixie Belden fan too! I have ALL the books except for the Indian Burial Ground mystery (#38, I think). I still read them to this day!

[hub1176]

jimmysgirl424 I've read the little house series so many times! I'm thinking of getting the set for DD to read to her (but she's only 6 weeks old so really it would be for me! :D )

I am so hoping Rosamunde Pilcher can be talked in to writing one more book -I loved Winter Solstice - I thought they were going to make a movie out of The Shell Seekers but haven't heard anything about it.

[Raven_Girl]

I think she's an amazing writer. If your a harlequin fan you may have read a few of her books. and Nora Roberts is a favorite but I haven't bought too many of her books in the last few years.

[Raven_Girl]

Angels and Demons was a GREAT book!!! :D

Don't hate me, but I love Dan Brown (Angels and Demons, Da Vinci Code, etc). I love that quick writing style. I have to be honest and say that the Da Vinci Code brought me back to reading. It's been years since I've read anything other than school related materials - so to Dan Brown, I thank thee!

Has anyone read "The Rule of Four" or "The Dante Club"? These both have been recommended to me as being in the same style (historical based mystery) as Da Vinci Code and A&D. Any other recommendations???

Thanks, ladies!
Kelli

[KaliLily]

Sidney Sheldon. I've been hooked on his books since I was 16 years old - that's half my life! :eek:

[Sposa06]

Top three:

Alexandre Dumas
Oscar Wilde
William Shakespeare

Others I love (no particular order):
Jonathan Safran Foer
Stephen E. Ambrose
Doris Kearns Goodwin
C.S. Lewis
Bill Bryson
Carl Sagan
Douglas Adams
J.K. Rowling
Dan Brown
Tom Clancy

[Sha259]

Dean Koontz is by far my favorite author. I have read all of his books but four that I know of. I am reading his adaptation of Frankenstein right now, and BOY is it freaky!! :p

Other authors I love:
Sidney Sheldon
Stephen King
Anne Rice (yes even the Sleeping Beauty Series :eek: )
And thank goodness I am not the only one here who reads romance novels! I love them and am not ashamed to say that. I love SEP books (Susan Elizabeth Phillips), Catherine Coulter, and (okay I am guilty about this one) Jude Deveraux. :)

[Amaye]

So far I only see one Christine Feehan fan! Surprising. And no Laurell K Hamilton fans, either? Where are the werewolves/vampire/action/blood/gore fans?

Woo-hoo!! l finally found you guys! I am a huge Laurell fan and have read all the Christine Feehan books. I actually started a thread about this so please drop by.

My Favorite authors (I own all books written by them)

Dean Koontz
Laurell Hamilton
David Eddings
Tracey Hickman/Margaret Weiss
Susan Elizabeth Philips

[Myra]

Love Douglas Coupland and Alice Walker


David Sedaris (have you ever listened to his books on tape, OMG, if you think he's funny in writing...)


Ack! His voice drives me crazy--he's so nasal. And I'm from Philly, so that really should not bother me. ;)

[ramaba]

Barbara Kingsolver
Anne Tyler
Sue Miller
Isabel Allende
Milan Kundera
Gabriel Garcia Marquez

[Sare79]

I like:

James Patterson
Douglas Coupland
Sophie Kinsella
Jennifer Wiener
Marion Keyes
Bill Bryson
Sheila O'Flannagan

[Toonces]

Dean Koontz
Kay Hooper
Mary Higgins Clark
Patricia Cornwell
Joy Fielding
James Patterson

[amew]

John Irving
Dorothy Allison
Sue Monk Kidd
Barbara Kingsolver
Particia Cornwell
Helen Fielding
Lois Lowry (kid and teen books)

[gmb4503]

Sidney Sheldon!!!

But I 've read all his books so I am looking for a new author. Anyone have suggestions of someone that writes like him?

[Freckles]

Jane Austen
Ayn Rand
Maeve Binchy

[curlyjr]

I used to love the 3 Investigators books but I can't remember the author either.

Dean Koontz
Nora Roberts (certain books)
Mary Higgins Clark (in moderation)
Laura Ingalls Wilder
JKR
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

[Jill1228]

I read:
Terry McMillan
John Grisham
Danielle Steel
JK Rowling

[filmgirl7]

Michael Crichton
Stephen King
Dean Koontz
John Grisham
Nicholas Sparks (I know, I know)
John Steinbeck

[TMat13]

Nicholas Sparks
Jane Green
Danielle Steel
John Grisham

[villanelle75]

The authors that I consistently like, rather than those who I have greatly enjoyed one or two books from, only to find the others mediocre:

John Irving
Jeanette Winterson

[Amuse Bouche]

Jane Austen, Evelyn Waugh, Laurie Colwin, Robertson Davies, Laurie King, Diana Gabaldon, Diana Wynne Jones, J.K. Rowling, P.D. James.

When I like John Irving, I LOVE John Irving, but it's wildly inconsistent for me. Cider House Rules or A Widow for One Year? Fantastic. The Fourth Hand? Blech. Couldn't get through it.

[Brandy]

Jeanette Winterson

Wow! You're the only other person I've come across (outside of college!) that even knows Jeanette Winterson! I agree- it is hard for me to find authors that I consistently like what they write. Written on the Body is probably my favorite book, followed by The Passion. Have you read her two most recent books yet, Weight or Light Housekeeping?

[vwinkel]

Mine have already been posted, but will note them again:

Anita Shreve is my top favorite. They way she can turn a phrase is wonderful (although I've found some of her books, I don't care for as much.)
Janet Evanovich is the only author that has made me laugh out loud repeatedly while reading
Mary Higgins Clark
James Patterson

[wsusquirrel]

Lately I have been into books that do not take much thought. :) Two of my favorite authors...

Jane Green
John Grisham

[villanelle75]

Wow! You're the only other person I've come across (outside of college!) that even knows Jeanette Winterson! I agree- it is hard for me to find authors that I consistently like what they write. Written on the Body is probably my favorite book, followed by The Passion. Have you read her two most recent books yet, Weight or Light Housekeeping?


Sorry for the delayed response but if you are still reading...I haven't read either of the two new ones. My shelf of books waiting-to-be-read is freakishly long riight now but once I make soem more space, they'll be in there.

[twinnyme]

I'm a huge Trixie Belden fan, too, and I can't wait to have my daughter start reading her (though DD is only 1). :D

My all-time favorite: Ruth Rendell, a British suspense writer. I stumbled across a book of her short stories once (and although I don't usually like short stories, I loved hers) and proceeded to read every book of hers I could get my hand on. I still go to those shelves every time I'm in a bookstore to check if there's any new ones.

Also like: Patricia Cornwall, Maeve Binchy, Jodi Picoult, James Patterson, Anita Shreve.

Jane Austen, Evelyn Waugh, Laurie Colwin, Robertson Davies, Laurie King, Diana Gabaldon, Diana Wynne Jones, J.K. Rowling, P.D. James.

When I like John Irving, I LOVE John Irving, but it's wildly inconsistent for me. Cider House Rules or A Widow for One Year? Fantastic. The Fourth Hand? Blech. Couldn't get through it.

ITA with this. I LOVED A Prayer for Owen Meany and a few others, but not all of them.

[lisainpink]

I'm with you Wsusquirrel! I have to read such mind-bending stuff for work, that I love easy reading. I adore Jane Green! I have her newest ready to go with me on a trip Monday morning!

[looch]

I don't have one overall favorite author, but I do have favorites in categories:

teen/young adult: Judy Blume
classics: the Bronte sisters
modern: Margaret George
poetry/plays: Shakespeare

I am pretty mainstream, LOL.

[maggieb]

Lee Smith
Toni Morrison
David Sedaris
John Irving
David McCullough
Larry McMurtry
Alice Walker
Jeffrey Eugenides

[BlackMagicRose]

Anne Rice
Jim Butcher
Laurell K. Hamilton

[EmilyBronte]

Jane Austen
James Joyce
William Shakespeare
Charles Dickens
Daniel Defoe
Oscar Wilde
Moliere
Jennifer Weiner
Anita Shreve
Sofia Kinsella
JK Rowling
David McCullough
Thomas Friedman

I'm getting ready to read my first by Doris Kearns Goodwin and I really hope I find her as good as McCullough. I just love him.