I've been wanting to do a post like this for a while, ever since I got the idea from Imogen Elvis's blog (go check it out, it's awesome.) I'm just going to list the top ten authors I own the most books of, and a little of why.
Trenton Lee Stewart
A few years ago my sister and I got hooked on his Mysterious Benedict Society series, and received the entire box set for Christmas. His writing style is actually, I think, I a lot like J.K. Rowling's, which is probably one reason that I really enjoyed his books. But what I really loved best were all the characters he crafted. They were all the perfect kind of quirky that I like to read about.
Linda Windsor
Before Linda Windsor I had never read Christian Romance. Her Fires of Gleanmara series is seriously the best Christian book series I have ever read. She has some modern-day-romances, but all of the books I own of hers are set in medieval/Celtic history settings. Her research about the times, while not terribly in depth, is accurate, and I love reading about the rise and fall of Christianity during the Dark Ages, and always incorporates it so well into her romances.
Rick Riordan
At the moment I only own his Heroes of Olympus series. I wish that when I picked up the original Percy Jackson series that I had just bought them, because they are some of my favorite books ever. The Heroes of Olympus is not nearly as awesome as Percy Jackson and the Olympians, but I still love his books and his characters, and most especially his sense of humor. His books are the perfect ratio of deep/stupid/make-fun-of-themselves/informative/and well written.
Brian Jacques
I think Brian Jacques is one of the unsung heroes of fantasy fiction. His Redwall series is one of the things that helped me (and this is probably going to sound really weird) get over my strong apprehension of anything gory/gross/bloody. The series is set in Mossflower woods, which is populated by sword-wielding mice, arrow-shooting squirrels, dagger-throwing weasels, stoats, ferrets, potion-making foxes, sling-shot-slugging moles, and rapier-twirling shrews. Since all of the gore/violence was happening to animals, it worked as a nice transition for me to suck-it-up and get used to it with humans too.
N.D. Wilson
Every single of his books are absolutely brilliant. That's basically all there is to say. I loved his One Hundred Cupboards series, am currently reading through his Ashtown Burials series, and really adored Leapike Ridge. His writing style takes a little getting used to, but once you do, you'll enjoy it immensely.
Andrew Peterson
While I have yet to read the latest book of his I bought, the last in his Wingfeather Saga, his books made me realize that I didn't just want to write stories about orphaned kids with no authority figures or parental guides. His characters manage to have exciting, breath-taking adventures without their parents getting killed or being dumped in an orphanage and forced to make world-altering decisions on their own.
Lloyd Alexander
Half of the time I'm reading his Chronicles of Prydain series, I love it. All his characters make me laugh and his plots are awesome. The other half I want to slap the main character, tell him to suck in his pride and stop acting like a dufus. Taran, the main character, does make the right choice by the end of every story, and the very last book in this series is really one of the best ending-books I've read.
John White
I'm not quite sure what to say about his books. He is the author I own the most books of, only for the reason that I got his whole Archives of Anthropose series for Christmas. His characters were okay, his plots were okay, and the world he built was okay, but I just couldn't really get into it. It took too much from Narnia and used way too many medieval-fantasy cliches.
Suzanne Collins
NO, I DO NOT OWN THE HUNGER GAMES TRILOGY.Sorry, just had to get that out of the way. I liked the first two books in the Hunger Games, but wanted to throw the last book across the room (and would have, if I hadn't been borrowing it from a friend).
No, I own her Gregor the Overlander series. I have a love-hate relationship with these books. Her last book left me wanting more, and not in a good way. But Gregor was an awesome character for the most part, and the world she built was very well done. I'm glad I own the series, at any rate, though. :)
Eoin Colfer
I saved the best for last. Do you ever read one of those books that just makes to happy every time you read it? Everything hits in just the right way, and it's like honey-moon-mode all through the series?Most books I read, that feeling wears off by the last book, but with Eoin Colfer's books it stays like that the whole time. They just make me happy. His Artemis Fowl series especially. Each book of his is always awesome and his characters are superb.Well, hope you guys enjoyed this and hoped it broadened your horizons for reading material!
Adios,
~The Scribbler in the Attic
Oh, I love these lists. I always want more to read. I love N.D. Wilson and have read all but his newest. I think from your descriptions I might need to give Eoin Colfer and Brian Jacques a try . . . eventually. I have huge lists already, but I love knowing I will never have to reach the end of book options.
ReplyDeleteI've never read any books by Linda Windsor, but from your description, her books sound a lot like Melanie Dickerson's books. (And I LOVE those!) Just thought you might be interested in checking her books out. :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE N.D. Wilson's 100 Cupboards Series. I wish I owned them actually. I've never read any of his other books, but now I desperately want to. You have a great taste in books. Rick Riordan, Brian Jacques, N.D. Wilson and Eoin Colfer are all favourites of mine.
ReplyDelete