Are there any writers whose books you always grab?

gingerwoman · Oct 12, 2007

Living in New Zealand where books are 3 times as expensive as they are in the USA, I can't buy as many books as most of you.
There aren't many authors who I'm incredibly loyal too.
I have read almost all of Margaret Atwood's (The Blind Assasin) novels. I have read a lot of John Irving's (The World According Garp) novels.
I've read a great deal of Janet Frame (An Angel at My Table). Even ALL her short stories, her autobiography and most of her novels.
I've read a number of Chris Bojalian's (Midwives) books and I'm going crazy over Jodi Picoult at the moment. I've read most of the Bronte sisters books (not The Professor.)
I'm working my way through the Harry Potter Books with my son and have read most of The Little House books to him. I've still only read 4 of the Narnia books though I very much wish I'd read all of them.
I think those are the only authors I've even come close to reading most of the novels of. (Yes I know The Little House Books aren't novels)
How about you?

Billingsgate · Oct 12, 2007

I'll get anything by Philip Roth and Annie Proulx (though I disliked her last novel, That Old Ace In The Hole) the moment it comes out in hardcover. I'll wait for paperback versions of anything from Alan Furst and Kinky Friedman.

By the way, you can get books much cheaper through The Book Depository. Discount prices and free shipping to New Zealand. I'm in Hong Kong, where English books are routinely priced at 30% above US or UK full list price. Since I found the Book Depository, I've gone hog-wild with book buying.

benbradley · Oct 12, 2007

I've read all of Robert Heinlein's novels (this was a while back - I had to buy his last few in hardback as they were released), and there were only one or two I found a bit disappointing. I've read the earlier Larry Niven, and several of the Niven-Pournelle collaborations. Yes, my older reading leaned strongly towards SF.

I've read many of Michael Crichton's earlier novels, and all the ones since "Timeline" except his most recent "Next." I had thoughts of reading all his other novels I haven't read, but then I read about the reviewer who wrote badly of "State of Fear" being protrayed in "Next" as a child/baby molester. I'm not much interested in reading Crichton's shit anymore.

valen_sinclair · Oct 13, 2007

Terry Pratchett, Peter F Hamilton are current writers I always grab.
Alfred Bester I am always looking out for, and will buy if I see.

Rosamund · Oct 13, 2007

I'm another one who will always pick up Terry Pratchett books.

The more old-time authors that I will always buy (including letters and short stories) are Jane Austen, L. M. Montgomery, and Dorothy L. Sayers.

Slightly more modern authors that I will always pick up at and look at (and buy in 99% of the cases) are J. R. R. Tolkein, Robin McKinley, Katherine Kerr, Maeve Binchy and Miss Read.

I have lots of other authors where I'm a devotee of a particular series, but not of their complete body of work.

vfury · Oct 13, 2007

Hmmm. I nearly always grab the new Jacqueline Carey (buying it next week, in fact, now that I've found a bookstore in Dublin that gets the American editions in as I have no idea when it'll be properly released over here) and the new Jodi Picoult (though I'm not sure what to think of Nineteen Minutes, still, months after reading it). I also buy the new Kelley Armstrong when it comes out and the new Tamora Pierce. Now that I think about it, I also lunged for the new ones by Joanne Harris and Ann Patchett when they came out.

...Man, looking back on that list, I read a lot of genre novels.

I also use my staff discount to pick up some writers I've never heard of or are debuts and check them out. I have a pile of new books by unfamiliar writers to get started on soon.

Vincent · Oct 13, 2007

Tad Williams.

Nakhlasmoke · Oct 13, 2007

Terry Pratchett, Margaret Atwood, Iain (M) Banks, Jasper Fforde, Neil Gaiman, Michael Moorcock, JG Ballard, George MacDonald Fraser (I'm a total Flashman junkie) Michael Ende, Clive Barker.

Actually...I just love books.

nerds · Oct 13, 2007

Anne Tyler, John Irving, William Kennedy, Studs Terkel, Lee Kennett. These are the only writers coming to mind whose name on the cover is all I need.

Oh, and Daphne du Maurier. She's long gone but I keep coming across obscure old works of hers that I'd never known about before.

triceretops · Oct 13, 2007

Joseph Wambaugh and Ann Rule.

Tri

nerds · Oct 13, 2007

Wambaugh! Yes. I knew I was forgetting someone.

And Peter Ackroyd.

scarletpeaches · Oct 13, 2007

I go through genre-binges. At the moment I'm big on crime; Scottish in particular. I'd like to recommend Ian Rankin and Stuart MacBride's novels (set in Edinburgh and Aberdeen respectively).

wyntermoon · Oct 13, 2007

Sharyn McCrumb, Shirley Jackson and Jane Austen if I find a great old copy.

Kudra · Oct 13, 2007

Amy Tan, Harlan Coben.

Manderley · Oct 13, 2007

I was hooked on John Irving ten years ago, on Martin Amis five years ago, on Carol Shields two years ago, on Finn Carling last year. This year it's Carol Goodman. I've also read all novels by Donna Tartt, but then she's only written two.

Will Lavender · Oct 13, 2007

scarletpeaches said:
I go through genre-binges. At the moment I'm big on crime; Scottish in particular. I'd like to recommend Ian Rankin and Stuart MacBride's novels (set in Edinburgh and Aberdeen respectively).

Same way. I used to get into these author streaks, but now it's all about genre. If I read a good nonfiction narrative, then I'll want to read those for months. Until I get bored, and then I move to something else.

I do celebrate when a new Michael Connelly comes out, though.

JoNightshade · Oct 13, 2007

Hm, this is an interesting question. I don't think I have anyone that's an instant buy for me. I have favorite authors who are frequently an instant buy, but not always. Sometimes I'm just not interested in the plot. There are always exceptions. For example:

Orson Scott Card - Instant buy on anything except the Red Prophet series.
Lois McMaster Bujold - Instant buy on anything involving Miles or Chalion.
Ray Bradbury - Instant buy as long as it's in paperback. His books are short and I feel cheated if I have to pay $25 for a hardbound. I mean, come on. I can wait.

Aaaand, that's it. Anything else will be evaluated on an individual basis. I love love love Tad Williams' Otherland series, but have not been thrilled with some of his other stuff. Same with George R. R. Martin and A Song of Ice and Fire.

Okay, that said I guess if I read the first book in a series and really like it, I'll go out and buy the entire series. So I'm more interested in series than authors.

Inky · Oct 13, 2007

Harlan Coben
Dan Brown
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Lori Handleland
James Patterson
John Saul
Dean Koontz
Kathy Reichs

I purchase hardcover only, but Lori's I've succumbed and purchased paperback--she was worth the horror of paperback (I collect books, so paperback is something I avoid).

I don't bother reading jacket flaps. I see their name, I purchase. Barnes & Noble alerts me when these authors are about to have a new release, but I belong to quite a few book clubs that offer great prices.

Gaia · Oct 13, 2007

Nakhlasmoke said:
Terry Pratchett, Margaret Atwood, Iain (M) Banks, Jasper Fforde, Neil Gaiman, Michael Moorcock, JG Ballard, George MacDonald Fraser (I'm a total Flashman junkie) Michael Ende, Clive Barker.

I like you.

Voyager · Oct 13, 2007

Johnathen Kellerman, Tony Hillerman, Dean Koontz and my newest fave, James Herbert.

gerrydodge · Oct 13, 2007

Joyce Carol Oates
George Pelecanos
Denis Lehane
Richard Ford
Doris Lessing
Richard Russo
Cormac McCarthy
James Lee Burke
Not especially in any order of priority.

gerrydodge · Oct 13, 2007

YIKES! John Upyke and Russell Banks--forgot those two cats.

Vincent · Oct 13, 2007

Voyager said:
Johnathen Kellerman, Tony Hillerman, Dean Koontz and my newest fave, James Herbert.

Herbert huh? He gets panned a lot, but I admit to liking his stuff.

KTC · Oct 13, 2007

When I find one I love I read all of their work. When a new Michael Chabon comes out...I run to the bookstore on the release day and buy it. I always will.

Chumplet · Oct 13, 2007

Dick Francis. Always.
I won't count Rowling since she only wrote six. It was six, wasn't it?

Are there any writers whose books you always grab?

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