My list of must-read authors is diverse and comes mostly from those books I enjoyed in my youth. Perhaps, you’ll find a new to you author.
My list of Must-Read Authors
If you’ve already read all of these authors, perhaps, you’ll revisit one of their books to read again or for the first time. To those who might find a new author to try, happy reading. Before we get to the list, please don’t judge me too harshly. My top six authors haven’t changed since I was a child.
1. Chaim Potok
The author wrote about Orthodox Jews, but his book, The Chosen, is a coming-of-age story. Certainly, it’s relatable to teens from all backgrounds. It was for me. Mostly, I identified with the boys in the story because Potok masterfully depicted the relationship between them. In addition to its value as a good read, a reader might gain some insight on how to write about complex relationships.
My favorite books from this author:
- The Chosen – 1967 (This book is the one that did it.)
- My Name is Asher Lev – 1972
- I am Clay – 1992
2. Octavia Butler
Butler’s books are mostly science fiction. Undeniably, her science fiction books are the ones I enjoyed most. Those books, masterfully explore otherworldliness, while keeping a keen eye on politics and social dynamics too. Additionally, many of her books target change, control, compliance and liberation. All these themes are best highlighted in her series books. For me, Butler is somewhat puzzling too. For example, I find her books unique, and her storytelling exceptional; yet, on occasion, it’s difficult to stay tuned in. Butler tackled the harshness of life with gut wrenching vividness. For this reason, some may have a strong resistance to reading her work.
My favorites from this author:
- Dawn (The Xenogenesis Trilogy Book 1)
- Wild Seed (The Patternist Series Book 1)
- Mind of My Mind (The Patternist Series Book 2)
Among My Must-Read Authors
Listed For All the Wrong Reasons
3. Mark Twain
Mark Twain is my most favorite writer. Although, he didn’t write any of my favorite books, I’m hooked. Irrefutably, his skill at spinning tales, using humor, showing the particulars of humanity and ultimately his mastery of vernacular speech keeps him at the top of my list. His words have rhythm. Unlike Shakespeare and other classic writers before him, Twain didn’t lean heavily on pentameters, but somehow, he managed to make his words dance. That’s why I love his work.
Some works by Twain:
- The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer
- The War Prayer
- Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court
- The Prince and the Pauper
- Letters from the Earth (Hilarious. H20, Milk “We enlarged the symbol to H2O,M)
- Eve’s Diary
- Extracts From Adam’s Diary
Listed For All the Right Reasons
4. J. R. R Tolkien
The man is a master of place. If you read these books, you’ll have a good idea of what the shire and middle earth looks like in the unspecified time of Samwise, the hobbits, Gollum, Gandalf, Frodo and Aragorn. The works of Tolkien have never been out of print. That is a magnificent feat for an author. With word pictures, he sparks the imagination of the reader. Indeed, he does the hard work of keeping the reader in the dream. Over the years, I’ve reread Tolkien’s books. Just as they captured me as a child, they still do today. As I reread, I might impatiently wait for one of my favorite scenes to come on the page. Imagine my disappointment when it seems to have moved further into the book than I remembered. At those times, I feel deliciously childish and a little irritated.
I have never seen any of the Lord of the Ring movies. Although, I excitedly went to the opening of the first one, I walked out after twenty minutes. Somehow, the motion picture corrupted my imagination of the world this author created. The movie took something magical and made it dark, warlike and sinister. That’s not the way I remember it. I could be wrong because I never gave the films another chance and I don’t intend to.
My Favorites: (Oh, that’s all of them)
- The Hobbit (my most favorite of them all)
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
- The Silmarillion (I think I know who Tom Bombadil is. Do you?)
5. Charles Dickens
Dickens created knowable and memorable characters. In several countries, his characters have been household names for almost two centuries. We have Scrooge, which is also a term to describe a cheap, miserly or unkind person. Others include David Copperfield, Oliver Twist and Sam Weller.
Writers can read Dickens to understand character development. Even if you don’t enjoy his stories or like his writing style use what you can to learn how to paint characters that your readers will know and see.
My favorites from this author:
Quirky Must-Read Authors
6. Stephen King
King is a man of ideas. His stories tap into our desire for getting outside of the ordinary. He does this on so many levels. I’ve read many King books, but not a single one of them was horror. That’s not for me. Nevertheless, books like Firestarter and The Green Mile had me hooked because they tap into extra human powers. For the most part, I like his early stuff. The man is prolific. Fresh ideas can make up for issues with plot and writing. King has great ideas. I know, I said that already.
My favorites from this author:
- The Dead Zone
- Firestarter
- Shawshank Redemption (short story – the movie is better than the short-story)
- The Green Mile
- Hearts in Atlantis
7. George Orwell
He is a political writer. The majority of his books are non-fiction. Even his fictional books are about politics. I was about ten years old when I first read Nineteen Eighty-Four. It was so moving. Even today, I think about how the totalitarian regime completely took over and surveilled the lives of all those citizens. Ultimately, it was the ending that really got me. As soon as Winston adopted the ideology of the Big Brother he died. The book, is an Orwellian warning. At the time, I wasn’t old enough to understand all the political themes, but it didn’t really matter. I got lost in the story. That’s the genius of Orwell.
- Animal Farm (An allegory for the fight for political power – specifically in Russia)
- Nineteen Eighty-Four
- All Propaganda is Lies
- Facing Unpleasant Facts
- Orwell on Freedom
8. Kurt Vonnegut
His writing is crisp and punchy. He gets the information out and keeps you wanting more. There is an honesty to his words. From deep inside the writing you know him to be a man of truth. I like that. His books, like Orwell’s are political or societal commentary, but he seems more mellow, funnier, a bit more human and in some ways deliciously weird.
My favorites from this author:
- Cat’s Cradle
- Slaughterhouse – Five
- Breakfast of Champions
- Galapagos
That’s my list. Please share your list of must-read authors.