Favourite Authors

[kiwiria.livejournal.com]

1. Who is your all-time favourite author, and why?
That's very, very difficult to answer, because it all depends on what I'm in the mood for at any given time. But I think it's safe to say that a favourite author is an author you own a lot of books by (or rather, it's the other way: if you own a lot of books by a certain author, chances are it's a favourite). Since I own practically everything L.M. Montgomery has ever written, she - if nothing else - deserves a mention. I don't reread her books as often as I used to, because I've come to the point where I practically know them by heart, but chances are pretty good that I'll still probably read a couple a year. Every time I reread one of them I find it as witty and as intelligent as the last time I read it, and since I've recently taken to listening to her books rather than reading them myself (most can be found on librivox.org) I'm discovering new things about them - passages that stand out more when read aloud than when read to myself.

2. Who was your first favourite author, and why? Do you still consider him or her among your favourites?
A toss between Laura Ingalls Wilder, Astrid Lindgren and Enid Blyton. I don't think it makes sense to say that either came before the others, as I seem to recall reading them all at pretty much the same time. I was probably introduced to the two former first, as my parents enjoyed reading them out loud, but once I started reading myself, I couldn't get enough of Enid Blyton. I still enjoy books by all three authors. I think it's only LIW I'd still count a favourite, but both Astrid Lindgren and Enid Blyton definitely write books that stand the test of time. I recently reread the entire "Famous Five" series, and had a blast!

3. Who is the most recent addition to your list of favourite authors, and why?
Hard to say, as I'm getting more picky about naming authors "favourites" - there are simply too many excellent ones out there!! If I've only read one type of books by a certain author (e.g. Stieg Larsson - his were some of the BEST books I read last year, but they were all part of the same series, so I don't know if he's able to write anything other than that), I'm hesitant to call them a favourite, because they may suck in other genres.

That said, I'd probably go against what I've just written and claim Neta Jackson as a favourite author anyway. True, I've only read one series by her, but her books moved me more than I can find words to express, and she is one of the very, very few authors whose books I'll buy 'sight unseen'.

4. If someone asked you who your favourite authors were right now, which authors would first pop out of your mouth? Are there any you would add on a moment of further reflection?
First thoughts: LMM, Diana Gabaldon, Terry Goodkind, Tamora Pierce, Anne McCaffrey, C.S. Lewis, Maeve Binchy, LIW.

Upon reflection: Douglas Adams, Frank Peretti (his earlier work anyway), L.M. Alcott, Jane Austen, Stieg Larsson, Neta Jackson, Louise Bagshawe, J.K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyer