TOP TEN TUESDAY | AUTHORS I’VE READ THE MOST BY

I haven’t found a way to sort my “read” shelf on Goodreads by most books read by a single author, so I had to do a bit of guess work to get the list below. Nearly 30 years of reading will start to blur together, after all!

Quick-Read Series:

Charlaine Harris

I was really into the Sookie Stackhouse series for a while when I was in university (this will be repeated with several entries in this series section – I used to read the easiest and fastest books I could find between terms as my brain couldn’t handle anything more!) and I think I read the first eight books in the series before giving up and moving on.

John Grisham

I read these in high school. I’ve lost track of which I’ve read and not read, but I’d say I’ve read at least eight of them. They started to feel a bit repetitive, so I eventually gave up on them, but I certainly enjoyed them at the time!

Kathy Reichs

Another series I was into during my college years and can’t quite remember which I’ve read – I think I read them in order and I’ve marked off the 8th and 10th books in the series as read, so I suppose I likely read ten, but it’s possible I skipped a couple without realizing it.

Chris Ryan

I’ve read all the Agent 21 books that have been released so far – 6 in total. Some are better than others, but they’re very quick, fast-paced thrillers that I enjoy even while not believing a word of them!

Stephenie Meyer

I read the whole Twilight series in a week. I know they’re much-maligned and criticized based on everything from their blatant basis in Jane Austen’s work to anti-feminist issues to being totally ridiculous, but they kept me flipping pages without pause, so there’s got to be something there!

Kathryn Kenny, Carolyn Keene and Franklin W. Dixon

Kenny wrote the Trixie Belden series, Keene wrote the Nancy Drew series and Dixon the Hardy Boys. I read all the Trixie books I could get my hands on as a kid – but they were hard to find. Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys were easier to find and I read a decent number, but no idea how many in total. Definitely didn’t read all of them – there are far too many!

Stand-Alones and More Involved Series:

Douglas Coupland

I’ve read a lot of Douglas Coupland. My husband introduced me to his work as he’s a local author to where he grew up. I started reading and ended up really enjoying his work. I’ve now read 13 of his books in their entirety and at least another four in part. Definitely worth checking out if you’re from the Vancouver area or want to know what it’s like here!

Sue Townsend

I was obsessed with Adrian Mole when I was a kid. I think I read the first 6 books in the series, and then went on to read another five of her stand-alone novels. Something about her wit and sense of humour that is tragicomedy at its best!

J.K. Rowling/Robert Galbraith

I’m putting these in this section because to me they’re not the same thing as the series listed above. I invested in them much more deeply and felt that there was more substance to them, even though they were kids’ books. I read all of the Harry Potter series (more than once) and two of the Robert Galbraith series (and another one I got about halfway before giving up).

Tom Robbins

I discovered Robbins in high school thanks to an ex who was really into his work. I completely fell in love with his books and went on to read nine of them. There was something about them that stood out to me – I have trouble putting it into words, but it’s like they’re written in bright colours. They’re funny, irreverent and downright absurd. But in the best possible way. One of my favourite books of all time is Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates.

James Herriot

Another series that has more to it. It’s the tales of a Yorkshire Vet starting in the 1930s. It’s whimsical, hilarious, infuriating and just charming. It’ll make you wonder if the modern conveniences we all rely on so much are really worth it when the past came with such an idyllic setting. I mean, I know we’re better off now for sure, but something about the community and setting of these books completely wins me over every time. I discovered them thanks to my Nan, who used to leave books she’d read and enjoyed in her spare room. I discovered several favourites by perusing her recently-read shelf (including the next one on the list).

Bill Bryson

I cannot tell you how hilarious Bill Bryson is. If you’ve never read him, you really should give him a try. I started with In A Sunburned Country and was well and truly hooked. He manages to make whatever place he’s writing about come alive as you read. He mixes humorous anecdotes with interesting facts and the result is a thoroughly enjoyable read. I’ve read seven of his books completely, and a few more in part.

Isabel Allende

I discovered Allende when I was in college and was going through a phase of Latin American writing. Her books are just so beautiful! She writes, like Tom Robbins, in full colour. Her characters will feel real to you and her stories are enchanting. House of the Spirits is her most famous, but I think of the 6 I’ve read, Of Love and Shadows or Eva Luna are probably my favourites. I haven’t read any of her most recent books, and I need to get back to her soon!

John Irving

I picked up A Prayer for Owen Meany in grade 11 when I was away at boarding school. It was hard going, and nearly beat me a few times. But I persevered and when I finally made it to the end it was like a new door had been opened in my mind. I went on to read four more of his books (and bits of a few more) and still count him as a favourite author.

That’s it for this week! Did any of mine make your list? Did you include series in yours? What about books you read as a kid?

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly link-up feature created by The Broke and the Bookish and hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. Every week TTT has a different topic, and everyone who links up has to create a link of ten items that fit that topic. To see past and upcoming topics, go here.