Every once in a while you discover an author whose work speaks to you on a level that goes beyond just the words on the page. Maybe their style appeals to you, maybe it’s their topics or the settings they choose. Maybe they just nail down the words you could never find to express your own thoughts. Whatever it is, this author’s work always works for you. You’ve read all their books (or nearly all if you like to save some so you never actually run out – like I do) and you are first in line for any new book they release.
These authors are “auto-buy” authors. They’re the ones whose books you’ll order without so much a glance at the cover blurb. All you need to know is that they wrote it. My auto-buy list changes over time, but there are a few that are pretty constant. Here are the ten that come to mind, in no particular order:
Isabel Allende. I love her writing – it’s bright and colourful and always full of surprises.
Rainbow Rowell. Since discovering Eleanor & Park, I’ve picked up every single one of her books. I’m saving Attachments because I can’t handle there being no more Rowell books in the world I haven’t read, but other than that, I’ve read them all.
Douglas Coupland. I don’t always get on with his work. There have been a few of his books I just didn’t make it through (including one of his most iconic books, Generation X), but I’ll always give him a try, and I take pride in supporting local talent.
Rita Leganski. Granted so far there’s just The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow, but honestly that one book was all it took for me to become a convert.
Michael Christie. Again, I’ve only read one of his, though as soon as I finished I rushed out and bought his debut release – a book of short stories called The Beggar’s Garden. I’ll be first in line for his next book.
J.K. Rowling/Robert Galbraith. Because of course.
Lena Dunham. She might not always be auto-buy for me, but based on her first memoir, I’ll definitely be scooping up whatever she does next.
Emily St. John Mandel. I loved Station Eleven. LOVED. I’ve since picked up copies of her previous books, and though I haven’t read them yet, if she were to come out with a new book tomorrow I’d buy that too.
My last two picks don’t really fit with the rest of this list, because these authors recently passed away. But should any of their work be discovered and released posthumously, I’ll be snapping it up. And I will be forever upset that they’re not churning out more brilliant work.
Sue Townsend. Townsend is responsible for the Adrian Mole series, which I’ve mentioned many times. She also wrote several brilliant stand-alones. I haven’t read all of her books yet (I’m rationing them out), but I’ve read most of them, and each had something new and unique and so very Sue to offer.
Marina Keegan. I’m having feels just thinking about this. Her only book, The Opposite of Loneliness, was actually published posthumously, and it amazed and shocked me in the best way possible. Keegan died shortly after graduating from Yale in a car accident, and not only did her death rob everyone she knew of someone who, by all accounts was a brilliant person, but robbed the literary world of a talented new voice. Though I’m grateful to have read any of her work, I don’t think I’ll ever get over my sadness that there won’t be any more.
That’s it for my list this week – what about you? Which authors’ books do you snap up like hotcakes? Share in the comments!
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly link-up feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. 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.
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I’ve only read J.K Rowling and Lena Dunham from this list, though I own Marina Keegan’s book—I just keep putting it off because I know I’m going to love it and I won’t have anything else to read by her!
My list
Love Rowling (of course) and Dunham was a pleasant surprise for me – I went into it without knowing much about her and came out with a new literary friend. I was the same way with Marina’s book – in the end I decided to pull it off like a band-aid. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t still have moments of wishing I hadn’t read it yet!
Fantastic list! I’m pleased that you enjoy Rainbow Rowell so much. I could have put her on my list too. I have Marina Keegan’s book to read.
Oh I love Rainbow. I wasn’t as big a fan of Landline as of Fangirl and E&P, but still a solid read, and I’m looking forward to her new book in the fall! I hope you enjoy Marina. One of the things that impressed me most was her ability to jump between types of writing and a wide variety of characters effortlessly. I feel like there’s probably something for everyone in there somewhere!
This is a great list! I considered putting J.K. Rowling on my list, but decided against it as I have no intention of buying and reading Casual Vacancy. I am a big Harry Potter fan though and I am anxious to try her crime fiction series.
I haven’t read Station Eleven yet, but I have read all of Emily St. John Mandel.’s other books and loved them. I was so happy when people stood up and took notice of her work with her latest. Now I just have to read it!
I am afraid I was unimpressed with my first Isabel Allende novel (The Ripper). I want to try one of her earlier books as I’ve heard they are much better.
You know, I actually had a hard time getting into both The Cuckoo’s Calling and The Casual Vacancy. Cuckoo I was determined to get through, so I really pushed myself over xmas hols last year and did finish it. But I haven’t made it through Vacancy yet, and I’m saving Silkworm! But I”ll still pick up and try anything she writes.
I have her other books too, and part of me just wants to keep saving them and saving them! I was blown away by Station, though I went into it knowing absolutely nothing, so I think that really left a lot of room for being impressed. I do think that kind of talent isn’t a one-off though, so I have high hopes for her other books. I’d definitely try out Station when you need a vivid, immersive read!
To be completely honest, Ripper was another I tried and failed to get into. I do intend to go back to it, but I’ve heard some mixed reactions. Her earlier books, however, were AMAZING. I started with Eva Luna then moved on to The House of the Spirits, Of Love and Shadows and Daughter of Fortune (there were more, but those were the ones that really hit home first). I’d recommend trying something from that period and see if you have a better time – I adored them all.
Love Allende! Her older stuff is much better, though.
I loved her early work. I haven’t given her latest a fair shake (I only read a couple of chapters) so I don’t feel I can really comment on it other than to say it didn’t instantly grab me like some of her other work did. But her bibliography taken as a whole earns her mad respect from me!
Douglas Coupland! I’ve been meaning to read more of his books but I loved All Families are Psychotic and Eleanor Rigby by him 🙂 Marina Keegan’s book was wonderful but yes, very sad 🙁
My TTT
All Families was the first book of his I read! I found a real range in his work, but I think my faves were Microserfs, All Families, JPod and Girlfriend in a Coma. I like his range, though, and that every book is a different kind of experiment.