December 6: Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read
For The First Time In 2016
Top Ten Tuesday is
an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish
This should be easy since I
barely read ten books in 2016, but I have to explain – there were some really
big books. Are you tired of me whining about that? It seems like I’ve whined about
it a lot, but seriously, there were some really big books: War and Peace, The Count of Monte Cristo,
Atlas Shrugged, Tom Jones – See! I’m just sayin. Tolstoy and Dumas were not new to
me though – and a few of my other not so big books were also not new – sooo,
the Top Ten is only Top Six.
In order – least liked to most
liked. (I’m averse to the phrase least favorite or most favorite – as they
literally don’t make sense. Something is a favorite, or it is not.)
Martin Amis – Money.
He was new to me, but shouldn’t truly be on a “TOP” anything list. I
didn’t like this at all. Last year was my first read of his father, Kingsley
Amis – Lucky Jim. I liked the father
pretty well.
Henry James – The Ambassadors. Not a big fan, but I
have more Henry James coming up, and I have read he has distinctly different
styles base on different periods in his career. So, the jury is still out.
Flannery O’Connor – The Complete Stories. I liked these,
didn’t love em, thoughtful and poignant.
Theodore Dreiser – An American Tragedy. I liked him quite a bit, but I don’t know how
to pronounce his last name. I just call him Theo.
Henry Fielding – Tom Jones. One of Dickens’ favorite
authors, so I was bound to like him. I did.
Ayn Rand – Atlas Shrugged and The
Fountainhead. I REALLY liked Atlas
Shrugged. The Fountainhead – not so much. Still I think Ayn Rand is brilliant.
Apparently she thought she was too.
I couldn't stand The Fountainhead - I don't really want to try Atlas Shrugged as a result....
ReplyDeleteLauren @ Always Me
well done!
ReplyDeleteI loved The Fountainhead, but haven't tried Atlas Shrugged yet. One of these days!
ReplyDeleteI would think then...you'd REALY love Atlas Shrugged. I think it was much better.
DeleteI love that you spent a lot of time this year reading classics, like huge classics! Congrats on the accomplishment. Definitely inspiring me to take on a couple in 2017!
ReplyDeleteThanks Katie...yeah I stick mostly to the classics...got this quest thing going. Go for it in 2017!
DeleteFor the record, I am done trying to like Henry James. I have tried on many occasions, but he and I just do not get along. I absolutely loved Tom Jones and plan to reread it again in the not too distant future. I like small doses of Flannery O'Connor. I cannot stand Ayn Rand. Atlas Shrugged was one of the first books I gave up on--I rolled my eyes through The Fountainhead, but just couldn't stomach Atlas Shrugged. If only she had channeled her talent into creating art instead of propaganda.
ReplyDeleteI'm not giving up on James yet...but so far, I'm not a fan either. Seems like were pretty close on O'Connor and Fielding, so we'll just have to shake hands and disagree on Ayn Ran :) Thanks for the feedback.
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