Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Top Ten New-To-Me Authors in 2016

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.

8 comments:

  1. I couldn't stand The Fountainhead - I don't really want to try Atlas Shrugged as a result....

    Lauren @ Always Me

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  2. I loved The Fountainhead, but haven't tried Atlas Shrugged yet. One of these days!

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    1. I would think then...you'd REALY love Atlas Shrugged. I think it was much better.

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  3. I 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!

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    1. Thanks Katie...yeah I stick mostly to the classics...got this quest thing going. Go for it in 2017!

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  4. For 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.

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    1. I'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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