Flo's Favorite Authors

Sunday, September 23, 2012

So a few months ago, Mary suggested that we should all post about our favorite authors. She went first, and then was followed by Jacque a few months later. I actually created my list on some Post Its (the best invention ever -- thank you Romy and Michele!), but have not had the chance to post until now. A few things about this list...first, there is no way I could rank these -- are you kidding me?!?! Second, I decided not to include authors that Mary and Jacque already posted about, though without a doubt I share some from both their lists.

Without further ado...

James Patterson

When I was around middle school age, I really loved reading his suspense novels: Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider were two of my favorites. Then, I found myself loving his romance novels: Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas. Sam's Letters to Jennifer, and Sundays at Tiffany's all come to mind. Most recently, I have been obsessed with his YA Maximum Ride novels. He makes the list of my favorite authors for two reasons: first, span of time. I have been reading and loving his books for years. Second, I am in awe with his range of publications. He writes suspense. He writes YA. He writes romance. And he is REALLY GOOD at all of them. My hats off to you, James Patterson. http://jamespatterson.com

Rick Riordan

I was in Kmart one afternoon and for no reason whatsoever decided to buy Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. Best random decision ever! From there, my love of audiobooks was cultivated, as I listened to the entire PJO series on CD. I have simply not read many books that were more clever, more action-packed, more heartfelt, all in the same package. I obsessively began following every Percy Jackson Tumblr ever created after that. I also got myself my very own Camp Half Blood t-shirt. The last book in the series, The Last Olympian, was my favorite. I wasn't even sad to see the series end, though, because as soon as I finished I was lucky enough to be able to immediately jump into the Heroes of Olympus series. Of the two that are out so far, one I listens to one and one I read -- both of them I flew through as fast as I possibly could. The third book of that series comes out next month, and Rick is coming to Miami to promote it! I couldn't be more excited to see him in person and get a signed book. Rick Riordan makes my list because of the cleverness of his stories -- the way he ties things together as well as relates them to mythology -- and the pace of his action-packed writing. http://www.rickriordan.com

John Green

I discovered John Green when I decided to download the ebook The Fault in Our Stars to see what all the hype was about. Let me tell you -- much warranted hype! That book was fantastic. I immediately loved the way he created his characters -- flawed, lovable, real. John Green is on this list precisely because he is one of the best, if not the best, creators of character I read. After TFiOS, I picked up Paper Towns and Will Grayson, Will Grayson. Both of these books got 5* on Goodreads for me. I cannot wait to read An Abundance of Katherines and Looking for Alaska. http://johngreenbooks.com

Cassandra Clare

Two words: Jace Wayland. Jace was the first of many beautifully broken YA bad boys that I have come to love. I discovered The Mortal Instruments from a girlfriend who is not a big reader. We were in Barnes and Noble, and I was telling her how she HAD to read The Hunger Games. She agreed, and responded that I HAD to read The Mortal Instruments -- which, by the way, is a fun story to try to describe to someone who doesn't know what it is. ("So there are all these different types of paranormal creatures, and this brother and sister who you want to hook up...") Wow. I was blown away by these books, and also by Cassie herself. If you don't follow her on Twitter, you should. She makes my list partly because she is one authors who is most interactive with her fans -- it's fantastic. Not only on Twitter, but also on the Mortal Instruments Google Group, which I participated in for awhile. City of Glass is my favorite of Mortal Instruments books, but I have enjoyed the last two (I know there's some mixed reactions there.) As for the Infernal Devices -- soooo good as well. I love that they are set in London in the early 1900s -- what a great setting! Clockwork Prince was absolutely amazing. Right behind my laptop I have a row of, I guess you can call them, Books of Honor -- these are my absolute favorites. From left to right, they are The Hunger Games trilogy, the Mortal Instruments series, the Hunger Games trilogy again (yes, I have multiples -- don't judge!), and the Twilight saga. http://www.cassandraclare.com/

J.K. Rowling

The year was 1999 and I was facilitating a Secret Santa gift exchange with friends in my college dorm. My Secret Santa gave me a book I had never heard of called Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. The rest, as they say, is history. I remember my parents were confused and surprised when I pre-ordered The Half Blood Prince, but had to pre-order to their house because when it came out I would be there and not at my current place of residence. I think that was actually the first book I ever pre-ordered. Nowadays, we toss the word EPIC around a lot and very casually, but the Harry Potter series is really, truly EPIC in its truest sense. Like so many of its readers, I really feel like I grew up alongside Harry and his friends and enemies. The books were incredible, the movies were incredible, and years later they are still making impact (re: Pottermore). J.K. Rowling's story is also incredible and truly admirable. The Casual Vacancy comes out next week, and I am really curious to see her write a world beyond Hogwarts. J.K. Rowling makes my list because her books are truly epic. http://www.jkrowling.com/

BONUS

Cheat: Chick Lit

Next to YA, chick lit is my favorite genre, and has been for a long time. All my life I have identified with the trials of women of all ages as they are touchingly and humorously recounted in books that have kept me company during lazy Saturdays at home, sunny days and nights on the beach, or whenever I wanted to relish in the fun and adventure of being female. Honestly, I could make a list just of my favorite chick lit authors, and I thought about it. But while I in no way want to say that all chick lit books are the same, the genre does have a familiarity for me. I could give you a list, but they were all be on the list for the same reason. So, allow me to just name some of my favorites throughout time as my bonus authors: Ann M. Martin, Judy Blume, Francine Pascal, Lauren Weisberger, Emily Giffin, Jennifer Weiner, Sophie Kinsella. Thank you, ladies, for making reading fun and for reminding me of the greatness of being a girl.