Thursday, January 10, 2008

Booking Through Thursday - Introductions

Here's this week's BTT questions:

  1. How did you come across your favorite author(s)? Recommended by a friend? Stumbled across at a bookstore? A book given to you as a gift?
  2. Was it love at first sight? Or did the love affair evolve over a long acquaintance?

Wow, these are good ones. Two of my favorite authors are John Irving and Isabel Allende. I was given a copy of The World According to Garp by a friend who insisted I read it. This was probably my first year in college (but my memory gets hazier as I age LOL). This one really was love at first sight. I then read everything I could find. Unfortunately, the love affair has faded recently. I haven't liked his more recent works nearly as much as his earlier books. I guess love can be fickle.

My husband read a review of an Allende novel and urged me to read it after he was done. It was The House of Spirits which I did like though I'd say this author has grown on me over time. I absolutely adored The Infinite Plan and Paula is probably my absolutely most favorite book.

I have to say that I don't really have any other favorite authors. I tend to move between a variety of different authors. I've found I'm more drawn to a story than the author. There are many authors where I've only read one book, liked it, but never decided to pick up anything else by the author. Maybe I'm tough to court. I have so many books I want to read that I will move on quite rapidly unless an author's style really holds my attention.

I'm off to see what other people had to say!

14 comments:

Lori said...

We share the same view of John Irving. I believe I have read and re-read Garp and Owen Meany over and over more than any other books.

And Isabel Allende is another favorite.

Great minds, eh?

Literary Feline said...

I have yet to read anything by Irving or Allende. I do have a couple of John Irving's books lying around here somewhere and I once had a copy of a book by Isabel Allende, but it went home with my mother one visit and I haven't seen it since . . . Someday I will actually get around to reading both. They seem to be quite a few people's favorites.

Brie said...

Like you, I tend not to have a long standing favorite author. My taste in writing can change like the wind so I don't invest too much in just one author.

Anonymous said...

I'm sad to say I have Irving and Allende in my TBR pile, but haven't read them. I need to move them up, but with all the great recommendations it's kind of like musical chairs. LOL.

Anonymous said...

I have read Irving but not Allende. I suppose I should read her.

Here is my post!

Chrisbookarama said...

Some authors are just one hit wonders. Thanks for the blog visit.

CJ said...

I've been told I need to read Owen Meany but Garp is one of those books that I've been put off on because of the movie. Absolutely hated it. And I should really check Allende out.

cjh

Juli said...

I had to abandon Garp...I just couldn't get into it. I was about 60 pages in. Does it deserve a second chance???? I found it boring and found myself staring at things instead of reading.

Bridget said...

I just read "House of Spirits" a few months back, and absolutely loved it. Now I'm anxious to try the others!

Anonymous said...

Pres - I always knew I liked you for a good reason (LOL)

Literary - I'd try an early Allende like House of Spirits or The Infinite Plan.

Brie - Thanks for visiting. My favorites do seem to change a lot.

Kristy - I do that all the time. It took me a year to get to The Poisonwood Bible and then it was my favorite book last year.

Gautami - I'll come visit. You might like Allende if you like mystical type things.

Chris - Thanks for dropping by.

CJ - You might like Owen Meany. Try it instead of Garp. (Robin Williams didn't do it for me either)

Juli - Maybe not. Try A Prayer for Owen Meany or The Cider House Rules instead.

Bridget - I'm glad you found it. Try The Infinite Plan. It is probably one of her best books.

BookGal said...

Boy am I lame ... I posted to my own blog as anonymous. It's been a long day!

Barrie said...

I do like John Irving. And I've totally fallen for Anita Shreve and Elinor Lipman!

BookGal said...

Barrie - I've never read Anita Shreve. Any recommendations for a first book?

Dewey said...

This is funny to me, because I adore Irving and despise Allende! Funny how personal taste works, isn't it?