Musing Mondays: Trying New Authors
by Jenners • 03/08/2009 • Book Talk • 24 Comments
I’m pretty liberal when it comes to trying new authors — I’ve purchased many books by authors I’ve never heard of based solely on the book cover! I think there are just too many good books out there to limit yourself to just a handful of “trusted” authors. That being said, there are authors whose books I will buy each time they write a new one — Bill Bryson, David Sedaris, A.J. Jacobs, Nelson DeMille, Greg Iles, Jodi Picoult, Sue Grafton. They have all earned my loyalty over the years. In the same vein, if there is an author who I tried and didn’t like, I will avoid their books at all costs — James Patterson springs to mind. I also feel sad when an author I liked goes “downhill.” This happened to me with Patricia Cornwell. I really enjoyed her Kay Scarpetta series but found it becoming downright unreadable about halfway through the series. I also found Janet Evanovich’s numbers books to be too repetitive and abandoned the series on number 9.
I would say that 80% of the books I read are by authors I have never read before. Pretty much all the reviews I’ve done so far on this book blog are by authors I had never heard of before. If a book sounds interesting to me, I’ll usually try it out. And I’ve been known to just “wing it” and buy a book based on absolutely no recommendation or information. Sometimes you get the best books that way! Last year, I tried Yann Martel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Cormac McCarthy, and Audrey Niffenberger with little information– and ended up enjoying all of the books immensely.
The best find of all is when you “discover” a new to you author that already has a large amount of work that you can gorge yourself on. This happened to me with Nelson DeMille.
I will confess that book swapping sites such as Paperback Swap make it much easier to try out new authors when you aren’t paying full price for the book. If you don’t like it, you can just trade it away and get something else. However, I will buy authors I’ve never heard of and pay full price if the story seems interesting enough. I will also buy books just because I’ve heard so much buzz about them and had to see what the hype was for myself.
I enjoyed your post and thanks for commenting on mine as well. I do like finding new authors to read – the majority of the books I review are also by authors new-to-me. I know what you mean about authors going downhill in the middle of a series though. For me, that would have to be Carlos Castaneda or Orson Scott Card.
Jennifer, I don’t think I could have said it better if I had written it myself. I have the same opinion about new authors and I, too, have been known to try a new author based on the book cover alone! lol I agree that book swapping sites make it easier.
I love reading new authors – whether they’re debut authors or just “new to me”. I don’t need a recommendation from a friend, I just jump in with both feet!
Book blogging has introduced me to a whole new realm of authors and books. 70-80% of my reading are new authors.
Sedaris is the only you listed that I’ve read. I’ll get to Niffenberger’s Time Traveler’s Wife at some point.
Your poll for classics is difficult to choose!! I have only read Alice in Wonderland (which is amazing by the way). However, I have always wanted to read Bleak House. I have NEVER read a Dicken’s novel, I am such a bad English major-er haha.
I feel the same way…I love finding new authors and I use PBS. I’m addicted to it. LOL
I agree! I love it when I find an author who is “new to me” and they have a bunch of books I can go back and read! Of course, then I start to wonder,”What took me so long to get into this author? I’m crazy!”
Great musings! Here’s mine: http://nanscorner.wordpress.com/2009/03/09/musing-mondays-march-9/
Nan
I do have favorite authors, but I’m always open to trying a new or new to me author.
Absolutely about the book swapping. My TBR pile would be half its size without Bookmooch!
Love finding new authors with a backlist too! Have not read Nelson DeMille.
Interesting answer. I have not heard of paperback swap, sounds like a good idea.
I don’t ever stick to just one or even two authors, every book I have read so far this year, is by a different author. I buy based on the story, not the author
Totally agree — book swapping sites make it much easier and less stressful to try out authors who are new to us and give everyone a chance! I do the same thing
I chose books by covers, too, and don’t really pay any attention to whether or not I think they can be “trusted.” I would hate to miss someone new and awesome because I was too afraid to branch out!
Hi!
I am the same way when I find a new author, I want to read everything they have written. Have a great day!!
Sherrie
I love discovering new authors too!
I totally agree with you on Patterson….and Evanovich….and most certainly on Cornwall.
They all fall into the ‘Series That Should Have Ended But Didn’t’ that I write about in my answer.
And welcome to your first Musing Mondays!!
Well said. Thats kind of what I wanted to say but you said it somuch better!
I actually find myself (unconciously) shying away from books with a lot of hype and going for something a little quieter. But I am always trying new authors, there is just so much out there to discover.
and you really should give James Patterson another chance, I LOVE his books
My Musing
We are so of the same mind-set. I wish I wasn’t so tired, my post would have been much more detailed and eloquent, as yours is.
My review blog is also, so far, exclusively authors I haven’t read before.
And, I completely agree with you on Cornwell. So sad.
(excuse any typ-o’s. I really can’t think straight tonight)
For me finding a new author is like a brand-new Christmas gift that you’ve just unwrapped. You want to enjoy the novelty while it lasts.
And when that new author comes out with another book you wanna read, well…it’s like Christmas all over again!
Oooh, I agree finding a new to you author with a huge backlist is like Christmas coming early! I also hate when an author I enjoy starts to go downhill – I jumped ship on Evanovich somewhere around books six or seven.
For me it was Agatha Christie! I’ve been buying her books like crazy.
Mine
I know what you mean about finding a new author that already has quite a collection built up. For me it was Neil Gaiman. Why I hadn’t read him before I have no idea, but after that first one I was just hooked.
Welcome to MM, I hope you enjoy playing along