The Write Stuff: The Authors I Keep Reading

It has been nearly nine months since I published my first post on Me Beyond The Middle and in many ways I am still finding my footing.  I am loving the journey so far and enjoy sharing my thoughts on retirement, active aging, and travel.  Yet I feel as though in some respects I am neglecting to stay on center for one of my greatest passions—the written word.  Sharing more about my personal life experiences going forward is one way in which I hope to put more creative writing into the mix.  However writing is just one part of it, the other aspect is reading.  The two often go hand in hand.  That is to say, if you love writing you will also be an avid reader, although the same is not necessarily true for the opposite.

From a very young age, I have loved to read books. The enthusiasm has endured over the years and while there are periods when I will have more or less spare time to indulge in my obsession, storytelling in the written form will always be a big part of me.  Reading electronically is favored by some in today’s world and I do acknowledge this to be more convenient at times. I have a small Kindle that works well for airplane travel but I still prefer the print version most of the time. To hold, turn the pages, and feel the paper.  Although the demise of the printed book was predicted as e-books were introduced, that has yet to materialize.  In fact, e-book sales have slightly declined over recent years, and hardcover and paperback books still rule the market. In addition to the printed word, I devour as many audiobooks as possible.  Listening allows me to experience some great stories while walking, exercising, or working around the house, when I may not have the time to sit and read. 

Book clubs are still popular and if you don’t have friends or family that share your love of reading, you should be able to find one in your area online.  Book clubs aren’t my thing.  I was a part of one a few years back with a group of ladies where we ended up reading more wine labels than books.  Although a fun time, for me reading is a solitary affair.  I would rather read what and when I choose and don’t feel the need to discuss or analyze it outside of my own head.  But to each his own.  There are many different styles of readers. Some lean towards a particular genre like romance, thrillers, or non-fiction.  Others may read reviews and go with a new bestseller.   Me?  I find an author I like and stick with them.  It started a long time back when I joined a Stephen King Book of the Month Club.  I had every one of his novels in hardback through the early nineties.  Regrettably, I sold them on eBay to lighten up for a move.  My husband, however, still possesses every John Grisham book ever published and I am a bit jealous when I see them lined up in our bookcase. 

Below I have listed a few of my current top authors and what I have read from each so far, indicating my personal favorite with an asterisk.

Gillian Flynn

Most of us know Gillian for her brilliant psychological thriller Gone Girl.  It is the most well-known of her novels with Rosamund Pike’s flawless portrayal of the antagonist on the big screen further increasing its popularity.  But before this hugely successful novel, Gillian Flynn wrote two other novels which were both thrillers and mysteries.  Her material is dark and may not be for everyone. She herself has stated that her brain goes easily to the darkness. She writes in the first person and her characters are complex.  As far as her actual writing style, it is pretty straightforward.

What I have read:

• Dark Places
• Sharp Objects
• Gone Girl*

Kate Morton

I never get more lost in a book than in a Kate Morton novel.  Her stories become multi-layered as she intertwines different periods in time by shifting from the past to the present day.  The historical themes and settings transport me to the era in which I am reading, picturing it so vividly.  Her books are about 500 pages long and consist of numerous characters and subplots. There is also a mystery at the heart of each story, adding even more texture.   This may sound as though it would become quite convoluted but she weaves it all together beautifully, making it incredibly intriguing and impossible to put down. 

What I have read:

• The House at Riverton
• The Forgotten Garden
• The Distant Hours
• The Secret Keeper*
• The Lake House
• The Clockmakers Daughter
• Homecoming

Elin Hilderbrandt

Elin Hilderbrand is known for her engaging, character-driven storytelling and vivid descriptions of the natural beauty of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Her writing style is known for being immersive, emotional, and deeply connected to the lives of her characters. This author made such an impression on me with her incredible Nantucket descriptions that I not only became a fan of her writing but also put a trip to the island on my bucket list.  I wrote about this in a previous post.  Click here if you missed it.  Her novels are labeled as beach reads. If you are wondering what that means, it basically boils down to a book that is widely popular, easy to read, and good enough to keep you engaged but not too serious as to bring down your vacation vibe.  Publishers take advantage of the term to sell more books during the summertime. 

What I have read:

• Summerland
• Summer of ’69*
• The Identicals
• Golden Girl
• The Nantucket Hotel

Liane Moriarty

Liane’s books often explore the complexities of modern relationships and the secrets that people keep from one another. In Big Little Lies, one of the bestsellers, she managed to combine domestic fiction with a thriller giving it many layers. I usually find myself reading late into the night with her books, not wanting to wait to find out what will happen in the end. Her stories often depict ordinary people dealing with hard issues such as death, divorce, and domestic violence. Several of her books have been or will be adapted into movies.

What I have read:

• Big Little Lies*
• What Alice Forgot
• Truly, Madly, Guilty
• The Husband’s Secret
• The Last Anniversary
• Apples Never Fall

J.K. Rowling

This may seem a little out of character but I must mention this most popular and successful book series in history. I have such a deep admiration for this author. I was finally persuaded to read it following years of prodding from my youngest after he had completed the series as a child and teen.  Knowing my love of books, he recognized that I would appreciate the series although it was out of my normal reading genre. Rowlings was insightful enough to have grown her books with her audience so while the first one was geared at a much younger child, by the time you reach the last in the series the books are written for a young adult or even perhaps an adult.  She began writing the first “Harry Potter” book while on welfare in Edinburgh, Scotland in the 1990s and it was published in 1997. Its enormous success led to six more books in the series.  Even as an adult, I found myself totally immersed in this imaginary world of wizardry.  Yet, I also believe it was from the perspective of a writing protege that I was so impressed with her genius in creating this fantasy with characters that we either adored or loathed so deeply.  You should give these books a try.  You might surprise yourself. 

What I have read:

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows

Share your favorites in the comments and keep reading, my friends.