I went through my GoodReads to find the authors I've read most. The results:
Stephen King - 18 books
Dr. Seuss - 12
Judy Blume - 10
Laura Ingalls Wilder - 9
J K Rowling - 7
Bryce Courtenay - 6
Michael Crichton - 6
L M Montgomery - 6
Jack Whyte - 6
Wow. So I knew I liked King, but 18? No wonder he's a bajillionnaire. If I -- the slowest reader on the planet -- got through that many, I can't imagine how many he's sold in a lifetime.
And yeah, Dr. Seuss just rocks. I probably read more than that. Though Dad says I just read GREEN EGGS & HAM over and over and over.
Blume and Wilder defined my young, independent reading years. I didn't discover Montgomery till high school.
Rowling I read because I loved the characters, and Whyte because I loved the setting (post-Roman Britain). I loved Courtenay's THE POWER OF ONE, and read more hoping for the same experience (didn't quite get it). I suspect Crichton's high on the list because his books are really easy to find when traveling abroad.
Some favorite authors I haven't fully consumed: John Steinbeck, Roald Dahl, Frank McCourt, Tom Stoppard, and David Sedaris.
Are the authors you've read the most actually your favorites? If not, why do you think there's a discrepancy?
Finally, for fun, a montage from my GoodReads account...
[top image via Westport Library]
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5 ate pie:
Awesome! I think there are writers we go back to and read a lot because they're comforting. JK Rowling isn't my favorite writer, but I go back to Harry Potter because it's comforting. Just like cream of wheat isn't my favorite food, but when I'm not feeling well, it's my go to food.
PS, my favorite author right at this moment is Patrick Ness.
Don't you love goodreads and the book montage?
My favorite authors are def the ones I read the most often--I have no problem reading and re-reading, either!
Shaun - agreed. Little Debbie oatmeal cream pies taste like shortening, but I still eat them. Patrick Ness, eh? Will check him out...
Beth - GoodReads is how I keep track of my gangly To-Read list. But I read too slowly to re-read much. Maybe after many years I'll pick up a book a second time.
I'm a LibraryThing devotee. My most-read authors aren't my favorite, they're actually authors of "fluffy" books that I can breeze through...Sue Grafton, Janet Evanovich. When I built my library on LT, I was also surprised at how many Stephen King books I read. He has his detractors, but there are very few books of his that I read and didn't like.
Jenny - I was on Library Thing, then followed a group of online pals to GoodReads. I like GR's interface better, but I like LT's newsletter more! Decisions...
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