Listing one’s favorite authors is like picking your favorite children – it just shouldn’t be done and is messy business. And yet, here I am doing it just the same thanks to The Broke and The Bookish.
To make it a little harder on myself I am only including authors who are still alive and have written at least 3 books so far. I know that excludes a lot of writers, but I had to make the list manageable somehow.
1. Margaret Atwood. Yes, I know she is going to appear on everyone’s list, but i really mean it. Out of her 14 novels for adults, I’ve read 10. Not bad. I’ve even been considering doing a year long read-a-long of her books to convince people to move beyond her recent works.
2. John Irving. A perennial favorite in spite of the fact that his books are hit or miss with me. But if you even get the chance to see him speak, do it. He is wonderful in person.
3. Ann-Marie MacDonald. Another Canadian on my list. The influence of Timothy Findley on her writing is unmistakable, and he is one of my favorite dead writers.
4. Rohinton Mistry. Like Tartt (below), he is a slow writer, but his insight is so precise that I can forgive him. A Fine Balance is my favorite of his.
5. Salman Rushdie. To be honest, I don’t even know if I like Rushdie anymore. What i do know is that I will buy his books the day they come out. That means something, doesn’t it?
6. Donna Tartt. She hooked me with The Secret History and now I would read cereal boxes if she wrote them.
7. Sarah Waters. I came late to Waters, having only discovered her with Fingersmith (2002), but I was instantly sold. And to be honest, until recently, I’ve liked each book a little more.
And I’ve still got three spots left in case I’ve forgotten anyone!
52 books or bust 
Lovely to see Rohinton Mistry on your list, Tanya. Slow but sure – at least I hope so. It’s been a very long time since Family Matters.
I’d be hard pressed to list my own favourite authors but I do know that Helen Dunmore would be close to the top of it.
Great list! I feel the same way about Donna Tartt!
Love that I’m seeing Atwood on so many lists…pretty sure she’d be on mine, too! Donna Tartt is fabulous, as well. Great list!
You’re right about favourite authors being like choosing favourite children – I usually try to avoid these types of questions (including: what is your favourite book?). But, this is a great list, and has made me think it would be fun to actually think about it and come up with something. Then I’d have an answer for when people ask me that question. Usually my mind just goes blank and I can’t think of anyone.
A year-long Atwood read-along would be awesome! 🙂
My favourite Atwood books are Surfacing and Alias Grace and I’d love to see more people reading beyond her dystopian stuff.
My favourites are Alias Grace and The Handmaid’s Tale. But, I would love to re-read the ones I read so long ago that I can’t even remember them (Surfacing, Cat’s Eye, Edible Woman…)
And, I’m looking forward to her new one!
John Irving made my list as well – and he’s a little hit or miss for me too – but his hits are SO good that they make up for the misses! Donna Tartt was on my list too 🙂
I once made the mistake of reading about 5 Irving books in a row and they all sounded the same. But reading one every few years can be quite enjoyable.
(whispers) I….still haven’t gotten around to much of Margaret Atwood’s works *blushes* I read one of her books, Surfacing, but that wasn’t perhaps the best introduction to her works.
I also need to read Donna Tartt’s books at some point xD
Great list! My TTT
I loved Surfacing! And Bravo for reading one of her lesser known works.
I tried writing a post about my favorite authors, but it was too hard — you did a great job. I love your choices and would have put most of them on my list.
The thing is, if I were to do the list again next week it would be totally different.
Tan Twan Eng for me! ‘The Garden of Evening Mists’ is unforgettable.
I’ve never read Tan, but should add it to my list.
I would totally agree with at least half your list! Some great choices there!
I should have added Atwood to my list…Glad to see Waters getting some love! 🙂
Check out my TTT.
Ooh, great list! Margaret Atwood fist-bump! I was torn on John Irving because I loved a few of his books, but some of his other books are not my favourite.
Oh man, I really really need to read Margaret Atwood. Everybody loves her! I know I’ve been missing out. Great list!