Book meme - A - Author You’ve Read The Most Books From

[byslantedlight]

caffyolay has given me A... and although I'm rolling my eyes at whoever worded the meme, this is rather a cool think-y one. And I think - I think that it really has to be the author of these books: Because there were all the Famous Five books, and all the Five Find-Outers, and all the Secret Seven, the Adventure books, the various wee series that were published as hardbacks to match the set in the pictures here - and we had dozens of those, it felt like, that I loved. So... surely it must be Enid Blyton!

Hmmn - second runner-up... well, there's Patrick O'Brian of course, because there are 20 Aubrey/Maturin books. But then, how many books did Agatha Christie write, because I've read most of hers (though apparently she wrote 67 mysteries, could I really have read most of them?). Who else...? Elinor M. Brent-Dyer, the Chalet School books! Terry Pratchett must be up there... Robert Heinlein perhaps. Oh - Elizabeth Peters, for Amelia Peabody, though I got caught up in life, and I'm five behind. I should get those out of my storage and start again too... *g* There must be more authors I've read lots of - I expect they'll come to me. *g*

What about you?

Comments

[solosundance.livejournal.com]

Did you ever read Blyton's Shadow the Sheepdog? That was my favourite! Hee, Elinor M. Brent-Dyer would definitely be my Author I've Read the Most Books From (yeeeuch to that little construction!).

What a fun meme this is!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

It's a brilliant meme, isn't it! And everyone can play! *g*

I do remember Shadow, though animal stories were rarely my favourites. I liked the wishing chair and the faraway tree - oh, and the circus! And then complete opposite - Cherry Tree Farm. I still vividly remember learning that hares slept in forms, and that coney was another name for a rabbit... *g*

[hagsrus.livejournal.com]

Well, if we include children's book, then I guess Enid Blyton, Richmal Crompton (Just William), W E Johns (Biggles), Lorna Hill (various ballet and pony).

Then Terry Pratchett, Sheri Tepper, Janet Evanovich, Patrick O'Brien, Heinlein - I think those are the top in quantity.

Piers Anthony (can't stand him now), Marion Zimmer Bradley (a few I still enjoy).

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, Lorna Hill - I knew there'd be writers I'd forgotten! There was a long series of books about wild stallions too, that I seem to remember alot of... And Trixie Beldon (books, not author!) Nancy Drew! The Hardy boys!

I haven't read many Marion Zimmer Bradley books, but I adored Mists of Avalon...

[ali15son.livejournal.com]

Well its got to be Enid blyton...the famous five books in my collection are looking slightly worn around the edges but I just love em and never tire of reading them.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I suppose, among other things, that Enid Blyton was just so prolific that if we wanted to we could read on and on! According to wiki she wrote over 700 books... But she was good - she caught something that children wanted to read... *g*

[caffyolay.livejournal.com]

I think I might be another Enid Blyton reader and am 'still' reading her from time to time. *g*

Other than her, Georgette Heyer, Terry Pratchett, Anne McCaffrey, Ellis Peters, Carola Dunn. There must be others...

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, Ellis Peters! And I did read a historical romance author who was very prolific in my teens, but apart from being fairly sure it wasn't Georgette Heyer (well... could it have been?) I can't for the life of me remember who it was... I almost said Anne McCaffrey, but I suspect I may have more of hers still to read - I didn't quite get on with The Crystal Singer, for instance...

One of these days I'll be able to add Angela Thirkell to my list - if only Vintage would get on and reprint more books with Mick Wiggins covers! *g*

ETA - oh, and Gerald Durrell too, when I was a kid! Mum had lots of his books, and I tracked down even more in libraries!

[caffyolay.livejournal.com]

Could it have been Victoria Holt? Mary Stewart? I think if it was GH you'd know as her Regencies are not like any other historical romances.

I still have some AMs to read and like you there were some series I wasn't mad about, one of which was The Crystal Singer if memory serves.

I could probably add Gerald Durrell too. Read quite a lot of his and would like to own all of them one day.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Hmmn, I almost wonder if it was Mary Stewart, but looking at her bibliography on wiki she didn't write straight historical novels as such, which these were. I loved her Merlin books though - and I've just this minute discovered that she wrote a fifth one in 2005 - eeeeh! *g* Mind you, I've also very sadly found out - or been reminded? - that she died in May this year...

It wasn't Victoria Holt, though I've seen her stuff around. Erm...

[caffyolay.livejournal.com]

No, you're right, MS didn't... hers were more mysteries apart from the wonderful Merlin books. Yes, she died recently, sad, but she was very elderly I think.

Still thinking... Jean Plaidy? Anya Seton... oh how I loved her books in my twenties, especially Katherine but most were good.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Jean Plaidy!! Yes, it was Jean Plaidy - well done! I knew I was thinking Scottish in my head too, but couldn't quite place the connection... I don't think I read any Anya Seton though, though I've seen her name around.

Ngaio Marsh was another writer whose name popped into my head as I was generally poking at memories...

[caffyolay.livejournal.com]

Glad to help, I knew I'd hit on the right author eventually. *g* Oddly I've never read a JP movel that I can remember. Although... wasn't she Victoria Holt in another guise? Not sure about that...

I haven't read any Ngaio Marsh either but have several on my Nook to read for the Vintage crime challenge.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, interesting.. oh, in fact - I've just been to Wiki, and apparently she was actually Eleanor Hibbert, and she wrote as "Jean Plaidy, Victoria Holt, Philippa Carr, Eleanor Burford, Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow, Ellalice Tate, Anna Percival"! Gosh! And for some reason I thought Philippa Carr was a contemporary writer, but she died in 1993, aged 86 - at sea, where she was buried. She sounds like a very interesting person in fact! Oh wow - and I've just realised, when I was at Looe I walked along the coast path to Plaidy Beach, and it was the beach where she stayed with her husband during WWII, and inspired her pen-name! I do like a good connection like that! *g*

[caffyolay.livejournal.com]

I *thought* she was Victoria Holt, though I haven't known that for more than a couple of years and when I read it I was *so* surprised. I had no idea she was also Philippa Carr. The others I've not heard of. What a lovely 'connection' that is.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Though there's Stephen King and F. Paul Wilson, it would have to be Andre Norton, hands down. For one thing, she wrote over 100 books. For another, I started reading them when I was ten. :-)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, Andre Norton's another writer I forgot (briefly) about! I don't think I've read that many of hers, but I certainly read some. Another author to put on my list... F. Paul Wilson I don't know at all...

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

He has a huge series (what was that I said about series'? *g*,) called The Secret History of the World. It started with six books, but has since gone on to around twenty-five. And that's not counting the other books he's written outside of the series.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Twenty five books! I looked him up on wiki, and he's certainly been around a long time too - I'm surprised I don't recognise his name from sci-fi bookshelves. I wonder if perhaps he's not particularly published outside the US? Or maybe I've just not focused on his name when I did see it! I shall see if I can find anything by him!

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I think The Keep, was probably his most popular. It even had a (horrendous) movie made from it. It's the book that made me a fan of his. It's the first of a subset of six that are part of the Secret History.

http://www.repairmanjack.com/forum/content.php?4-published-fiction

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

I do believe Enid Blyton would be my most-read author as well, starting with Noddy which is one of my earliest book memories, and through the Famous Five and Secret Seven books. I never discovered the Faraway Tree or Wishing Chair books until I was reading bedtime stories to my son, and I enjoyed them as much as he did.

As an adult, though, Alistair Maclean wins; I went through a period quite a while ago now when I read everything of his that I could get my hands on. Second place would be taken by Stephen King.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I read a fair few Stephen King books at one point - I'm not sure I've read any Alistair Maclean though. Now I think about it, I'm not sure how I avoided that, either! *g*

Yeay for Enid Blyton!

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

I love those book covers - I'm having to fight against buying books at car boot sales just for their covers - it's a terrible habit *g*

And please, Miss? Do I get an anti-Enid Blyton award? I'm pretty certain I've never read a single book of hers, not even Noddy (my dad banned the poor chap, along with all other children's books). I'm thinking of saving her now for when I'm old and doddering - I think a bit of Famous Five will go down splendidly in my second childhood years *g*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, you poor thing - I'm so sorry to hear that... not a single Enid Blyton book? What unwarranted cruelty to an innocent child... She should definitely go on your list, though I suspect she may not have quite the same effect now... you can never get that back! I feel like I should send you soup or grapes or something!

I've been buying books just for their covers recently too - the gorgeous Mick Wiggins ones... I need to get on with reading some of them too... *g*

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

My dad had the idea children's books were bad for children... *g* It didn't do me any harm, and I've still got loads of authors like Enid Blyton to look forward to :D

I love Mick Wiggins' work - I think I've got a couple of Steinbeck's with his artwork about the place somewhere. Goodness knows where!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Lol - but all the lovely stories you've missed! Not quite sure it'll be the same, reading them as a cynical adult... *g*

And ooh for Wiggins having done some Steinbeck covers - I'll have to look out for those...

[kiwisue.livejournal.com]

Now I've been fairly occupied doing things with my brother over the past few days, but I did intend to come back to this as soon as I worked out who my top author was: Enid Blyton got a good run, but I think I've only read most, not all, of the Famous Five stories, and that was really all I read of hers (so 13-15 probably). Captain W. E. Johns, 9 or 10, only the ones I could find second hand or as paperbacks. Andre Norton, at least her stories were in the library, maybe 14-15. CS Lewis gets a bump because of the Narnia books, the Space Trilogy and Screwtape (14); Sheri S Tepper gets 9 for the True Game series plus maybe 6 more; Sara Paretsky I will get back to, but I haven't read the most recent VI Warshawski's...

I think top of the list has to go to Ian Rankin: I've read all the Rebus novels (19), a collection of short stories, 'The Complaints', and 'Witch Hunt' (written under another name). I'm not counting the one I couldn't finish *g*.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, Biggles! I missed out on him when I was a kid, keep meaning to make up for it now... and yes, C.S. Lewis - and Sheri Teper too, though I went off hers a bit...

I must read some Ian Rankin, I'm not sure I ever have - and it's probably a good sign if you've read all this books... *g*

[kiwisue.livejournal.com]

I rather agree about Sheri S Tepper. After The True Game series I started with some of her other works: The Awakeners (brilliantly imaginative), Grass and Raising the Stones, the Gate to Women's Country. I started to fade out after The Visitor and Singer from the Sea - hammering the same points, I felt.

Rankin/Rebus - do you read much detective fiction? I find them satisfying, although it certainly helps that Edinbrgh is a favourite place of mine. Rebus is a complex character and I enjoy some of the ongoing relationships between him and other characters (including a major villain). Apparently the genre is known as "Tartan Noir" *g*. Oh, and Rebus would have been a contemporary of Bodie's in the British Army, complete with tours of Northern Ireland and a tryout for the SAS!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I don't really read much detective fiction these days, although I've had a bit of a resurgence via some of caffyolay's recs. I've not read the Rankin/Rebus books, and I think I should certainly try at least one. I like Edinburgh too, and since I lived there for a little bit it'd be bonus remembering places... Heeee for Bodie and Rebus meeting - now there's fic for you to write! *g*

[giseerouchon.livejournal.com]

Oooh... now I *finally* have a working computer keyboard instead of a duff one I can actually face typing again! This got me thinking too.... I've definitely read all the Agatha Christie's- inc her non-detective ones, and I have 70-odd in all I think, actually, my favourite is probably one written under the name of Mary Westmacott called Absent in the Spring, which- if you've not read it- is almost a psychological thriller in a quiet way... I've read just about everything that Malcolm Saville wrote, and Lorna Hill, Pamela Brown, etc.. Elinor Brent-Dyer's Chalet School books, and quite a lot (but definitely not all) Enid Blyton's- I called her *Endi* Blyton as a kid though *g*.
I've saved many 100's of 'classic' kids books that I really loved, for my horde, but tbh, they've not really bothered with much of it. Harry Potter and Jacqueline Wilson are more their bag. (Although I've read all those too!...X-) ) I loved the Moomin books too- although some were a bit scary as well- especially 'Comet...' Gave me nightmares, that one did! Oh, and the Brumby books by Elyne Mitchell, and Mary O'Hara's Flicka series. God, this is turning into a reminiscence post rather....sorry! Tend to find an author that I like, and read everything they've written (in fandom too) so there are mystery/ crime/ thriller writers like Robert Goddard who write an awful lot, and I try to keep up with them *g*. I've read all The Saint and James Bond books- of which there are many, in the case of Charteris- of wildly varying quality! (;-) ) Ellis Peters and Peter Tremayne are decent and prolific too and that Victorian archaeologist series... er......Elizabeth Peters? and... I've taken over this entire thread like a loon! How did I ever manage to do anything but read as a kid? Yet all my memories are of being outside.. and as a teen it was Mary Stewart, Jane Duncan, Edmund White, and all my dad's bleak Russian novels...
And now? For years After Kids, my brain was too fried to manage much but thrillers and the better class of light fiction -heh, but now I occasionally have a spare braincell to rub against the other one, of course, heading the list is Pros FF and can I just mention that you, BSL, are one of my all-time fave Pros writers? or is that just too, *too* creepy and grovelly? ;-) I've read and loved ALL yours too... and, yes- I should have put this whole damn post under a cut--------------------------

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Working keyboards are so good! *vbg*

And yeay for lovely long comments - no cuts required, I like reading them! And having just got to the bottom of this one again - well, shucks, thank you! You be as creepy and grovelly as you like too (which you're not being, obviously... *g*) - I have a great big smile on my face right now. I'm really really pleased that you like my Pros stories! It's always just really wonderful to find out that people have read stories and liked them - you've cheered up my day no end, so thank you! *g*

The Brumby books! Those were the ones I was trying to think of - thank you! Loved those... *g* And hee - I do the same as you, when I fall in love with an author, I read as much as I can find of what they've written... *g*

Elizabeth Peters! Did I mention her above? Because I should have! So many of the books you've listed are ones I have happy memories of - childhood ones but grown-up ones too... and what it makes me think is that I need to read more and more and more... and write too... Oh, I hate that work (on other people's academic writing!) stops me from doing both those things...