June 7, 2008
Favorite Authors Meme
Thanks to C.B. for he saved me this morning; I was having trouble congealing any thoughts in my head for a post, so he tagged me for this meme. Thanks again.
1. Who’s your all-time favorite author and why?
C.B. picked Dickens – a good choice (Bleak House is my fav of his), but I’m a much more contemporary girl. I would probably say Virginia Woolf (okay, so it’s not that contemporary). I love her voice – the softness and edginess of it. Her sentences are languid, interior, even when speaking of the most exterior things. Plus, I’m fascinated by her life. Her mental state seems so jumbled, and yet out of that comes pure beauty. I really do want to read her diaries – need to do that – will start today.
2. Who was your first favorite author and why?
C.S. Lewis. I grew up churched (still am churched and loving it most of the time) and so much of my childhood reading was Christian. I first read the Chronicles of Narnia when I was in third or fourth grade, and I loved them from the minute I read them. To this day, I still walk into rooms with wardrobes and gasp. I run to them, open them up, and shove my hand to the back, only to be disappointed every time when my fingertips graze the wood. There’s just something wonderful about knowing there are other worlds, other places where good conquers evil (as I believe it will here eventually), and where everything works the way it should – humans, animals, plants, rivers working together.
3. Who’s your most recent addition to your most favorite authors and why?
Well, if you read my post yesterday, Stephenie Meyer would be one, but honestly, I don’t think she’s the best writer out there, just a very good story teller. So I’m going to pick another. For something very recent, like I started listening to this book two days ago, I’m going to say Richard Russo. I know, everyone gasp because I’m an English professor and hadn’t read Russo before, but I am now. I’m listening to Straight Man on audio, and it’s amazing. So funny and accurate and honest. I’m definitely reading a bunch more of his stuff after I finish this one.
4. If someone asked you who your favorite authors were right now, which authors would first pop out of your mouth? Are there any you’d add on a moment further reflection?
A.S. Byatt, Sherman Alexie, George Eliot, Toni Morrison, Carlos Fuentes, Alisdair Gray, Tracy Kidder, Lia Purpura, David Lodge, Edward Hoagland, Diane Ackerman.
With a bit more reflection – Poe Ballantine, J.R.R. Tolkien, GK Chesterton, Anne Lamott, Kathleen Norris, Madeline L’Engle, Sarah Vowell . . . and so many more.
Thanks again, C.B. And I now pass on the favor to:
1. Jacques
2. Maggie
3. John
4. Anyone else who would like to participate!
Filed by Andi at 8:44 am under Book Recommendations
6 Comments
Thanks Andi!
I did it earlier this week, but added your blog to the top as a tag. Check it out!
http://maggiereads.blogspot.com/2008/06/southern-author-meme.html
Thanks Andi!
I just left a comment so if this dupes please delete it. I was tagged earlier for this meme so I added your name to the top of the post for who tagged me. I also morphed it to Southern Authors for fun.
Hope this comment get through, and have a happy weekend!
It’s so hard to pick just one, isn’t it?
Dear Andi,
The first and last time I saw you was over a martini in New York City. If you
ever need to jump start your creative drive, please don’t forget to check out PIF Magazine.
The issue posted after the AWP Conference is still up, but the new one should
be gradually appearing in the next week, featuring a guest column by none other
than Steve Heller, head of low residency MFA program at Antioch-Los Angeles,
among other things.
And yes, Virginia Woolf is a good choice. Her note to Leonard before she
strolled off into the water is pretty poignant.
Derek
The deed is done and passed on
My partner, C.J. is a big fan of Virginia Woolf. He’s been reading her novels for years, at the rate of 3-4 pages a day because he keeps stopping to re-read passages and sentences.
There used to be a store in San Francisco on Valencia St. that sold second hand furniture. They always had at least 20 wardrobes on the floor, huge ones and others of all sizes. You would have loved it. You could get a very good one for 200-500 dollars back then.