Every issue of Library Journal includes pages of prepub alerts that cover dozens of authors that are wildly popular at public libraries. These and the short book reviews that follow often include notes to clue librarians in to the titles that will attract author fans. Seeing these alerts set me to thinking about how few authors I follow these days. I’m more likely to jump to read a book because it will take me somewhere I’ve never been before or because it has my literary kryptonite…with a few exceptions. There are some authors I will absolutely read, and probably buy:
Barbara Kingsolver
Even though I haven’t read everything she’s written, I get really excited whenever I see that she has a new novel coming out. I’ve been with her since The Poisonwood Bible and The Bean Trees. I think what I love most about her books is the way she creates immersive natural settings. When I read her books, I can feel the heat and humidity, smell the trees and soil, and hear the wind in the leaves. Her writing is so lush that I sink into her books like a warm bath.
Anthony Marra
Marra has only published two novels, but I already know that I love what he does. Marra writes the kind of books about Russia that hit my sweet spot: plenty of history, deep pathos, ethical dilemmas, and sacrifice. Aside from the setting (and it is very hard to find good books set in Russia that have real emotional depth), Marra’s novels scratch my itch to read about characters who transform from ordinary people into heroes.
N.K. Jemisin
Jemisin is one of the most creative fantasy writers I’ve ever encountered. Whenever she starts a new series, I know that I’m going see a fully formed world and well-rounded, conflicted characters that have no hint of any annoying fantasy tropes. I also know that I will be challenged by innovative plots and writing. Jemisin’s books demand that I pay attention.
Christopher Moore
…because he makes me laugh really, really hard. This one is a simple choice.
Some writers used to be on my absolutely-read-and-probably-buy list—Margaret Atwood, Diana Gabaldon—until they wrote a book that made me wonder if they’ve lost their magic. I hold out hope and will keep an eye out for their names on Library Journal‘s lists and any other publication alerts, but I don’t get nearly as excited as I used to. Either they fall off the list because they’re not as original as they used to be (Gabaldon) or they write a book that I hate so much that I feel gun shy (Atwood).
There are some authors that are getting closed to absolutely-read-and-probably-buy: Kate Atkinson, Wiley Cash, Patrick deWitt, Mark Dunn, Lyndsay Faye, Jane Harris, Daryl Gregory, and Catherynne Valente. If I read another book of theirs of two and love them, they’re going on the list. It’s hard to say how many books I have to read before I make the call; I have no set number. But I do have other criteria, like originality, writerly crafts-person-ship, consistent excellence, and soul. Soul is hard to define, but I think of books with soul as books that feel alive when I read them. They have to have something true in them.