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Tuesday, March 01, 2022

Top Ten Tuesday: To All the Books I've Loved Before...



I've been blogging for a long time, y'all. A looonnngggg time. In the last fifteen (FIFTEEN!) years, I feel like I've talked about every book under the sun—amazing reads, meh ones, new finds, old favorites, etc. That makes today's TTT topic, Top Ten Books I Enjoyed But Have Never Talked About On My Blog, kind of a toughie. True, I've lightened up over the years and gotten less anal about reviewing every book I read, but I still usually at least mention the ones I've read. So, I figured this prompt called for a bit of a twist. I decided to talk about authors whose work I have just eaten up in the past, but whose recent books I've pretty much ignored for one reason or another. It's likely that I've mentioned all of these authors at some time or another on the blog, but they're definitely not ones I chat about often. Does that sorta kinda fit today's theme?? 

Feeling listy? Be sure to join in the TTT fun by visiting That Artsy Reader Girl, then making your own list, and hopping around the book blogosphere to share the love. It's a good time, I promise!

Top Ten Authors I Used to Love, But Haven't Checked In With Recently

- in alphabetical order -  

1. Piers Anthony—I went through a brief sci-fi/fantasy phase in high school in a futile attempt to impress a boy. SFF has never been my favorite genre, but I did fall in love with Anthony's Incarnation of Immortality series. It's been years since I've read it and occasionally I get the hankering to revisit it just for nostalgia's sake. Now in his late 80s, Anthony is still publishing books. He's had a remarkable career, even if I haven't kept up with it.


2. Mary Higgins Clark—My dad introduced me to Clark's clean, compelling murder mysteries when I was in junior high school and I quickly became a rabid fan. In the ten or so years before Clark's death in 2020, my enthusiasm for her books started to wane. They just didn't hold my attention like they had in the past. Still, I'll always love Clark for those many nights her books kept me up way past my bedtime racing through the pages, desperate to see what was going to happen next. 


3. John Grisham—Like Clark, Grisham's books from the 1990s kept me absolutely spellbound. His newer titles just haven't had the same spark for me. I did tackle The Reckoning a couple years ago, but that one was such a disappointment that I haven't picked up a Grisham book since and don't plan to do so again.

4. Stephen King—When I was a teenager, horror was the only genre it was acceptable to be seen reading in public. Horror was cool, so I read a lot of it. King was my go-to guy for spooky stories long after high school. Apparently, I've gotten much wimpier with age because I can't handle his books now. They're just too gory and too disturbing for this old lady with her delicate constitution!

5. Dean Koontz—Like King, Koontz is an author whose books I devoured back in the day. I'm still a fan, even though I haven't read anything of his since Odd Thomas a number of years ago. I really should pick up the next book in the series one of these days. 


6. Jodi Picoult—Up until about House Rules in 2010, I inhaled everything Picoult wrote. Her stories sucked me in, kept me turning pages, and made me think. I tuned out about the time she started writing YA novels with her daughter since those didn't interest me. She's published a handful of novels since then that I probably should check out eventually. I'm not rushing, though, which is weird since I used to be such a devoted fan.

7. Christopher Pike—Pike is another author for whom I went absolutely crazy in the 1990s. He was my hands-down favorite, even though he never did answer any of the fan letters I sent him as a teenager! As of a few years ago, he was still writing scary books for teens. I wonder what I would think of his creepy tales now?

8. Ann Rule—I used to read a lot of true crime back in the day. Rule's books are well-researched and interesting, so I flew through a number of them in the late 1990s and early 2000s. These days, I just can't stomach the genre, which is ironic since it's gotten so crazy-popular!

9. John Saul—This is another author I adored during my horror-reading phase. His last novel was published in 2009, but I haven't read him since high school (which was a looonnnggg time ago).

10. Adriana Trigiani—I've long loved Trigiani's warm, Italian-themed women's novels. For some reason, though, I haven't picked up anything by her in about a decade. I really need to check out her newer books as I'm sure I've missed out on some good ones.  

There you have it, ten authors I've loved in the past but haven't really kept up with in the present. Have you read any of them? Which authors fit this category for you? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog. Please note that I will be out of town from tomorrow until Saturday, so you won't see comments from me until I return. Thanks for your patience.

Happy TTT!  

53 comments:

  1. We shared a 90's love for Christopher Pike. He was my FAVORITE author back then, too! Remember Me was my favorite for a long time. What is it that makes us lose our love of horror as we age? I felt that comment.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was SUCH a huge fan of Pike! I don't think I read him much after high school, though. Maybe I felt that his books weren't "adult" enough after that? I don't know. And, yes, I really have lost my love of horror as I've aged. I'm just too much of a wuss now!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Deanna!

      Delete
  2. Oh my, I know what you mean about this being a hard topic. This is my 16th year of blogging, so it was difficult to find books I liked but never mentioned! Your idea of looking at authors you used to love more than you do now is a good twist on the topic.

    I agree about King's work being too much. I tried one of his books (11/22/63) because I liked the concept, and because it's less of a gory horror book than a lot of his work, but it was still too much for me.

    My TTT: https://bookwyrmknits.com/2022/03/01/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-enjoyed-but-never-blogged/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, I just got to the point where King was too gory and disturbing for me. Maybe adulting is just scary enough as it is so I can't take fictional horror anymore? I don't know, but I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Nicole!

      Delete
  3. I went on an Ann Rule bender several years ago and maxed out. Such horrors in real life. My list of big books

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I find people endlessly fascinating, so I like reading about our psychology and what makes us do the things we do. That's what I like about reading true crime. Everything else, though? Too disturbing. I can't handle it these days.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Anne!

      Delete
  4. I loved Mary Higgins Clark too. I still love a lot of her older books, but I grew tired of her formulaic novels and stopped reading her more recent novels. I was sad to hear when she passed away.

    My TTT

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, I feel like her books got worse instead of better as she aged. I do appreciate her loyalty to writing clean novels, though, because I REALLY enjoyed them as a teen and young adult. Like you, I was sad to hear of her death. She's an icon for sure!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Jenni!

      Delete
  5. We really do read alike in so many ways! I went on a Piers Anthony kick back in high school, reading most of his Xanth books, but I don't read him any more. It's the same with Mary Higgins Clark and John Grisham; I used to eat up their books, but I don't any more. Great TTT, Susan. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We're reading twins in SO many ways, Lark! I really liked that Piers Anthony series, so I'm not sure why I didn't keep reading him. Clark and Grisham are both authors whose writing did not get better with age, in my opinion. Or maybe like Jenni said their novels just started to feel too formulaic over time. Whatever the reason, they're just not authors I read these days although I definitely loved their books back in the day.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lark!

      Delete
  6. I too was a big Mary Higgins Clark fan when I was younger, and got sucked into Piers Anthony’s Xanth series. But I feel like I kind of outgrew them. Great list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same! I read MHC regularly up until about the early 2000s. Then, I just started to tire of her books and haven't read one since. Funny enough, I'm in the process of donating all my MHC books (and lots of others) to a local high school that's having a book sale next week. I just don't think I'm ever going to re-read them, so no need to keep them, you know?

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Leah!

      Delete
  7. Fun idea! I have several authors I've left behind.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was interesting to list these authors and think about why I don't read them anymore. I have clear reasons for some of them. Others, I've just outgrown I guess. Interesting how that happens over our reading lives, isn't it?

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Cindy!

      Delete
  8. I've read books from most of these authors! I just read a book from Jodi Picoult's backlist over the weekend. She's such a great writer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agreed! I've really enjoyed most of her books. They're very gripping and thought-provoking.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Wendy!

      Delete
  9. I have read one book by Picoult and a YA by Trigiani. My mother loves Trigiani too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Trigiani's books are warm, big-hearted, and fun. I think I just read too many all in a row and got a little tired of her usual formula. It's been a number of years since I've read her, so it's definitely time to explore the books she's published in the interim.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Sam!

      Delete
  10. Great twist and great list, Susan. I did not participate this week, as I review all the books I read on my blog, so it was a tough one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm impressed that you review all the books you read! I used to be really strict about that, but then I felt pressured because I was ALWAYS behind so I gave myself permission to chill out and only review what I wanted to review when I wanted to review it. It's been super liberating. Not having any kind of blogging schedule has made me a bit lazy about reviewing, though!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Carla!

      Delete
  11. Oh my goodness, yes! #'s 2-7 and 9, I could have said the same things about. Every once in a while I think about picking up Mary Higgins Clark or Jodi Picoult, but I no longer do the scary creepy factor of the others! I think this was a great twist on today's topic!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I still dig creepy stories, but I prefer more of a Gothic/ghost vibe to straight-up horror. Even then, I want it to be scary but not TOO scary or disturbing. What can I say? I'm getting very wimpy in my old age!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Cindy!

      Delete
  12. I have found that some authors are only good for a certain few. I've also had several authors that I loved and then their latest books have been not great so now I avoid them. Great topic twist!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. True, true. We can't expect that every book from our favorite authors will be runaway hits for us. Some are definitely going to be better than others and that's okay. It's just when it gets to be more of the latter that I put those authors aside.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Leslie!

      Delete
  13. this was such an interesting take on the trend!!! I totally agree with you about stephen king, I've felt no desire to pick up his recent books. I have still enjoyed Picoult's recent books though!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same. I'm over King, although I did really enjoy his books back in the day. I still like Picoult, even though I haven't picked up her latest novels. I will, eventually. I'm just not rushing at this point.

      Thanks for popping in, Jocelyn!

      Delete
  14. Interesting choices. I love the 3 Adriana Trigiani novels I've read/reviewed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. She's a great writer. I've read lots of her novels, plus a couple non-fiction books she wrote. I really like her stuff.

      Thanks for stopping in, Lisa!

      Delete
  15. Neat twist on today's topic. I'm with you on King. I used to read him a lot, but I don't these days. I've never read Clark, but I bet I would enjoy her books.

    Thanks for sharing and for visiting my blog today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you would like Clark. Her mysteries are clean, without anything graphic or explicit. The books she published in the 90s are the best, in my opinion, but she was a very prolific writer so you have lots of books to choose from.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Cheryl!

      Delete
  16. I did this twist also! Well, I talked about authors whom I thought *other bloggers* weren't discussing enough on their blogs. I made it work, lol, tough prompt today.
    Higgins Clark, Grisham, Koontz, King, and Rule are all authors I used to read in the day, but not now. I do still read Picoult who is now hit or miss, but not the YA ones. I might give Koontz another pass too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, for some reason I don't have any interest in reading Picoult's YA novels. Not sure why. I do need to read her newest adult books, though.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Mia!

      Delete
  17. I was the uncool kid in high school because people were reading either Stephen King or VC Andrews, and I didn't read either. LOL! My husband was a big Piers Anthony fan, but I haven't tried reading any.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier!

    Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha. Good for you for not giving into the peer pressure! I didn't care for Andrews, but I read a lot of King. In private, I would read whatever, but in public I stuck to "cool" books. Silly me.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Pam!

      Delete
  18. As you said, I think we've both been doing this too long. LOL

    Interesting twist again. I have only ever read one of the authors, Jodi Picoult, don't know whether it was one of her earlier or later books but I didn't take to it much. So, I understand you leaving her books alone after a while.

    Thanks for visiting my TTT this week which is all about trilogies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really like Picoult, but I know she's not for everyone. Different strokes for different folks and all that!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Marianne!

      Delete
    2. And that's the beauty of it, so many different authors, we can't read them all.

      Delete
  19. I've heard of many of these authors, but I haven't read books by all of them. This was a fun twist on the prompt. I think you should submit!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It seems like we've done a similar topic at some point in the past. I'll have to scan the list of old topics. If it's not there, I'll submit it for sure.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Kami!

      Delete
  20. I like your twist on the topic, I really need to read some more Stephen King

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've read lots of his books, but there are still a bunch I haven't read. He's very prolific!

      Thanks for stopping in, Catherine!

      Delete
  21. Isn't it kind of fun to look back and see whose work we just sort of...moved past? I can't even give a concrete reason for losing track of some of my favorite authors. I still like them, I just...don't check them out for one reason or another. King and Koontz fit that description for me. Well, I do find it impossible to check out King's books from the library because someone else always has them!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, it is an interesting exercise. Like you, I have definite reasons for dropping some authors but others there's just no real reason. Weird.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Jen!

      Delete
  22. I haven't read Picoult or Trigiani in a while either, but I have enjoyed everything I've read from them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same, for the most part. There are obviously books of theirs I've liked more than others, but in general, I enjoy both Picoult and Trigiani very much. Glad I'm not the only one!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Suzanne!

      Delete
  23. I've never read any fiction from these authors save one King book, but funnily enough I have read Koontz' book about his former dog Trixie, and I'm looking at Kitchen Privileges (MCH's memoir) right now -- picked it up at a bag sale last year solely because it was in good condition and I planned to resell, only to look at the summary and realize hey, this is exactly the era and kind of life I'm fascinated by! Hoping to read that in the next few months.

    And my goodness, I cannot believe Pike is still writing. Not a lot of authors out there can keep up with teen audiences for decades! I imagine it's a little easier with genre fiction than realistic/contemporary, but even so...

    I'll have to think about who fits this def. for me. Off the top of my head, probably Sarah Dessen and Deb Caletti -- followed since early 2000s, but have only read 1 between them since 2015.

    And Ann Rinaldi, who retired after 2010 (though she just passed away last summer), but whom I last read in 2011 -- and looking at her list now, apparently I didn't actually read ANYTHING she published more recently than '97!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's been a long time since I've read KITCHEN PRIVILEGES, but I remember enjoying it. In fact, I'm pretty sure I have a copy of it somewhere on my overloaded bedroom bookshelves.

      I should pick up one of Pike's recent books just to see what they're like. That would be fun, although I'm still holding a grudge against him for not answering the gushing fan letter I wrote him back in high school! LOL.

      There are several YA authors who I could have put on this list, just because their books started to feel TOO teenage-y, you know?

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, RS!

      Delete
  24. This is an excellent take on the topic this week. I actually think this would make a great future Top Ten Tuesday for us all. It has certainly made me think about authors I once auto-selected that I no longer read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Like I told Kami above, I feel like we've done a similar topic before. I'll have to scroll through the old ones and see. If I don't find it, I'll submit it. I could definitely do another list (or three) on this subject.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Deb!

      Delete
  25. Great twist on this week's prompt, I like it! Me too I used to read Stephen King and Mary Higgins Clark and stop a few years back.
    Stephen King because I find his novel now a bit repetitive, sexist and lacking diversity. And I don't really know Mary Higgins Clark... Maybe I just like other authors more now.

    Here is my post: https://herseriallife.com/top-10-book-series-enjoyed-never-mentioned/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's a good point. There are so many new authors out there that it's easy to forget about the oldies we used to like. I know I'm easily distracted by the shiny and new!

      Thanks for popping by, Rae!

      Delete
  26. Great list of authors. It's funny how we go on spurts of reading certain authors then seem to forget about them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is interesting, isn't it? My tastes have definitely changed over the years. I hadn't really realized how much until I started thinking about this list.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Helen!

      Delete

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