As much as I love re-exploring my favorite authors every time they come out with a new book, I also really enjoy discovering new writers. I don't know what percent of my reading every year comes from new-to-me authors, but it's high—maybe 70% or more? Even still, there are a bunch of authors I have been meaning to try and just haven't gotten around to yet, so today's TTT prompt is perfect: Top Ten Authors I Haven't Read, But Want To. The idea came from the lovely Deanna over at A Novel Glimpse. If you're a big romance reader, you're definitely going to want to visit her blog. 

Don't forget to give Jana, our TTT hostest with the mostest, some love as well. While you're at That Artsy Reader Girl, why don't you join in the TTT fun? It's a good time, I promise!

For this list, I'm going to focus on authors who've written more than one book. I included covers for the book of theirs I'm most excited to read. 

1. Kate Quinn—Quinn has written a number of historical novels, the most recent of which focus on World War II. Her books have gotten lots of buzz and praise, so I'm interested to see what I think. I picked up The Diamond Eye at my local indie last week. Hopefully, I'll get to it soon.

2. Beatriz Williams—Williams writes historicals on her own and as part of a collaborative author trio. I've read a couple of the latter, but none of the former.  

3. Sulari Gentill—Gentill is an Australian author who pens contemporary and historical mysteries. I'm especially interested in her Rowland Sinclair series as well as The Woman in the Library, which comes out on June 7.

4. Elizabeth Haynes—This English author writes crime fiction and mysteries. Her books sound right up my alley!

5. Alice Feeney—I love me a tense, atmospheric thriller. Feeney's novels sound like just the ticket.

6. T.I. Lowe—I have no roots in the Southern United States, but I still love to read stories set there. Something about the sumptuous settings, slow drawls, and easy vibes really appeals to me. I'm always looking for new Southern authors to love and Lowe is one I've got my eye on.

7. Donna Everhart—Ditto for Everhart, whose Southern novels are supposed to be full of "authenticity and grit." I'm down.

8. T.J. Klune—I'm pretty sure everyone has read Klune's magical children's books by now but me. I'm going to remedy that soon, I hope!

9. Graham Norton—Thanks to clips that show up on my Facebook feed apropos of nothing, I know that Norton is an Irish actor who hosts a U.K. television show where he interviews celebrity guests. Until Cath mentioned it, I had no idea he also wrote books. He's penned memoirs, mysteries and family sagas. I'm not interested in his non-fiction, but his novels sound appealing.

10. Mary Roach—I've been meaning to read Roach's informative books for years. As we speak, Stiff is sitting on my bookshelf casting meaningful glances my way...

There you have it, ten authors I haven't read yet that I really want to try out. Have you read any of them? What do you think of their work? Who are the new-to-you writers you plan to take a look at soon(ish)? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog. 

With the recent discovery of the Endurance—which sunk 107 years ago and currently lies remarkably well preserved at the bottom of the Weddell Sea—now is the perfect time to discuss Alfred Lansing's classic book about the ship's last journey. Published in 1959, Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage tells the whole story in captivating detail. It follows the British explorer Ernest Shackleton as he launches his Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, which aimed to send a group of adventurers across the Antarctic continent, from west to east, on foot. He, along with 27 crewmen and 69 sled dogs, left London on 1 August 1914. They arrived on South Georgia Island a few months later. On 18 January 1915, Endurance became hopelessly mired in thick polar ice. As the vessel slowly begin to sink into the frozen depths, the men were forced to abandon ship. As their vessel disappeared, they found themselves utterly alone in "a place where no man had ever been before, nor could they conceive that any man would ever want to be again" (104).

Knowing a cache of food and supplies had been left on Paulet Island, some 346 miles away, the men had little choice but to trek off to find it. Any chance of rescue was even farther afield. The journey that ensued was a remarkable one, fraught with danger of every kind. In spite of a constant battering by severe weather, lack of adequate food, physical exhaustion, and mental fatigue, remarakably, not one of the men perished. They all lived to tell the tale—and what an amazing one it is!

Lansing describes their entire journey in vivid prose, allowing the reader to trudge in the men's footsteps, feeling the excitement of discovery as well as the misery of being constantly wet, cold, dirty, overworked, bored, and tired. Although I would have liked to know more about Shackleton himself (his childhood and personal life are almost wholly ignored in the book), I found Endurance to be a riveting account of his Antarctic expedition. It's narrative non-fiction at its best, bringing history to life in a way that is not just fascinating, but also engrossing and impactful. I couldn't stop reading this iconic book.

I've been talking about my upcoming move for a while now. In preparation, I've been sorting through my massive book collection, donating bags of stuff to Deseret Industries, and packing less needed items into boxes. I hadn't planned to start showing the house for a couple weeks, but my husband got antsy and listed the house! I've never been much of a housekeeper, so needless to say, I've been frantically cleaning and purging my 5,000 square foot house so I'm not too embarrassed to show it to potential buyers. As I just explained to a friend (whom I addressed by the wrong name in an email), my brain is mush! Last night after cleaning all day, I literally collapsed in my bed from exhaustion and wonky blood sugar. Our first group is coming through the house today, so wish me luck. 

All that is a long, rambling way of saying that I don't have a lot of brain power for today's Top Ten Tuesday. Luckily, the topic is a freebie and it dawned on me last week that I've never done a TTT list of my all-time favorite novels. If you made a list of your favorite novels/books, what would you put on it?

Before we go any further, let me remind you to hop on over to That Artsy Reader Girl and give our loyal TTT hostess some love. If you're in a list-making mood, why don't you join in the fun? 

1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (published 1960)—This entertaining, thought-provoking novel has long been my favorite. 

2. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (published 1868)—With a group of warm, loving women at its core, this one makes me laugh, cry, and swoon (I just imagine my own ending in which Jo is as madly in love with Laurie as he is with her).

3. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (published 1843)—The only Dickens tale I've read all the way through, I adore this novella for many reasons. I re-read it every December to get me in the Christmas spirit!

4. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (published 1908)—I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the irrespressible Anne. She's an unforgtettable character.

5. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (published 1847)—I'm due for a re-read of this wonderful Gothic classic.

6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (published 1998 in the U.S.)—Entering the world of Hogwarts for the first time was a singular experience and one I experienced as an adult. Being seen in public reading a children's book was a bit embarrassing for me, but pretty soon EVERYONE was reading HP, young and old. One of the things I love most about this book and the subsequent installments is the way it created a magical reading community.

7. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (published 2015)—This epic World War II novel is haunting and memorable.

8. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss (published 1957)—If you can't tell, I love Christmas. While it's 'Twas the Night Before Christmas that we read to the kids every year (even though some of ours are in their 20s), it's the irrascible Grinch that I love most. His antics make me laugh, but his change of heart makes me cry since it so embodies the spirit of Christmas.

9. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (published 1950)—I first read this delightful fantasy novel in elementary school. It captured my imagination so thoroughly that I remember the visions that danced in my head, even at that young age. For nostalgia's sake and because it really is a wonderful book, I count it as one of my all-time favorites.

10. Still Life by Louise Penny (published 2005)—I credit Kay with introducing me to Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. He's a stand-out literary detective and I've loved every book I've read about him. Still Life is the first installment. Is it my favorite of the series? Not necessarily, but because it's the introductory volume, I let it stand in for the whole series.

There you are, my top ten favorite novels of all time. Do we have any in common? Which would you put on your list of most-loved books? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.