Happy Tuesday, Bookworms!
It’s time again for another adventure in listing with the ladies of The Broke and the Bookish. This week they have asked us to list the authors who we’ve read the most. I’ve never been so thankful for Goodreads and the fact that it’s got a big fat chunk of my reading listed and searchable by author. You probably won’t be terribly surprised that authors who have written series are high on my list, but I wasn’t quite expecting this particular shake out. I’m not always the brightest. Shall we dive in?
1. Charlaine Harris: Did you realize that there were FOURTEEN Sookie Stackhouse
2. Diana Gabaldon: I have read all the Outlander
3. Margaret Atwood: I’ve read NINE Margaret Atwood books. That includes a volume of short stories, a sci/fi trilogy (review), and a handful of stand alone novels (review). Confession: some of her most celebrated books are my least favorite (cough cough The Blind Assassin
4. JK Rowling: I’ve read EIGHT books by JK Rowling. All the Harry Potter books (obviously) and The Casual Vacancy
5. David Sedaris: I flipping love this guy. I was given Me Talk Pretty One Day
6. Anita Shreve: This one surprised me, because it’s been quite a while since I’ve read one of her books. My mom went through an Anita Shreve phase, so when I would plunder her books, there were a LOT of Anita Shreve titles. To date I’ve read SIX. My favorite? Fortune’s Rocks
7. Fannie Flagg: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Fannie Flagg is my happy place. Her novels warm the cockles of my steely, unfeeling heart. When I’m in a particularly moody place, my faith in humanity is restored by reading a Fannie Flagg novel. So far, the tally stands at SIX books, Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven
8. George RR Martin: My count for Martin is FIVE books, but would be higher, if only he’d release MORE of the Song of Ice and Fire Series
9. Stephen King: For someone who’s a big weenie about reading King, I’m surprised to report I’ve read FIVE of his novels. I gravitate toward his more psychological books than the full on horror stuff, though Bag Of Bones
10. Lois Lowry: I was happy to discover I’d read FIVE Lois Lowry books, because I think she’s really fantastic for the middle grade set. I read Number the Stars
Talk to me, Bookworms! Which authors top your “books read” tally?
*If you make a purchase through a link on this site, I will receive a small commission.*
Annabel Smith
I’ve also read lots of Atwood, though I haven’t counted – but there are only a few of hers I’m yet to read. I think the author I’ve read most is Ann Patchett – I’ve read everything she’s written and will always buy her books as soon as they’re released. I also went through a massive Paul Auster phase – I read everything he’d written but in later life his books got really shit so now I’m off him.
Words For Worms
I have read no Ann Patchett and no Paul Auster and I’m feeling rather behind the times now!
Shannon @ River City Reading
I really wish I could bring myself to read more of the books in The Giver series, but I just want that book to be a stand alone too much. I do love Number the Stars, though.
Words For Worms
Really, The Giver worked very well as a stand alone. I GET where she was going with the sequels, but it wasn’t necessarily the direction I would have been most interested in, so I fully support your decision.
LuAnn Braley
I don’t think I’ve ever made a list of how many books by what author. I should probably start one, huh? :O) Maybe that will be one of my year’s goals, now that I’m reading more than “Statistics for the Totally Insane” (j/k) and “The Berenstain Bears” (which were my daughter’s favorites when she was younger-and they totally rock.)
Words For Worms
Do you have a Goodreads account? I really only use it to track my reading. It’s not comprehensive, obviously, as I only started the account 3 years ago, but I had a marathon session of marking off things I remembered reading, so it’s a pretty good list I’ve got up there. I wouldn’t have been able to put this together without Goodreads, I seriously just sorted by author and counted things up, LOL.
Charleen
The “most read authors” page is so handy for stuff like this, but unfortunately it only counts the primary author. So, for example, it looks like I’ve read 24 books from Douglas Preston but only 5 from Lincoln Child… when really I’ve read 4 by Douglas Preston, 5 by Lincoln Child, and 20 by the pair of them together. They’re pretty much the only writing team I read consistently, so it’s not a huge deal… but still kind of annoying.
Also over 20 books each are James Rollins and David Baldacci.
Steve Berry, Michael Crichton, Philippa Gregory, and Stephen King are all in the double digits. (So is J.K. Rowling if you count the Galbraith books.)
Charleen
Also, Stephen King looks too happy in that picture. I mean, it could be an evil kind of happy… but I still don’t know that I’ve ever seen him smiling. He’s freaking me out.
Words For Worms
Ha! I picked that picture specifically because he did look happy, and I’m too big a weenie to read his super scary books!
Words For Worms
I don’t know that I’ve read many books by author teams. I also don’t have many authors who reach the double digits, I’m impressed by your dedication!
Darlene @ Lost in Literature
I read almost ONLY stand alone titles.
Without doing too much research I can tell you some authors that I have read the most:
Frank Peretti – I’ll read whatever he writes for adults
John Grisham – only two legal thrillers but a handful of others. About to add two more.
C.S. Lewis – Well, Narnia, but he has several other stand alones
Nicholas Sparks – I’ve read four or five of his. He’s sort of local around here.
Robin Jones Gunn – lots of series here. I’ve read over 35 of hers.
Words For Worms
Confession: I don’t believe I finished reading Narnia. I got bored during The Horse and His Boy and gave up. I made it through one Nicholas Sparks novel and decided he wasn’t my cup of tea. I like romance and have a pretty high tolerance for melodrama, but I just couldn’t take it.
Megan M.
J.K. Rowling, definitely. I’ve read every book she’s published (except for the HP “textbooks” but I did read The Tales of Beedle the Bard.) I’ve read a lot of M.C. Beaton’s Agatha Raisin series and nearly all of Nancy Atherton’s Aunt Dimity series. I’ve read six of Sarah Addison Allen’s books. I read all fifteen of the Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine. Somebody brought up the Berenstain Bears and I’ve certainly read most of those! LOL I’m sure there’s more, especially from when I was a kid, but I can’t think of anything else now.
Words For Worms
Oooh I forgot about the textbooks! I have two of them, and I read them, because I am a neeeeeeeeeeeerd. I have an SAA novel on my shelf I’ve been dying to read! I’m sure I read a ton of Christopher Pike, RL Stine, Sweet Valley Twins and BSC books, but I couldn’t tell you how many or which ones, LOL. .
Msmetana
Seriously-John Snow!! I am surprised at how many authors we have in common 🙂
Words For Worms
Gah! I know. JON SNOW is my fave! Well, except maybe Tyrion. Still though.
Liesel Hill
I haven’t read Sookie Stackhouse, but like those, The Wheel of Time series (my fave!) has fourteen books, plus one prequel. I totally forgot to put Harry Potter on my list, though I should have. I haven’t read The Casual Vacancy, but I have the Cuckoo’s Calling on my kindle. Great list! Here’s mine! Happy Tuesday!
Words For Worms
I’ve never read The Wheel of Time. Fantasy, yes? And excellent, I take it?
Andi (@estellasrevenge)
I completely forgot to include Gabaldon and Sedaris. This is what I get for brainstorming when I’m not actually at home. I feel like a cad!
Words For Worms
You may feel like a cad, but you deserve a high five… For using the word “cad.” Well done.
Samantha
Awesome list!
Check out my blog as well. Maybe even hit the follow button? It’d be greatly appreciated! http://bundles-of-books.blogspot.com
Jennifer @ The Relentless Reader
I’m so surprised by how many authors I’ve managed to skip. What kind of a reader am I??? A shamed one. NO Harris, NO Gabaldon. No Martin. Sheesh. I have to say that I have all of the King of Thrones books I just haven’t managed to actually , you know, READ them.
Words For Worms
I wouldn’t judge anyone for not having read Harris, I mean, it’s all rather silly paranormal stuff- I can see avoiding that. Gabaldon, there is no excuse (says the superfan) go read them nooooooooooooow! And Martin gets a little (or a lot) long winded, soooo. Yeah. Don’t feel bad. Except about Outlander. Go read that.
Monika @ Lovely Bookshelf
Murakami. Yep. I could have just grabbed a photo of him and called it a post today. haha
Words For Worms
LOL, oh Monika. SOMEDAY I will overcome my reticence. Someday…
Becca @ Lost in thought
Love this list! Charlaine Harris also made my list but the terrible thing is I haven’t read one of them yet! I love the tv series and just found that I started reading the first book way too soon after watching the show. I’ll definitely read them soon though! Also J K Rowling made my list (everyone’s lists today really!) Great list 🙂
Becca @ Lost in Thought
My TTT
Words For Worms
JK Rowling should probably rule the universe.
Heather @ Capricious Reader
Mildred, you really must read the graphic novel of Outlander. It has Naked Jamie in it. Seriously. Naked. Jamie. It’s a thing. HA!
Words For Worms
WHAT?!?! NAKED JAMIE?!?!?! This dirty old woman just added something to her bucket list. XOXO, Mildred
thatashgirl
Nice list….Diana Gabaldon is 12, Stephen King is 18 (!), Philippa Gregory is 14, Christopher Moore is 13, Kelley Armstrong is 13 and Laurell K Hamilton (over 2 series) is a disgusting 32…although if she doesn’t wrap this Anita Blake shit up soon I’m going to scream.
Words For Worms
I was really surprised I hadn’t read more Philppa Gregory- I felt like I was super immersed in her for a while there, but I guess reading 4 books back to back will give you that impression. Huh. I should revisit her, it’s been too long.
thatashgirl
The Wideacre Trilogy is fantastic and horrid at the same time. Talk about a main character that is so disgustingly bitchy and evil that you can’t help but be intrigued by her. That one’s not historical fiction, more like period fiction.
The Cousin’s War series is fantastic though. Set during the War of the Roses so pre-Tudor it’s great because NOBODY is writing stuff in that time period. The problem with that one is that she wrote the books out of historical order but they tell you what order to read them chronologically on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/series/55424-the-cousins-war
Words For Worms
I read the first Wideacre book and was, well, horrified by the main character. I’m definitely going to check out the War of the Roses books- I got burned out on the Tudors, but pre-Tudor sounds like a party.
thatashgirl
Totally burned out on Tudor themed stuff.
LOL as Wideacre continutes the horror continues. But the third book jumps forward to the next generation…..there are circus performers.
Emily
1. Charlaine made my list too. She just keeps churning them out. I’m ready for her to finish up the series because I feel like the last few have been fillers to get us to the end. Let’s get to the end already and get back to the quality of the first ones!
2. I forgot I have the lord John books (none of which I have read) but thanks for reminding me that I support Diana more than I thought.
10. Number the Stars is the first book I remember loving growing up! Good taste! But I have to admit, I haven’t read the Giver and I had no idea there were sequels. Will have to check that one out!
Words For Worms
I was really glad when Sookie ended, the last few were not so hot, though it all ended the way I wanted it to, so I was cool.
Jennine G.
You and I have a few in common! Rowling, Shreve, Flagg, and Lowry would be in my top ten too. Another would be Ursula Hegi – I think I’ve read all of her books.
Words For Worms
Oh man, Stones from the River is SUCH an incredible book, I need to read more Hegi!
Sarah @ Sarah Says Read
Woot woot, Outlander! And HP. And basically most of this list.
I started the Sookie series, but I never kept up with it… I DO however need to catch up on True Blood, because that show is fun, if a bit ridiculous now.
Words For Worms
Well, great minds and all that. I stopped watching True Blood around season 4 or so. I should probably revisit though, because it is rather fun.
Samantha
I’m doing a very cursory glance, but Stephen King, Margaret Atwood, and J.K. Rowling are also in my highest amount of books read by the same author. For both Atwood and King I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface all the time, so was rather surprised how many I’d read (although with Stephen King, seven books of the Dark Tower series makes a dent in the stockpile :P). Then I also had ones like Christie Golden, who is one of the Warcraft authors, so obviously (but she is in my opinion the best one they’ve got), and Rainbow Rowell I’ve read 3 and starting the fourth. It’s pretty interesting to take a look at it. I’m due for another Atwood and King book soon too.
Words For Worms
Mmmm I could go for more Atwood and King too. I’m sensing additions to my TBR pile…
Megan
Stephen King and Anita Shreve are both on my list too. I haven’t read Fortune’s Rocks yet. I’ll have to give that one a try next. The Green Mile is one of my favorite Stephen Kings, too.
Words For Worms
I assume you read The Pilot’s Wife (I haven’t, but it’s her most famous book, yes?) Fortune’s Rocks is part of a series that takes place in that same beach house. I think I’ve read 3 of the series. They’re not really a series, as the only connection point is the house, but it’s pretty cool regardless.
AMB
JK Rowling would be at the top of my list too! I don’t have any of her post-Harry Potter books, but the HP books alone take up a substantial portion of one of the shelves in my twins’ room (yeah, I’ve passed those books onto them! It’s hard for me to believe it!). With a few notable exceptions (like Rainbow Rowell), I usually read only one book by an author. I’m always worried that their next book won’t meet the high expectations set by their first book. Plus, there are just so many good books out there by so many good writers.
Catherine S
Good list! Yay for David Sedaris 🙂 Funnily enough, my mom also went through an Anita Shreve phase! Two I remember liking were The Pilot’s Wife and Sea Glass. Don’t think I read Fortune’s Rocks…
Christine @ BookishlyB
I didn’t love The Blind Assassin, either. I’m reading The Year of the Flood right now!
Enbrethiliel
+JMJ+
Jo Beverley and Madeleine L’Engle topped my own Tenner. =)
I’m planning to read my first Margaret Atwood novel this month and have asked my readers to help me choose. So far, Oryx and Crake is winning over The Handmaid’s Tale. (The theme is Dystopian Fiction, obviously.) Which one would you vote for?
Words For Worms
Tough call! I’d go with The Handmaid’s Tale simply because it’s a stand alone novel. It’ll give you a feel for Atwood, and if you love it (as I expect you will) the MaddAddam trilogy is amazing!
Alisa Selene
Are you excited for the new Outlander t.v. show? I can’t wait! SQUEE!
Words For Worms
SO EXCITED! I have a friend coming over to watch with me. I anticipate much squealing. It’s been quite a while since I read the first book so HOPEFULLY I won’t be the grumpy gus who points out all the changes.
Megan
Elizabeth Berg!!! Plowed through almost all of her books when on bed rest when I was pregnant with my son. She is phenomenal. I highly, highly, highly recommend you read (and review) JOY SCHOOL and WE ARE ALL WELCOME HERE.
Would love to hear your opinion!
Words For Worms
I have read NONE of her books. I need to work on this!
Megan
Try WE ARE ALL WELCOME HERE. I really think you’ll enjoy that one. Takes place in the 1940s, main character’s (who I think is around 14) mom has polio – in an iron lung. They live down south. Excellent.
Based on a true story. A reader sent Elizabeth Berg a letter asking her to write a book about her mom/childhood, and Elizabeth Berg did!!!!!
susan
Oh I liked Atwood’s Alias Grace. Too bad. Anita Shreve’s The Weight of Water is a good one. cheers