Thursday, February 23, 2006

Thursday Thirteen

Thursday Thirteen


Thirteen Authors I Love


1. Nelson DeMille - General's Daughter/Lion's Game/Nightfall and many others. An excellent thriller writer, well researched, some based on his own experiences. If you want a really thrilling ride, read Up Country, his own cartharsis!

2. Clive Cussler - too many to mention and Sahara! An experienced diver and adventure seeker, Clive runs the real life NUMA. His books are a thrill a minute rollercoaster rides with, amongst others, a definitive 'Hero' (Dirk Pitt), sidekick (Al Giordino) and crusty boss (Admiral Sandecker). And Mr Cussler turns up in all his books too with small cameos!

3. Jung Chang - Unusually at the top of the list on the strength of one book. Her second book, Mao, is out in paperback shortly, but so far, she only has Wild Swans to her credit. What a book! Three generations of Chinese history seen through the eyes of her grandmother, mother and self! Read it - I dare you not to cry.....and laugh....and recoil in horror.

4. Dan Brown - yep, him of Da Vinci Code fame. Don't just read that, read Angels and Demons, Digital Fortress and Deception Point too. Really well researched books, based on myth and science, playing with our deepest beliefs, questioning our faiths and entertaining us as well. And coming soon (I'm going blue from holding my breath!) Solomon Key!

5. Lee Child - An Englishman living in America and embracing the American Dream with his All American Hero, Jack Reacher. The film rights to the latest book have been sold. These are easy to read, exciting thrillers.

6. Matthew Reilly - more shoot-'em-ups. Action-packed (literally) books with, again, a definitive hero (actually he has two heroes ongoing). His first book was raw, Contest, but he is learning as he goes along. A cliffhanger episode King!

7. PJ Tracy - murder most foul. And written by a Mother/Daughter team thousands of miles apart. Excellent murder mysteries and a must for whodunnit fans. Red herrings and false trails abound in these books.

8. CJ Sansom - a new one! 'Dark Fire' and 'Dissolution' - whodunnit thrillers set in the reign of Henry VIII. Don't be put off, Sansom has the gift of putting his readers right in the era without long wordy descriptions.

9. Lincoln Child - another newbie; 'Utopia' and 'DeathMatch'. Oustanding mystery writer with a flair for the unusual.

10. Mo Hayder - started with gruesome murder mysteries 'Birdman' and 'The Treatment', covering necrophilia and paedophilia, then blew her readers out of the water with Tokyo, an exceptionally strong, well written mystery story wrapped around the Rape of Nanking.

11. Alexander McCall Smith - Adorable books, of which my favourite are the No1 Ladies Detective Agency (run by Mma Ramotswe) series. This is a man with his finger on the pulse of his story, whether it be in Africa or Scotland. Wonderful books to 'run away' with :-)

12. Maeve Binchy - an enchanting Irish writer who can convey the sweetest stories to paper, making her characters well-rounded and loveable.

13. Finally, my weakness, my family saga author. Mary Jane Staples, creator of the Adams family of Walworth. We have followed this family through over fifty years, two wars and numerous births, deaths and marriages. I'm not now a big fan of family sagas, but the Adams family has caught my heart and I eagerly buy each new book.

So there you are, my favourite authors. Some mysterious, some grisly, some entertaining and some challenging.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1.
kdubs

2. wendy

3. Daisy

4. Uisce

5. Mrs Aginoth

6. SleepyPete

7. YellowRose

8. Ivoryfrog

9. Killired

10. MamaB

11. Mar

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

11 comments:

YellowRose said...

I've read Dan Brown's Angels and Demons and DaVinci Code but not the other's ....have to check those out!!

Great list my dear Queenie!!!

Happy Thursday!

Kimmy said...

Sadly I haven't read one of those...and only know of one author you listed. That's sad.

My 13 are up!

Lazy Daisy said...

My Mr. Wonderful totally adores all Clive Cluster books! Haven't read hardly any on your list but did write down some authors. Congrats on getting the job (I told you, you did better than you thought!) You're in my prayers for a speedy recovery.

Fern Bourrie said...

I love reading too! I'll have to check out some of those authors.

I just recently joined paperbackswap.com and love it. You should check it out. If you sign up, let me know so you I can add you to my buddy list. Oh, and you can use me as a referral (mamab) if nobody has referred you yet.

Happy reading and Happy TT!

OldLady Of The Hills said...

What an interesting list CQ...I think I would like to read the "Family Saga" one...(or ones)..I'll have to check her out on Amazon!

I just don't seem to read very much anymore...not sure exactly why...it does seem a weird thing to me...but, that's how it is right now...

Chickadee said...

I also like Maeve Binchy. I also enjoy Kathleen O'Neill Gear and Michael Gear. They are archaeologists that write about the history of ancient Indian tribes in a novel form. Awesome way to learn some history.

My 13 are up.

http://www.danno.org/blogs

MaR said...

Wonderful royal list,cq, will write the names down for the next trip downtown to my favorite book store (it is not my fav, it is just well located and well assorted,lol!) Last time I got a sample reading from Banana Yoshimoto (I am not joking!), loved her style so I have to check her out too. You know I am thirteening (the term is not mine but I love it!)

Unknown said...

Iain Banks

Phillip Pullman

Though I tend to go more by Books than authors necessarily (outside of those)

And a very heavy Sci-Fi bias - though as a side note one of the best books I've read as of late was called Time Traveller's Wife (can't remember the author) that I recommend to everyone as a wonderful book and far less SF than the title implies

And my guilty secret when it comes to books... Harry Potter, love 'em read all 6 many, many times :-)

Juggling Mother said...

I;ve only read Angels & Demons (quite good, not really my thing - didn't bother with DVC as I'd rather read the original), and a couple of Binchey's.

I hang my head in shame.

*slinks away quietly to the library*

Veronika said...

Hello,
I'll have to check these authors out. I've only read Dan Brown from your list.
:)

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