Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week a new question or theme is presented. This week’s prompt is:
The Top Ten Authors With The Most Books On Your Bookshelves
This was a fun list to put together! I had some ideas of who would end up on this list, but it gave me an excuse to wander around my bookcases and actually count books! Here are the authors who have the most books in my home. Some of them even have entire shelves!
Bob Greene (19 books) —Bob Greene was a Chicago newspaper human-interest columnist for years. He published many books of collections of his columns, plus books about historical events and characters, a few memoirs, and even a novel. He left his newspaper gig about ten years ago after some controversy, but he’s still writing. I may have issues with how he conducts his personal life, but the man can write. I have a whole shelf devoted to his books.
Ernest Hemingway (15 books) —OK, this one is a bit of a cheat. I have 9 books BY Hemingway, and 6 books ABOUT him. But it’s my list and my rules, so I’m counting them as one big batch! 🙂 I read The Sun Also Rises in high school and it started me on a serious Hemingway obsession that lasted for years. His short stories are second to none, and A Moveable Feast is simply wonderful.
Agatha Christie (13 books) –I read my first Agatha Christie mystery in junior high school after I saw her play The Mousetrap. I still have all the paperbacks I collected back then. Agatha Christie is proof that you don’t need a lot of explicit violence or gore to tell a great tale of suspense!
Jodi Picoult (12 books) —I don’t own all the Picoult books I’ve read, but I do have a lot of them. Her books have been a bit hit-and-miss for me over the past few years, but I still automatically put myself on the hold list at the library whenever she has a new book coming out. The first Picoult book I read was The Pact and it made me a fan for life.
Katherine Hall Page (12 books) —I love to read, I love to cook, and I love a good mystery. Katherine Hall Page’s Faith Fairchild mystery series satisfies me on all three levels! These are good mysteries with well-developed characters and a bit of humor mixed in. They’re not heavy reading, but they’re great for pure escape.
Studs Terkel (11 books) —Oh, I do miss Studs Terkel! He was truly a Chicago icon, and when he died in his 90s a few years ago he left a wonderful legacy of oral histories that celebrate the “regular” people who make up our country. He had the wonderful gift of being able to encourage everyday people to open up and share their experiences about so many topics—their experiences during WWII, how they felt about their jobs, their thoughts on race, their lives during the Great Depression, and many, many other topics. He was truly the father of the oral history genre. I was lucky enough to hear him speak at a book signing near the end of his life and I’ll never forget it. I have one big shelf of his books in a prominent spot on my favorite bookcase.
Sue Grafton (10 books) —I haven’t read any Kinsey Mallone books in quite awhile, but I used to love it when a new one was released. I can’t quite bring myself to get rid of these—I read them in my mid-twenties and they’re a really nice reminder of a good, happy period of my life.
Anne Lamott (10 books) —I really like Lamott’s novels, but I am crazy about her nonfiction! Bird By Bird is one of my favorite books about the craft of writing, and her collections of essays on faith and spirituality are books that I re-read again and again. Is she a little bit out there? Sure–but I’ve rarely read another author who is as honest as Lamott.
John Feinstein (9 books) —I don’t actually “do” any sports, but I love reading about sports and athletes. Feinstein is my go-to author here. I especially enjoy his behind the scenes books on basketball. You can practically hear the shoes squeaking on the court when you read his books!
Anna Quindlen (9 books) —Quindlen’s novels are a little uneven for me (although Every Last One is one of the best books I’ve read in ages) but I absolutely LOVE her columns. When I read her nonfiction I feel as though she’s inside my head.
How about you? Do you have books by any of these authors on your shelves? Which authors take up the most space on your bookcases? Please share!
July 29, 2014 at 6:05 am
Great list (and biographies totally count!), I love Sue Grafton as well, great quick reads.
July 29, 2014 at 6:41 am
We’ll have to agree to disagree about Hemingway — I just can’t stand him or his books. I love your mix of authors. My tops (not ten, but…) would be Toni Morrison, Anne Patchett, Chris Bohjalian, Dennis Lehane, Kate Atkinson, Billy Collins.
July 29, 2014 at 6:57 am
I have some Anne Patchett (LOVE her nonfiction!) and Chris Bohjalian on my shelves, but they didn’t make the cut this week. 😦
July 29, 2014 at 8:20 am
I love her non-fiction too. The Story of a Marriage is one of the best essay collections I’ve ever read. I just want to be her friend.
July 29, 2014 at 7:49 am
Your numbers are so much higher than mine! Haha J.K. Rowling tops my list.
My TTT
July 29, 2014 at 8:26 am
I have to admit that I’ve only read the first Harry Potter book. . . (ducks head and runs away)
July 29, 2014 at 8:48 am
How terrible!
July 29, 2014 at 8:22 am
Great list! Agatha Christie is on my list too (I have all her books – it’s a problem) but I see a few authors who I’ve only read 1 or 2 books by. I have LaMott’s Bird by Bird which I’ve been meaning to read for years. I had forgotten about Katherine Hall Paige’s books! They’re always fun reads.
July 29, 2014 at 8:26 am
Wow–all of Agatha Christie’s books? That is seriously impressive! 🙂
July 29, 2014 at 8:51 am
Great list! Anna Quindlen is a favorite and I probably should have included Hemingway in my honorable mentions. Katherine Hall Page is new to me… off to look her up!
July 29, 2014 at 11:20 am
Katherine Hall Page is a good, fun read–and they’re more fun if you read them in order.
July 29, 2014 at 9:06 am
I love Anna Quindlen–her nonfiction anyway. I adored “Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake.” And I must read more Hemingway.
July 29, 2014 at 11:20 am
Yep–Lots Of Candles was a good one!
July 29, 2014 at 10:57 am
Wonderful list! I’m seriously impressed! And I’m glad to hear that you love Hemingway. I’m just about finished with “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and I’m absolutely enamored with it. Which book of his would you recommend next?
July 29, 2014 at 11:19 am
Ooohh–so glad to have a fellow Hemingway fan here! The Sun Also Rises is sort of a natural progression, I think. I also love his short stories–there are lots of collections out there. Enjoy!
July 29, 2014 at 1:08 pm
Oh, you know, I didn’t think of Agatha Christie when I was making my list, but she should probably be on mine….I went through most of her books in high school as well!
July 29, 2014 at 2:40 pm
I used to go to used bookstores for the specific purpose of adding more Agatha Christie to my bookshelves.
July 29, 2014 at 1:09 pm
I own For Whom The Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway and know I am putting it on my soon to be read tbr now!
July 29, 2014 at 2:39 pm
Hemingway seems to be really polarizing–you either really love him or–well, you don’t!
July 29, 2014 at 1:15 pm
I only own one Ernest Hemingway book (For Whom The Bell Tolls) and now I’m adding it to my soon-to be read pile :). Great list I should read more books by these authors!
July 29, 2014 at 2:38 pm
I wish I was reading Hemingway again for the first time–hope you enjoy! Most people either really, really like him or really, really don’t! 🙂
July 29, 2014 at 1:42 pm
I had lots of Jodi Picoult books but let them go to a new home about a year ago, Plain Truth was my favourite. A great top ten 🙂
July 29, 2014 at 2:35 pm
Plain Truth is my second-favorite!
July 29, 2014 at 1:58 pm
Aah – my fellow sports book loving book blogger! I love seeing Feinstein on your list – he almost made mine! I loved his Hard Courts – I’m a huge tennis fan and his is one of the best books on the behind the scenes of that sport. Thanks for stopping by today and I’m adding you to my Bloglovin feed!
July 29, 2014 at 2:37 pm
I liked Hard Courts a lot–but I simply DEVOUR his books on basketball!
July 29, 2014 at 3:09 pm
You know, I have yet to read Agatha Christie. I have been meaning to and meaning to, but I just haven’t yet. And I want to read some Anna Quindlen, too! Her books always sound really good!
Thanks for stoppin’ by! Have a great week!
July 29, 2014 at 7:59 pm
Agatha Christie and Anna Quindlen make an interesting pair! 🙂
July 29, 2014 at 4:17 pm
only read Jodi Picoult of your list but can completely agree with what you said.
Great list hun and thank you for stopping by 🙂
July 29, 2014 at 4:33 pm
I must start the Faith Fairchild mysteries!
July 29, 2014 at 8:00 pm
I think you’d like them–they’re just fun, cozy mysteries. You do need to read them in order, though, so you can appreciate the way the characters develop.
July 29, 2014 at 7:59 pm
I’ve always wanted to read Jodi Picoult! I have heard nothing but amazing things.
July 29, 2014 at 9:12 pm
I actually haven’t enjoyed her last few books that much–but her older stuff is excellent!
July 29, 2014 at 8:32 pm
I have a shameful confession, but I have yet to read anything by Agatha Christie! I need to get to it because I know I’ll love her writing. And I really want to read Bird by Bird. I’ve heard great things. And I loved Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen! I’ll have to read more by her. Great list! 😀
July 29, 2014 at 9:11 pm
I really liked Black and Blue–I think that was her very first novel. But my favorite Quindlen novel was her most recent–Every Last One. You may want to give that one a try . . .
July 29, 2014 at 9:42 pm
Thanks for stopping by my site this morning! I haven’t read any books by the authors on your list, with the exception of Jodi Picoult; it’s nice to be introduced to so many new (to me) writers. 🙂
July 30, 2014 at 2:02 pm
I agree–this was such a fun Tuesday Ten prompt this week!
July 30, 2014 at 1:36 am
I haven’t heard of a few of the authors on your list, but I love Agatha Christie. She made my list too. I really want to see The Mousetrap though, it sounds amazing. I’ve only read one Jodi Picoult, but I do want to read some more of her work soon. 🙂
July 30, 2014 at 2:07 pm
I love Jodi Picoult’s earlier books more than the last few–my favorites are The Pact, Plain Truth, and Nineteen Minutes. Hope you get the chance to read more of her books soon!
August 3, 2014 at 8:26 am
Great post!
I think I’m going to go on a Hemingway binge next year. I’ve never read any of his. (What??)
August 3, 2014 at 9:12 am
People seem to either love him or hate him–hope you end up in the “love him” category! 🙂
August 3, 2014 at 9:07 am
Wow, your shelves look a lot like mine! I think I have most of Feinstein’s, Lamott’s, and Quindlen’s books. I had forgotten all about Bob Greene — whatever happened to him?
August 3, 2014 at 9:11 am
He’s still writing, but he lost his job at the Tribune maybe 10-12 years ago after it was discovered that he’d been involved with at least one young girl. . . he really had a complicated personal/professional life. I have very mixed feelings about him now–I so admire him as a writer, but he sure did make a lot of poor decisions.
(Glad to find another Feinstein fan!!)
August 3, 2014 at 9:57 am
I love most of these! I also thought I was the only one with a love of Agatha Christie – this week of TTT has TOTALLY proved me wrong. 🙂
August 3, 2014 at 8:51 pm
Same here–I was amazed at how many lists included Christie!
August 3, 2014 at 8:54 pm
Your post reminds me I missed Hemingway and Sue Grafton from my list. I love them both.