Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Top Ten Tuesday: Jessi's Top Ten Authors That Deserve More Recognition


Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list complete with one of our bloggers’ answers. Everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND post a comment on our post with a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post to share with us and all those who are participating. If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. 
If you can't come up with ten, don't worry about it---post as many as you can!

This week's topic: 
Top Ten Authors That Deserve More Recognition
Click here to see the future Top Ten Tuesday schedule. Next week Capillya from That Cover Girl is tackling top ten book covers you wish you could redesign (doesn't even have to be because you don't like it...just maybe if you have a cool idea for it!)

We all have our favorite authors--mine including J.K. Rowling and Stephen King. But what about those favorite authors of yours that people don't recognize when you mention them? We all have those authors who we LOVE but for whatever reason aren't as well-known. And here are mine: 

1. Louise Erdrich: I have now ready several of her books, and each one of them blows me away. She writes so poetically and beautifully. It sounds corny, but she is what I like to consider a "soul read." Her books are just so beautiful. 

2. Jeanne Birdsall: I read The Penderwicks over this past summer and fell in love. It was one of those books that I know I would have loved as a kid. It's up there with Anne of Green Gables and Little Women, and I'm surprised that more people haven't read it and fell in love. 

3. Howard Bahr: For the history buffs out there (specifically Civil War history buffs), it blows my mind that Bahr is not mentioned along the likes of Jeff Shaara. I read a few of his books and found them both historically accurate and completely engaging. 

4. Juliet Marillier: Besides Louise Erdrich, Juliet Marillier is probably the author I most frequently push onto people. Seriously, if you haven't read Wildwood Dancing, go read it--now. She crafts an incredible tale. Why she is not more recognized, I'll never know. 

5. Kathleen Grissom: To be fair, Kathleen Grissom is a new author with only one book out there. But I was blown away by her book The Kitchen House. She is one to keep an eye on and one who certainly deserves recognition! 

6. Beth Hoffman: Oh, dear Beth deserves so much recognition. Now, her first novel, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt sparked a lot of attention, and she certainly deserves it for that. (It was really good--go read it!) But I also think she deserves recognition for being on of the friendliest authors I have ever interacted with! 
7. Chris Crutcher: Ahh, Chris Crutcher. He's another author that I push a lot. If you enjoy YA, and you're looking for something real and thought-provoking, I highly recommend him. His books are up there with The Perks of Being a Wallflower but for some reason, not many people have heard of him. 

8. Mildred D. Taylor: She wrote one of my very favorite childhood books and one of my favorite books that I read for school--Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. I remember being really moved by it as a kid, and I'm surprised more people haven't heard of it.  

9. Robert C. O'Brien: He wrote another one of my favorite childhood books: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH For fans of books like Charlotte's Web, Ralph the Mouse or other "animal" books, I highly recommend this. He deserves more recognition for this wonderful book! 

10. Galway Kinnell. Switching things up a bit--he is one of my favorite poets, but he doesn't seem to be that well-known. He came to speak at my college when I was a freshman, and he was incredibly well-spoken. He's another "soul read" for me, and I'm surprised he isn't more recognized! 


 

49 comments:

  1. I read a Louise Erdrich in high school (Tracks, I believe) and have always meant to read more! She's always talked about on the Pulitzer sites...I think it's time I read another of her fantastic books! Any suggestions?

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  2. I forgot all about Juliet Marilier! I read her book Dark Mirror and it was great, but it's been awhile. What I remember of it, is that it was really well written and engrossing.

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  3. Yes, yes!! Louise Erdich, Robert O'Brien, and Mildred Taylor! Thanks for including them on your list!

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  4. I remember the NIMH books fondly, but I could never remember the author!

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  5. YES! (On Juliet Marillier). My favorite favorite favorite of hers is probably Son of the Shadows. Gorgeous gorgeous prose. And so romantic without being stupid.

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  6. There are a couple on this list I am heading to Amazon to acquire now. Thanks for the suggestions...

    ...I would suggest a #11, one of my favorites-- Sherman Alexie. Pretty well known, but no amount of attention is too much for this man!

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  7. I've heard of all of these writers, but I've only read #8 and #9. I loved the NIMH books when I was a kid! I also think it's awesome that someone is named "Galway" :)

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  8. Sadly, I don't think I've heard of any of these authors. I'll definitely be checking them out now.

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  9. I've always meant to read the Penderwicks. I also really loved the Rats of NIMH and Chris Crutcher is great -- DEADLINE is one of my all-time favorites.

    You have some great authors on here! And much less well-known than the ones on my list. :)

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  10. YES! CHRIS CRUTCHER! He is right up there as (IMO!!) one of the BEST authors OF ALL TIME and doesn't get nearly the attention he deserves. Love, love, love.

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  11. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry...one of the most powerful books I have ever read. I would join the Mildred Taylor Fan Club.

    Here's my list of Ten Authors Who Deserve More Recognition. I hope you will stop in and visit.

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  12. I LOVED Kitchen House too! I can't believe I forgot Kathleen Grissom!

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  13. Nice list, a few I've heard of and plenty I haven't. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a fantastic book; O'Brien almost went on my list too!

    I ended up choosing a fairly diverse group, I think...Top Ten Authors who deserve more Recognition

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  14. I've only ever read Tracks by Erdrich, but you having her on this list makes me what to check out what else she has.

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  15. Jeanne Birdsall definitely needs more hype. Her books are so enjoyable and heartwarming. Can't wait for the next to come out!

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  16. Beth is a gorgeous soul and definitely deserves recognition for that in addition to her beautiful book!

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  17. I loved the Rats of NIMH as a kid. O'Brien should definitely get more recognition.

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  18. What a coincidence: Louise Erdrich's tops on my list too, and I wholeheartedly agree with your reasons for admiring her work. My personal favorite of hers, for those asking for a pick, is The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse.
    And I love anything by Chris Crutcher too. A fine list!
    Somehow I got the wrong idea from the prompt here I think: I didn't choose authors who simply aren't household names, but ones that I thought might be unfamiliar to other book lovers yet so worth trying. Erdrich was my only "I'm not sure if this fits the focus because she's pretty famous" pick...

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  19. Looking forward to trying out The Kitchen House - I've heard so many good things about it!

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  20. I agree with Chris Crutcher and Mildred Taylor, although I think Taylor has made a big impression with teacher in the middle school as Roll of Thunder is often taught as a class novel. Great post.

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  21. I adore Louise Erdrich and and Chris Crutcher! When you say "YA lit" Chris Crutcher is one of the first people that I think of.

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  22. Great list! I actually never heard of any of these authors *blushes* so I'll be on the lookout for them! =)

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  23. great list, I've read both Roll of Thunder and the Rats of Nimh--loved them both :)

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  24. I absolutely 100% agree with Beth Hoffman! She's incredible, not only as an author but as a person. Love her!

    And yes! Robert C. O'Brien is amazing!

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  25. For the past year I’ve been focused on the BBC reading list... most of those authors aren’t having problems with name recognition... I did love Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH!

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  26. +JMJ+

    The only writer on your list whom I've read anything by is Robert C. O'Brien. The others must be really great buried treasures!

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  27. It's been so long since I've read The Rats of NIMH. I may have to see if I can't track down a copy. I remembered really liking it.

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  28. What a great idea! :) I'll post more on this later, in the meantime, a list I'd already written of "Junk" romance novels (aka: chick lit) that are quite well-written and witty. Enjoy!

    http://turkeylists.blogspot.com/2011/02/well-written-junk-romance.html

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  29. Cris Crutcher and Mildred Taylor are favorites of mine as well...and I do think they are forgotten sometimes right now. We'll keep putting them back in the spotlight :)

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  30. I like the new look of your blog. Very clean and uncluttered. I agree with your addition of Chris Crutcher. He does deserve more attention.

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  31. I liked Mildred Taylor as a kid, too. Good one!

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  32. The only author I've heard of on your list is Juliet Marillier. I still haven't had a chance to read any of her books yet, though, but I really want to.

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  33. I've only heard of Beth Hoffman. This was a tough top ten but is generating some great recommendations!

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  34. I have been saying I need to read something by Juliet Marillier for about a year and a half now. And today I bought Heart's Blood :) Have you read it?

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  35. I haven't read The Penderwicks yet but I keep hearing good things about it so will certainly have to check it out!

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  36. This is my first time to participate! Everyone looked like they had so much fun last week.

    My list is here: http://abackwardsstory.blogspot.com/2011/03/top-ten-tuesdays-1.html

    Thanks for this awesome idea!

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  37. Great hop! I had to dig in the crates a bit though, I realize that I read a lot of the same people, and some of them are pretty well known. I hope that I will discover some other favorites from all of you!

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  38. I totally agree about Juliet Marillier! I love her books!

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  39. I remember reading a Louise Erdrich short story in college...it was about a red convertible. I always remember the deepness and awesomeness of that story. She reminds me of Sherman Alexie.

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  40. This is a great list! I agree with you so much on Robert C. O'Brien.

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  41. I've heard a number of these names, but only read O'Brien! Hmm. Maybe I should add a couple of others to my reading list. :)

    Great topic!

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  42. Interesting list this week! I did Top 10 Underrated Books because I couldn't think of authors :)

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  43. Had to participate on this one...even though I only got up to four.

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  44. Feel so sad for authors that don't get the boost they need...

    http://ireadthatonce.blogspot.com/2011/03/top-ten-tuesday-authors-that-deserve.html

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  45. Never heard of any of those. I think I will have fun with this one. It's so many that deserve recognition.

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  46. I love Juliet Marillier. She is one of my favorite fantasy authors. I also really enjoyed Beth Hoffman's Saving CeeCee Honeycutt. I'm glad you featured both of them on your list!

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  47. I seem to have trouble with the link list. It had autofilled the submission thing, but I'm linking to another of my blogs (Northern Tower)
    Even though I changed the name in the submission bar, it still says the wrong blog name (Borough of Books). At least the link is correct

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