Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday: New to Me Authors Read in 2014


Putting this post together was fun and it opened my eyes to what kind of reading I have been doing this year. I thought I read a lot of new authors but when I looked at it, I read many books by authors I had read before. 

Here are ten authors whose work I read for the first time in 2014:

Fiction

1. Chris Cleave
I had Little Bee sitting on my shelf for a while and finally decided to give it a try. Reading this story devastated me in the best of ways and I love knowing that he has two other books for me to read!
Books tbr: Gold and Incendiary


2. Sarah Beth Durst
The Lost was a bit out of my comfort zone, but I'm so glad I gave it a try. Durst brings a new world to life while referencing beloved tales like Peter Pan and The Wizard of Oz. She has several other books but I am really waiting impatiently for the sequel!
Books tbr: Chasing Power, Conjured



Non-fiction and Memoir

3. Leslie Jamison
The Empathy Exams was a sleeper hit when this book of essays struck a chord with readers. It's one of those books I want to enthusiastically push into people's hands with the warning that it will make you reflect on the way you interact with others and it just might make you a kinder, better person.
Books tbr: The Gin Closet


4. Micha Boyett
Found: A Story of Questions, Grace, and Everyday Prayer is a beautiful look at the ways we can connect with God throughout the mundane and repetitive parts of our lives. Boyett doesn't have any other books yet, but this girl is hopeful!

5. Shauna Niequist
In Bread and Wine, Shauna Niequist easily combines a cookbook, a memoir, and advice about living an open and inviting life. Shauna seems both wise and totally relatable.
Books tbr: Bittersweet, Cold Tangerines, and the upcoming Savor


Historical Fiction

6. Anthony Doerr
All the Light We Cannot See is a National Book Award finalist for very good reason. Doerr portrays two children growing up during WWII and the intersections between art and science and kindness and evil are breathtaking.
Books tbr: About Grace, Memory Wall, and The Shell Collector


7. Erin Lindsay McCabe
I Shall Be Near To You was one of my favorite novels of 2014. McCabe brings a young couple to life as the wife follows her husband to the battlefields of the Civil War.
Books tbr: Next novel is in the works!


8. Ariel Lawhon
The Wife, The Maid, and the Mistress is a fictional look at a real-life mystery. Lawhon's passion for history and these people is evident on every page. The coolest part of the story is that a descendant of one of the characters in this book actually contacted Lawhon recently!
Books tbr: Hindenburg is coming soon!


9. Genevieve Valentine
The Twelve Dancing Princesses set during the Roaring 20s = The Girls at the Kingfisher Club. It's magical and wonderful.
Books tbr: Mechanique 


10. Nicola Griffith
There are not too many books out there about the 7th century. Hild will introduce you to an unforgettable heroine and immerse you in a fascinating time period.
Books tbr: The Aud Series



What new authors did you discover in 2014?

Little Bee     Bread & Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table, with Recipes    Hild

8 comments:

  1. Thank you for your list! I'm a big fan of historical fiction and you've introduced me to some new titles I've never heard of before; Hild and The Girls at the Kingfisher Club sound amazing, I've added them both to my TBR. :)

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    1. I'm so glad! Both of those were fantastic and I hope you love them.

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  2. I've not read any of these authors! Like Jess, I'm drawn towards Hild and especially The Girls at the Kingfisher Club.

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    1. I think you would enjoy both books, although The Girls at the Kingfisher Club is definitely the quicker read!

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  3. I read almost all new authors. I was surprised by that. This was a fun Top Ten Tuesday. I think most of my new authors were all my top books for the year too.

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    1. I hadn't really thought about it very much, but now I am going to have to look at how many of them are repeat authors! Maybe I will include that in my end of the year wrap-up.

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  4. You reminded me I have that Bread and Wine book to read. I need to get to that :)

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    1. I loved that one! I hope you get the chance to read it soon.

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