Thursday, December 16, 2010

Whom Have You Read for the FIRST Time in 2010 - Posted Friday, Dec. 17, 2010

Thanks to Peter Rozovsky over at his Detectives Beyond Borders blog for the idea for this post. (I filched it.) The subject: Whom Have You Read for the First Time in 2010 - is that a fab idea for a blog post or what? I'm also thanking Brian Lindenmuth at Spinetingler Magazine for coming up with the idea in the first place.

Not that I've read tons of new (to me) writers myself, but I thought I'd check and post my own list, puny as it may be. Well, in comparison to Peter's anyway. He amazed me with all the writers whose acquaintance he managed to make this year. Here's Peter's List at his blog.

Like many readers I'm probably more comfortable reading writers whose work I'm familiar with. But the truth is, eventually you run out of people you know then it's time to take the plunge and read something recommended by someone else, be it friend, blogger, newspaper, website, or literary osmosis.

Here are the writers whose work I discovered for the first time this year:

  • Michael Innes
  • Barry Maitland
  • Yunte Huang
  • Lynn Shepherd
  • Rebecca Stead
  • Jack McDevitt
  • Hannah Berry
  • Frank Baker
  • Martin Walker
  • Elizabeth Daly
  • Nicholas Blake
  • Kathryn Stockett
  • G.M. Malliet
  • Neal Stephenson
  • Paula Gosling
  • E.J. Copperman
  • Ben MacIntyre
  • Erik Larson
  • China Mieville
  • Simon Winchester
  • Susan Wilson
  • Julie Hecht
  • Kathleen George
  • David Grann
  • Helen Simonson
  • Jeannette Walls
  • Stephanie Pintoff
  • Alan Bradley
  • Marlena DeBlasi
  • Ferenc Mate
  • Emily Arsenault
Hmmm, my list of newbies is not as puny as I thought it would be. I can give Peter a run for his reading money. Ha! Now these are not all writers whose work I'll necessarily go back to, though all of them, I admit, impressed me in one way or another. (To read my list of ALL books read in 2010, please go here.)

So, what writers did you discover for the first time this year?
(Note: This is actually Friday's Post which I began writing last night. I can't get the date to change on the original. Any advice on how to do this would be extremely welcomed.)

14 comments:

  1. Victoria Thompson's "Gaslight" mystery series. Lots of fun, well researched. I still have a couple to go.

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  2. Hmmmm, never heard of this one, Jacqueline. I'll have to check it out. I have a feeling there are tons of writer I've never heard of all writing their fingers to the bone. How to play catch-up? :)

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  3. "Hmmm, my list of newbies is not as puny as I thought it would be."

    That's a frequent comment from readers who make up such lists!
    ==========================
    Detectives Beyond Borders
    "Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
    http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

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  4. Peter: Untill I actually total up the list, I never know what's what. :)

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  5. I thought this year's list would be shorter than the one I made two years ago. Instead, it was about as long -- two authors longer, in fact.
    ======================
    Detectives Beyond Borders
    "Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
    http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

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  6. I was impressed byh kate Moss's THE WINTER GHOSTS. A quick read, but still gripping although the plot of past meets present has been used so many times. A good `in between books` read.l All done in two evenings.

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  7. Peter: You just never know. And it's as well, I suppose, otherwise you'd be keeping tally as you went along and to my mind, that's not what reading should be about. ;)

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  8. Dave: Yes, I like the idea of 'in-between' books. I read like that all the time. Kate Moss. Never heard of her. I'll have to check her out. ;)

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  9. Happily, I have my blog as a record of most of what I read. Before I started the blog, I did used to keep a reading log in my notebook, though.
    ======================
    Detectives Beyond Borders
    "Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
    http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

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  10. Me too, Peter. Before I had the blog, I kept little journals with all the titles, month by month. I even used to 'star' them from one to five. Don't do that much anymore. The computer makes me lazy. I'm thinking that beginning in 2011, I'm going to try and keep the journal updated again. I miss making the little red stars (yes, I colored them in). ;)

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  11. This is a nice list, must try some of these authors.

    I read a lot of international mystery authors this year, thanks to the wonderful blogs about this genre.

    It's funny to me to see Rebecca Stead on your list. I knew her when she was 11 years old, and I worked with her terrific mother, at a nonprofit civil liberties' law office.

    Your website is beautiful--all of the book covers, movie posters, quotes, and your photos of your house (which looks sumptious), your family (adorable granddaughter).

    I agree on many of the books and movies, but got a few new ideas here just now.

    Have a great new year!

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  12. Thank you so much for dropping by, Kathy! About Rebecca Stead - it's a small world isn't it? Six degrees of separation and all that. I really appreciate your kind words about my blog.
    Inspires me to keep going, keep trying to make it better and better. I hope you'll come back and let me know if any of the books or films I recommended were to your liking. :)

    Happy New Year!!

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  13. Well, I do love that Elaine May movie. Last time I saw it, I could not stop laughing, but I may look for it in the library.

    I will look for "Ministry of Fear," as I like Ray Milland.

    "Notorious" is one of my favorites of all time..."Mother, I am married to an American agent," still sends chills down my spine.

    Will look more carefully at the movie posters, and the books, too and look forward to your reviews of the holiday gift books.

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  14. 'Notorious' is my favorite Ingrid Bergman film, I think. I was never a big fan of hers, but in this she is superb. And for once, Cary Grant is unlikeable. The way he treats her is shameful. A great film.

    By the way, I'll be reviewing the first of the books I received for Christmas on my Monday Review. Next year. ;)

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