Let's Talk: Authors That I Can't Help But Read

Let's Talk is a weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

Do you ever read books simply because they're from an author you love, rather than because of the book itself?

The sad (but very true) answer to this question is, simply. yes. But let's be honest. I'm sure I'm not the only one. It doesn't always work in my favour either. Some authors make a big impression on me the first time I read their books. It doesn't matter what they write after that initial book, but I will always pick up their books, simply because they sold me on their prowess and skill as an author the first time around. 

A great example of this is Susan Beth Pfeffer. When I read Life As We Knew It, I was really blown away. The story, the premise, the to-die-for cover - all of it made for a solid hook, and I knew from then on that I would read anything by Ms. Pfeffer because the woman can write. Now, the rest of the series hasn't worked for me, yet I keep coming back for more. That, in a nutshell, is a beautiful example of reading simply because of an author. When she released Blood Wounds, you'd better believe I got it while it was hot off the press, too.

I can guarantee I will always read anything that Michelle Hodkin writes, too. She's not only an incredible writer, but she's a great person and an awesome friend. She could write pure gibberish, and I'd still pick it up, simply because it was written by her. Jennifer Brown is another example for me. Contemporary notoriously hasn't worked for me in the past, but Ms. Brown made me see the error in my ways with Hate List. Yeah, it's perfection.

There are more authors that I'll do this for, too. John Green, anyone? Rainbow Rowell? Laurie Halse Anderson? Way back when, it was Brian Jacques. It didn't matter what he wrote...I'd read it because it was him. So, yes, I do read books for this reason, and I'm totally okay with it.