I started this page as a list of favorite books, but the list was so long it was unwieldy. Instead, here are some of my favorite authors with a short description of their writings. If you want to see what I’ve read recently, check out my book reviews page. Or send me an email and I’ll see if I’ve read anything like what you’re looking for! There are few things I love to discuss more than good books.
Classic Fiction
Jane Austen. The queen of classic regency. I think Persuasion is my favorite, but only by a hair.
Charlotte Bronte. Gothic/regency. If you haven’t read Jane Eyre yet, you simply must! The audio recording by Susan Ericksen is fantastic.
Charles Dickens. The king of characters. Scrooge and Tiny Tim, Betsy Trotwood and Wilkins Micawber, Lady Dedlock and the spontaneously combusting Krook… nobody writes an unforgettable character like Dickens did. A Christmas Carol and David Copperfield and Bleak House and A Tale of Two Cities are wonderful. Not so much Great Expectations: I can’t stand an idiot protagonist and Pip drove me crazy.
Alexandre Dumas. I love The Count of Monte Cristo.
Elizabeth Gaskell. North and South is my favorite of her works.
Gene Stratton-Porter. Freckles and Girl of the Limberlost
J.R.R. Tolkein. Father of fantasy. I love The Hobbit as a read-aloud, and The Lord of the Rings defines EPIC.
Modern Fiction
Traci Hunter Abramson. Contemporary suspense, mystery, and romance. Her first book is Undercurrents.
Lynn Austin. Christian and historical fiction. I have loved every book of hers that I’ve read, but especially these two series:
The Chronicles of the Kings series brought Hezekiah and his contemporaries to life for me. I have vivid pictures in my head now when we discuss the Assyrian invasion or idolatry. Gods and Kings is the first book.
The Refiner’s Fire trilogy brought new depth and meaning to my understanding of the Civil War, exploring the time period from Southern, Northern, and slave perspectives. Candle in the Darkness is the first book.
Elizabeth Camden. Historical Fiction. From Camden I have learned about the Library of Congress, the Great Chicago Fire, and the treatment of tuberculosis in the late 19th century. Love her books!
Orson Scott Card. Mostly science fiction, also some historical fiction and others. Ender’s Game, Sarah, Rebekah, and Pastwatch are great reads.
Megan Whalen Turner. I love to read the first three books of her Queen’s Thief series every few years. Start with The Thief.
Jennifer Jenkins. Nameless trilogy. I love Jenkins’ world-building and characters.
Nancy Farmer. The Scorpion King and The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm
Cornelia Funke. Inkheart et al.
Suzanne Collins. Hunger Games is not for the faint-hearted, but I found the books captivating. Not a good pick for readers who dislike violence.
Marissa Meyers. Lunar Chronicles offer a fresh, futuristic take on old fairy tales. Start with Cinder.
Nonfiction
David McCullough. I have read 1776 and listened to Truman, John Adams, The Path Between the Seas, and Mornings on Horseback. He pulled me into the lives of Truman and Adams so fully that I mourned when they died and their books came to a close.
Candice Millard.Destiny of the Republic was fabulous, and River of Doubt was even better.
Daniel James Brown. I loved The Boys in the Boat but haven’t explored his other titles yet.
Ron Chernow. Hamilton. Haven't seen the musical, but I loved the book.
Martin Dugard. Into Africa was captivating. Killing Lincoln was just okay, but I think that may have more to do with O’Reilly than Dugard. I’m looking forward to trying some of Dugard’s other solo titles.
* I don’t let my kids watch the movie for any book I love until they have read the book, and with Harry Potter, they can only read the “year at Hogwarts” up to the grade they are in. So, as soon as 4th grade has let out for summer, I will have a newly minted 5th grader immersed in Book 5. I love that this gives my kids a sense of excitement similar to what I experienced as I waited impatiently for them to be published. (I do have to continually warn them NOT to talk to their friends or siblings about Harry because they’ll just spoil all the surprises.) This approach also renders my children (theoretically) more ready for the increasing maturity of the books as Harry ages and the evil grows.