Top Ten Most Owned Authors
This is a tricky one – I could list my Top Ten Most Read Authors a lot more easily because firstly, as everyone who follows my blog knows by now I did a massive clear-out of my younger-self books when I hit my awkward teenage years, and as a result no longer own some of my childhood favourites (but I’m debating re-buying some!). Secondly, my physical bookshelves are currently all over the place and my Goodreads isn’t completely up-to-date with “owned” copies (I only started populating this shelf recently). So, this is my Top Ten Most Owned Authors (at a guess).
1. Jodi Picoult – No surprises here. I’m a massive Jodi Picoult fan, she’s basically an auto-buy author for me and I’m rarely let-down or disappointed by her books. Even the ones I don’t love are a solid 3/5. She writes what I like to call “issues” books, that focus on some form of real-life moral/ethical quandary and really make you think as a reader. The titles above are three of my favourites and I highly recommend them.
2. J K Rowling – This one must also be pretty obvious. I own and have read all 7 of the HP series, I own and haven’t read The Casual Vacancy, and I’m half-finished (and enjoying) The Cuckoo’s Calling. I’ve yet to buy The Silkworm and I don’t own any of the HP add-on titles such as Quidditch Through The Ages, but I’m considering them. Are they worth picking up?
3. Cassandra Clare – Clare is a recent edition to this list. I own and have read the six books in The Mortal Instruments series (you can check out my series overview here), and as soon as I finished it I went and bought The Infernal Devices trilogy so I could binge-read it (but haven’t yet). I’ve every intention of reading all of her books, so by the end of the five series she claims she will write in the Shadowhunter world, I’m sure she’ll over-take as my most read/owned author.
4. Phillipa Gregory – I fell in love with The White Queen BBC TV series and when I discovered it was based on books of the same name by Phillipa Gregory, I quickly purchased the entire set from The Book People. The sixth, and final, book in the series is due for release in August/September 2014, and I might have to do a reread at some point… I also own the TV show on DVD and hope to get my hands on more of her books, specifically The Tudor Court series. I was never really into historical fiction but Gregory does it so well that I fell head-over-heels for it. Highly recommended.
5. Cecelia Ahern – I read P.S I Love You when it was first released and absolutely adored it, from then I’ve basically been a Cecilia Ahern fan, and although I don’t love all of her books, I’m pretty sure I’ll always try her latest one anyways. I actually met her and got If You Could See Me Now signed when I was 15, one of the few times an author did an event where I live, and I didn’t know you could bring other books you already own to get those signed too, so I missed out!
6. Stephanie Meyer – I’m not even a little bit ashamed of this. I own the full Twilight series, including the novellas. I haven’t read these in quite some time, but I know that I really enjoyed them when I read them and I wouldn’t mind doing a reread at some point. Though when I’ll have the time to fit this in, I’m not sure. Are you pro or anti Twilight?
7. Sophie Kinsella – During my teens I went through a serious addiction to all things Chick-Lit, which meant reading a lot of Sophie Kinsella, especially the Shopaholic series. Don’t let the movie put you off, these are well worth a read.
8. Enid Blyton – I haven’t read any of the Famous Five, or the Secret Seven, which are probably the series that Blyton is most known for. I have read and own the first six-or-so books from the Malory Towers series and to be honest I’d love to get my hands on all of them and reread them. I was very pleasantly surprised that I loved these as much as I did as a young teen and I’m pretty sure I’d still like to read them now. Have you read the Famous Five or Secret Seven? Are they worth checking out?
9. Malorie Blackman – The Malorie Blackman books I’ve read consist of the entire Noughts and Crosses Series. I first read Noughts and Crosses at the start of my teens and loved this book so much. At the start of this year I decided to purchase all four books in this series, including the novellas, to reread them as an adult (you can read my series overview here). Rumour has it there will be a new book released in this series sometime soon, and if that is true I’ll be first in line for my copy!
10. Diane Chamberlain – It’s easy to see why comparisons are regularly made between Jodi Picoult and Diane Chamberlain, and while readers of one generally enjoy the other, that’s not to say these authors are particularly similar in writing style or story-lines, but rather they both fall into that “issues” and realism adult fiction category that I love. Another auto-buy author for me.
Who are your Top Ten Owned Authors? Leave me a link in the comments, and let me know if the HP add-on’s are worth getting, if you’re pro or anti Twilight, and if you’ve read any Enid Blyton!
Confessions of a Book Geek 
I own Quiddith Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. They’re cute and fun, but I don’t see myself rereading them. The Tales of Beedle the Bard though, is awesome!
I really need to check out Enid Blyton with my kids – she just isn’t popular over here so I never heard of her until I started reading book blogs!
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I guess for fans it’s just nice to have the “textbooks”. I might try to get my hands on a copy. When I first picked up Blyton I assumed I would hate it, but if anything it taught me that even though generations feel they are growing apart, a lot of the same issues in these books were very relevant to High School me, I really enjoyed them!
R x
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First, I love how you set up your list – it makes for a gorgeous post! I’d never heard of four of the ten authors on your list, so I’ll be checking them out. I’ve never read Jodi Picoult – I think I think of her books as crying books that I *should* read, but that I’m strangely never in the mood to read….
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Thanks! 🙂 Who were the four? Some of Picoult’s books are crying books (My Sister’s Keeper being the number 1 tear jerker!) but some of them are just very interesting… OK, so most of them bring a tear to the eye, but they’re brilliant!
R x
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J. K Rowling and Stephanie Meyer made my list as well! And Cassandra Clare made Ashley’s! Great list!
Nicole @ The Quiet Concert
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Thanks! And thanks for commenting 🙂 R x
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Your posts are always so lovely and creative. Love them!!
I haven’t heard of 8 or 9. I’ll have to look into those authors.
YAY FOR TWILIGHT!!! 🙂 You know how I feel on this one. Lol.
I am finding JK Rowling and Cassandra Clare are making the top of a lot of lists today. All except mine. heehee
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Aw, thanks Brandie! I don’t feel very creative so I try and jazz them up a bit.
Let me know if you do check them out, I think you’d enjoy Noughts and Crosses. Enid Blyton’s Mallory Towers is set in a boarding school – old-style childhood escapism at its finest!
Have you read any HP or CC? R x
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Thanks for the recs!
I read the first two HP books and then dare I say I got bored? *ducks and runs* I hope to revisit them some day. I was distracted by sparkling vampires at the time. 😉
I’ve read the first 3 City of Bones books and then quit after that. The long times in between book releases did me in and I lost interest.
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You better run!!! Lol
To be fair, based on what I know of your reading preferences I wouldn’t have said HP or TMI were necessarily for you, but I think they’re good crossover reads in that a lot of people who read a lot of diverse genres still enjoy them. I’d definitely day give oul HP a go again. As for TMI, I agree that long gaps between publishing dates suck, which is why I tend to wait until the whole series is out and buy then (we talked about this, didn’t we?). The first three TMI read well as a trilogy, 4-5 are basically a second trilogy to me, you can split the story. R x
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Yeah, I felt pretty satisfied after finishing the third book (although now I don’t remember much of any of the books except their names). Maybe someday I’ll get the urge to read more of them.
I know HP is beloved by just about everyone and I get it. I do want to revisit the series some day but I just have to be in the right mindset. I’m such a moody reader.
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I still have to read a whole bunch of these. I look forward to Ahern and Gregory very much.
I love Blyton! I read all her Famous Five books a bajillion times and have been thinking of getting them again to read them now. I always wished I had own collection as a kid. 😀
Awesome picks!
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I have sooo many on my TBR that I swear I’ll get to! You should definitely get Blyton!
http://www.theworks.co.uk/p/classic-novels/enid-blyton-12-book-mega-bundle/kit0236
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I haven’t read any of J.K. Rowling’s other books, but I do own the Harry Potter series. I’m afraid that her new books like the Casual Vacancy won’t be as good. I’m sure they’re great and I have nothing to worry about, but the fear is still there!
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I felt that way about Casual Vacancy, and probably for good reason, the plot baffled me when I heard it and there are mixed reviews, you either love it or hate it. I’ve been told it’s a character driven story rather than a plotline driven story, but I love her writing style. I’d recommend The Cuckoo’s Calling and The Silkworm though, even though I’m only half-way through the first one, it’s really good. R x
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I was raised on Enid Blyton! I’ve read pretty much every series she wrote :3 I think the school ones were probably my favourites though.
And I love Jodi Picoult, but have yet to read the three you mentioned. Will fix that soon, though 😉
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Ohhh, you should check those JP ones out, definitely my favourites by her!
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Great list! I’ve never read any of Diane Chamberlain’s books but the premises to some of them intrigue me. I should check them out one of these days…
My TTT
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If you’ve read/liked Jodi Picoult I definitely recommend them. I’ve generally shown the covers of my favourites in this list, and there’s loads of hers I own but haven’t read it. When I’m book-shopping online I’ll spot the odd one on offer for a pound or two and put it in my basket to add to the collection but don’t always get round to reading them that quickly! R x
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I read lots of Enid Blyton books when I was a kid! Every other weekend, my mum would bring me to the library, and I’d always come home with one of her books. Ahh the memories 🙂
I wasn’t a huge fan of City of Bones when I read it. It reminded me of Buffy and Angel a bit too much. I grew up on those TV shows, so it was a little weird. I do own a copy of City of Ashes, and hopefully I’ll like it a lot better.
I’m pro-Twilight. Twilight itself I really enjoyed back when I read it. I’m not sure if my opinions would be the same now, and that’s what keeps me from rereading it. What has caused my love of the series to drop is the amount of copy-Twilight YA books! It frustrates me when two story-lines can be put side by side and are eerily similar, just with names, locations and creature differences. That’s the price of popularity I suppose 😉 Great list!
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Big comment 😀
I was the same but with Meg Cabot and Jacqueline Wilson. I struggled with City of Bones when I started it, being thrown into the world was a bit, “woah…” but I do love the Shadowhunter world overall and would definitely recommend continuing with it. I see the Buffy similarities though! It’s really like throwing Buffy, Charmed, Twilight and The Vampire Diaries all into a big pot!
I’m curious to read Twilight again to see if my feelings have changed, I find the more I read, the more critical I become, so books that I once rated highly might not score the same the second time around. Tastes change, right? Yep, for a long time I avoided anything to do with vampires because I didn’t want to ruin it or become bored by it. Thanks for commenting 🙂 R x
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Your list is very varied. Love it. I think it is really neat to see the lists this week because, to some degree, they represent what we read as children (or to our children). So often we are busy focusing on the here and now that we forget to look back on the special books that built our literary foundation. Here is my list and you will see that I have several books that were special to my children (and me) while they were growing up. MyTTT-Anne@HeadFullofBooks
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Thanks! My list does span quite a few years and includes some childhood favourites. Will have a nosy at yours now. Thanks for commenting. R x
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I totally listed ten most read authors because I own too many trilogies and it would have been a long list with a fifty-way tie. I’ve been waiting impatiently for my library hold of Noughts & Crosses, I’ve heard such wonderful things.
My TTT
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My most read would be different due to my childhood clear out. Haha it got tough at one point to think of authors and books where I own more than three, seems to be the magic number (Gillian Flynn, Katie McGarry, Suzanne Collins, Veronica Roth, Lauren Oliver). I really do love Noughts and Crosses, I think the first book was the best (for me) but the rest of the series is still worth a read. R x
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Unfortunately most of my Picoult books are technically my mom’s or I had borrowed them from the library. I actually only own about 3 of hers! J.K. Rowling topped my list though – and I only have the 7 books. There were a lot of runner-ups at 5 books though, so someone on my shelf could easily surpass that 😉
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Most of Picoult are second hand, which doesn’t happen often as I like things to match, but with her books I don’t mind it so much. HP was everywhere today, though it usually finds its way into a TTT somewhere along the way, I know it’s probably in nearly all of mine! R x
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I think Rowling’s on everybody’s list this week, and the add-ons are fun, especially The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Philippa Gregory’s historical fiction is amazing, and I really need to catch up on The White Queen books. I’ve still got a couple left to read.
I really want to read more Cecilia Ahern – I’ve read P.S. I Love You and cried a lot, and I reading more of her books is definitely something I want to do soon. I used to have a lot of Enid Blyton books up until a few years ago, and I loved the Secret Seven and Famous Five. The FF were really good, and they’re great children’s books.
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I’ve seen Rowling everywhere too, and well deserved! I want to start The Tudor Court series, I’ve heard good things! I’m patiently waiting for the last book in the Cousins War series to come out – she definitely writes historical fiction so well, it doesn’t even feel historical if that makes any sense?
I cried at PS I Love You too, it was such a fantastic debut and I think it’s my favourite of her books that I’ve read. I know she recently released another book (How To Love) and I’m keen to try it out. I took a big step back from Chick-Lit a few years ago, but Ahern always seems to have more depth than the genre usually has. They probably won’t be a priority for a while, but I might try a few FF as they’re such an institution! R x
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This was hard, since I do read lots by some authors, but I went with the books I actually own- I rely heavily on my public library.
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I’ve started reading more eBooks and I didn’t really count those, as if I LOVE an eBook I’ll buy a paper copy. I always swear I’ll use my library more but my current TBR could keep me going for a year or two yet, so I never get round to it, but I want to be a library user! R x
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+JMJ+
I’m pro-Twilight, thanks for asking! 😉 Stephenie Meyer didn’t make my Tenner because I’ve only read the four Twilight novels (but not The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, though I also own it) and I was basing my list on hard numbers.
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Yay! Another pro-Twilight, welcome lol There were a lot of good authors who couldn’t make my list today based on books I actually own, though it was a rough guide as my books are so disorganised at the minute I basically had to go off memory!
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+JMJ+
I went off memory, too, because I wrote my post on the spur of the moment, during a really slow day at work. (Shhh! Don’t tell my boss! LOL!) I’m sure that when I get home, I’ll see some authors who totally slipped my mind. Oh, well . . . =P
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I am ridiculous! I forgot to include JK Rowling on today’s TTT. I have two sets of Harry Potter (plus three other HP books in paperback), Beetle the Bard. Oh well.
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Oh, and also, I liked the two add HP books (Quidditch and Fantastic Beasts). I liked Quidditch more. It was funny.
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Hahah! How could you forget HP?? I only have the one set, but I wanted to get another to preserve my originals (and who am I kidding? I wanted a second set of matching beautiful covers too!). In fact, this https://wordery.com/special-edition-harry-potter-paperback-box-set-scholastic-inc-9780545596275 is the set I want and hope to get, but I didn’t realise these are the American version (sorcerer’s stone) and I don’t know if I can deal with it! I might keep my eye out for the add on books too, I never did read them but it would be nice to own all the JK books. R x
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I actually have that set, along with the American hardcover set. I really want the U.K. versions, though!
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Haha – swapsies?! Are there any other changes in the American set?? I want it, it’s sooo pretty. I just don’t know if the contents have been changed too, like calling juice “pop” or something, it would feel weird to me reading it that way. UK editions, the only one I really like are the original Bloomsbury covers…
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Harry-Potter-5-Volumes-set/dp/0747575444/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1406663127&sr=8-16&keywords=harry+potter+bloomsbury+set
Can’t find all 7 together…
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I’m sure there are some changes, although soda isn’t called pop in HP. Actually only a small part of the U.S. calls soda pop (I think it’s weird, too!). I think things like jumpers are called sweaters. I’m not sure what other differences there are or aren’t, though.
I really need to get my hand son the U.K. version. I love the hardcover designs.
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Haha I’m showing how little I know. We don’t call it soda or pop really but I think an Americanised version would confuse me, and it wouldn’t feel the same as reading the stories I grew up with. It’s a shame because I LOVED the Scholastic covers and I found a them for a great price too! Which hardcover is it you like? I’m really fussy about HP cover designs, there’s not many I like, the new UK editions releasing in September are lovely though – I’m doing a post on them next week. R x
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Don’t worry, there is plenty I don’t know about how people talk in the U.K. I actually am more interested in the U.K. version of Harry Potter, because I want to read it how it was originally written, before it was adapted slightly for the U.S. publication. I don’t think there are huge differences, but I still really want to read them. I’ll have to watch out for post of the new HP covers.
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We should do a catch-phrase lesson – so I can learn American-isms and you can learn UK/Irish-isms! Lol I enjoy reading the originals partly because they’re how I read them as a kid, and partly because that is how they were originally written. Definitely keep an eye out, I think it’d scheduled for Monday… R x
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Jodi Picoult is probably an author I love who only the least books for. I borrow them from all over the place and then don’t keep them, and she is such a good author, how is it right I only own 2 books by her? Love that Stephanie Meyer is on here though, I am a person who borrowed the books from someone else and then promptly returned them once finished. I have read all the books she’s written though, so I suppose she has been doing something right.
Love your list though, the variety is great, and I find the most owned authors lists by people surprising and I love it
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Haha I don’t know, you should fix that! Once I grew out of childhood I didn’t really collect books any more, she was the first author I began collecting as an adult and I think I’m pretty close to owning them all, though of course I haven’t read them all yet. There’s a new one due out this year. I don’t get all the hate for Meyer at all, in fact it was Twilight (and 50 Shades of Grey – though I didn’t know it was fan-fic at the time) that got me back into reading again after Uni.
I’ve loved this week too, been introduced to so many great new authors. My most read list is different than my most owned list too. Rick Riordan is definitely one I’ve seen A LOT of today, I was debating the Percy Jackson series but I might have to give it a go now.
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You’ve got an amazing collection! Wow!
I feel so great reading about someone owning Enid Blytons. She’s awesome but not as popular as she deserves to be.
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Hi! 🙂 Thanks. I haven’t read any Blyton in a long time but they really should be considered children’s classics, or modern classics – I really loved the Mallory Towers stories but I didn’t realise there were so many of them (12 I think). Thanks for commenting. R x
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Ahh our lists are quite similar! I can’t believe I’ve never read a Cecelia Aherne book though.
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Malorie Blackman, Enid Blyton and J.K. Rowling ALL made my list too! Such awesome authors! I’m afraid I didn’t enjoy Twilight at all when I read it, but I own and loved The Host! Great picks 🙂
Check out my TTT!
And if you missed last week’s, click here!
Katrina @ Chased By My Imagination
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Great picks 😉 I haven’t picked up The Host, I’ve been debating it. There’s a movie, isn’t there? R x
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I’ve been considering reading Noughts and Crosses. I’ll have to check out your review!
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I think you’d really like it! My series overview isn’t too spoiler-y I don’t think… R x
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Our list is almost similar. 🙂
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I was a huge fan of Enid Blyton as a kid. I never really got into the mystery ones but read Malory Towers, St Clare’s and the Wishing Chair/Magic Faraway Tree books voraciously.
The Tales of Beedle the Bard is great! I loved both The Cuckoo’s Calling and The Silkworm but couldn’t get into The Casual Vacancy.
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I haven’t read any Blyton except the Malory Towers series, I should maybe take a nostalgia trip and take a look into them – are you UK-based? I guess this place does international shipping too but check this out – http://www.theworks.co.uk/p/classic-novels/enid-blyton-12-book-mega-bundle/kit0236 I’ve heard a lot of people saying they like the Strike books but not Casual Vacancy – I actually need to finish them!
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I am UK based and popped in The Works the other day and saw the packs. I’m tempted to have a look myself but am worried I wouldn’t like them as much now I am older.
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Hmmm… I felt the same way about picking up some Roald Dahl, Jacqueline Wilson and Meg Cabot that I decided to get rid of in my teens and regretted in my 20’s! I don’t think the stories are as magical when you read them as an adult (only true in some cases – some of my favourites are still amazing) but sometimes I like to reread as an adult to see if they still have merit, and for The Works prices it’s the best way to try, and if they aren’t for me I pass them on to the next generation… Let me know if you do pick them up! 🙂
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Oh my gosh I’ve been meaning to read Philippa Gregory’s books FOREVER. I think we’ve already discussed this before but, period dramas are my thing! I watched the White Queen TV show, so clearly I MUST read the books…:) Great list!
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Thanks, Emily! We probably have talked about it before – the TV show was so good, definitely recommend you pick up the books. R x
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I would really like to finish reading Twilight. x) I know it gets a hate, but it honestly wasn’t the worse book I’ve read by far! I’m curious to see the triangle too, because it’s quite infamous for it and it’s not really in the first book at all! I’M CURIOUS. XD
Thanks for stopping by mine!
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Exactly, I’ve tried to read far worse! I think you should continue the series 🙂 R x
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Awww, Enid Blyton! I love her “The Naughtiest Girl in the School” series, and I read a bunch of the Famous Five books when I was a kid. I don’t really remember anything about them, lol, but I think I enjoyed them quite a bit at the time 🙂
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Oddly enough, some of the Malory Towers storyline has stayed with me… must have been good!
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Brilliant list of authors up there, nice to see we have a few in common. Jodi Picoult, Diane Chamberlain, Malorie Blackman and J.K. Rowling made my list too. I love the UK hardcovers, but half of mine are hardcovers and half are paperbacks. I am really tempted by the new hardcovers that bloomsbury are releasing, I really like those! In the loft of my parents house are so many Enid Blyton hardbacks, too many to count. My sister used to be utterly obsessed with her and so was I.
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Thanks for stopping by, Charnell! Did you enjoy your time away from blogging? I’m tempted to buy the new Bloomsbury covers too, not sure if I’d go paperback or hardback. I actually have an in-depth post I’m doing about the new covers next week – I really wanted the Scholastic anniversary edition with the spines that make up Hogwarts, but I didn’t realise they were the American editions, and I can’t cope with a Sorcerer’s Stone and not a Philosopher’s Stone! The new Bloomsbury covers look great and I’m really fussy about HP covers. If I had my way I’d probably buy the Bloomsbury originals, but they’re hard to come by. It’s great that you kept them though (the Blytons!), I bet you’d have such a nostalgia trip if you got them down! R x
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Jodi Picoult is definitely my most owned author as well, if I was more organised she could have an entire shelf of my bookcase dedicated to her ;D x
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[…] The Most Books From” – for me, this is very close to the prompt from July 2014 – Top Ten Authors I Own The Most Books From, with the additions of Colleen Hoover and Sarah J Maas (bet you never saw those coming, huh? […]
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