authors i'd read again based off 1 book

Might be time for another trip to the bookstore or thriftbooks.com to buy more books

I’m unsure if this is typical for readers or not, but there are not many authors that I’ve read more than 1 book from. I’ve read multiple works from Jane Austin, Ottessa Moshfegh, Mary Shelley (does it count if I didn’t finish?), John Steinbeck, JD Salinger, and Oscar Wilde, but that’s about it. Some authors I’ve read only have one novel published, or the other books are much harder to come by. I also tend to find specific books that I want to read, the pile builds up, and then after some time I’ve read one book by a vast amount of authors. However, some books I’ve read recently were written so well that I would definitely read another book by the same author. If you need some recommendations for good authors, definitely read on. Or if you want to judge my taste, I guess you can do that too.

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1. Emma Cline

I read “The Girls” this summer after watching this Youtube video in which Dakota Warren recommends the book. It’s the tale of a girl (Evie) joining a cult in California in 1969 that follows a similar arc as the Manson cult. There were two stories woven together; one about when Evie joined the cult, and the other decades later when she’s a middle-aged woman trying to have a normal life. I think Cline did an excellent job of making both stories be compelling, so I was never bored between the different sections. In this interview, Cline explains how she didn’t think there was much left to do with the familiar story of girls being in love with a cult leader, so she decided to shake things up and make Evie be in love with another cult member rather than the charismatic leader. I appreciate how thoughtful she was about finding something new to say, as I enjoy reading books with a new perspective. She also says in the interview that she wanted to look at how the universal desire to “fit in” could be used against anyone by a cult. This approach did well, with a myriad of journals and newspapers raving over the novel. The book was pretty different from any I’ve read, so I’d love to see what else Cline has done. She has another novel and a collection of short stories that both seem like they explore people and relationships as well as “The Girls” does, so I’ll have to add them to my tbr.

2. Gillian Flynn

“Sharp Objects” is the last book I’ve finished, and I need to start watching the limited series soon. Even though I love the movie “Gone Girl,” I wanted to read something else from her to see if it was worth reading “Gone Girl” even though I already know the general plot. “Sharp Objects” was terrific and thrilling despite the weird references to teenagers’ sexuality and the fairly predictable ending. I now think that it would be worth it to also read “Gone Girl” or any other book by Flynn. Her website shows that she has 3 books, so I can choose between reading “Gone Girl” or her novella “The Grownup,” which is a ghost story. Honestly, I’d read both, and this article reveals that, over a decade since her last publication, she’s currently writing another book. In the article, she says that being at home during COVID-19 helped her brain “calm down” so she could “get to a place where she could ‘really write the next novel,’” and she thinks her books “will always be psychologically involved, even if they’re not thrillers.” I’m excited to hear about it once she announces her new book! In the meantime I’ll put her other two books on my tbr.

3. Jeffrey Eugenides

I read “The Virgin Suicides” this past summer, and I really liked the way Eugenides framed the story. It’s interesting to have a narrator that isn’t the main character and plays little part in the plot, making the viewer see the story from a voyeuristic lens. It was sometimes frustrating to never be able to know what the girls think or felt, but I think that helps with the allure of the story. I’m curious what other points of view Eugenides has written about, and if these perspectives are as unique and interesting as in “The Virgin Suicides.” This website lists three of his other works, two novels and one set of short stories. The novels, “Middlesex” and “The Marriage Plot” both won or were nominated for many awards, but their plots seem very different. I think “Middlesex,” which seems to be more about self-discovery and family heritage, would be interesting than “The Marriage Plot,” which seems to be more a re-invented romance story. Still, based on the critical acclaim and my enjoyment of his first novel, I think either book would be good to place on my tbr.

4. Elizabeth Wurtzel

I read “Prozac Nation” about two years ago when I was in a phase of reading a lot of memoirs. It was hard to read at times, but she’s had a really interesting life because of her successes and struggles. I also love stories about flawed women trying to find their footing in life, so I enjoyed the memoir. This New Yorker article by a friend of hers explores much of her writing, whether books or articles she wrote as a journalist. The author, Jia Tolentino, talks about Wurtzel’s second novel, “Bitch,” a collection of essays, and includes this quote about certain women that makes me want to read “Bitch”: “‘mixture of prettiness and pollution so striking and inexplicable that it is as hypnotic and paralyzing as a skyscraper burning down, so strange that mystification becomes inevitable’” (the book is from 1998, so I wonder how she felt about the quote post-9/11). Then Tolentino reveals her favorite Wurtzel novel, “More, Now, Again,” which is another memoir, this time about her drug addictions as she wrote and promoted “Bitch.” Since I liked her first memoir, I would assume I’d like her next one. Before I read it, there’s always her journalism work to read as well.

5. Charlotte Brontë

Generally, I group the Brontë sisters as their own entity, and I’ve read one book from each sister: Emily’s “Wuthering Heights,” Anne’s “The Tenant of Wildefell Hall,” and Charlotte’s “Jane Eyre.” Although Jane Eyre was my least favorite, it seems like Charlotte has the most novels to choose from compared to the other sisters. I’ve heard that a lot of people liked her novel “Villette,” which seems fairly similar to “Jane Eyre.” I didn’t read too much of this Literary Ladies Guide article so I could avoid spoilers, but it seems like the book is very character-driven and made the article’s author appreciate Charlotte’s work even more. Despite me saying it was my least favorite of the Brontë sisters’ books I’ve read, “Jane Eyre” was super interesting once I got past the first few chapters. Gothic literature was my favorite genre when I resumed reading a lot more in high school, so I always love a good classic. The style of writing is so ornate, and the absence of technology helps make the stories super dramatic; for example, it was a lot easier to disappear and assume a new identity when only your small town knew who you were. I’m hoping to find a novel by Charlotte (or Emily or Anne) in a used bookstore so I can explore their work more. Plus, there’s nothing like a good, old book.

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I hope you enjoyed reading about some authors I want to read more based on how I liked one of their books! Leave a comment if you have any recommendations, or if you’ve read these authors and agree/disagree with me.

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