Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

Who is your most read author?

117 replies

TattiePants · 24/09/2022 16:45

I expected my most read author to be Kate Atkinson but it turns out it’s Pat Barker. I’ve only got 2 more Barkers to read then I’ve ran out until her next one comes out in 2024. There is a new Atkinson and Harris out this month and I haven’t read the latest Aaronovitch / Rivers of London yet so that’ll be a few more to add to the list.

Pat barker 13
Kate Atkinson 11
Robert Harris 10
Ben Aaronovitch 8
Margaret Atwood 7
CJ Sansom 7

OP posts:
Gettingbythanks · 24/09/2022 19:08

Robert Goddard for me too at 25, although I’ve a few still to read
Also Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files 17

Fairislefandango · 24/09/2022 18:58

Tolkien
Pratchett
Patrick Rothfuss
JKRowling
Diana Wynne Jones

BrandyandGinger · 24/09/2022 18:54

It will always be Agatha Christie for me because I read all her books as a teenager. I read an awful lot of Ruth Rendell and Joanna Trollope too when I was younger.

John Connolly must be my most read current author as I've read all the Charlie Parker books and He. I've also read almost everything by Alice Hoffman, Anne Tyler, Maggie O'Farrell, Lionel Shriver, Sebastian Barry and Emma Donogue.

StarlingsInTheRoof · 24/09/2022 18:51

I have more Terry Pratchett than any author because he wrote so much. Bernard Cornwell and Ken Follett next. I have probably read the gruffalo more times than any other book as the kids love it. Not one I would sit down to read by myself though! Ruth Saberton is the one I have most on kindle as she writes fun romances with a conveniently large family of siblings to keep the series going.

Under the dome is a terrible book full of poor characterisation, predictable cliche and rubbish ending. I regret that I will never get the hours of my life back that I wasted on reading it!

watertheroses · 24/09/2022 18:49

Susan Hill

Ambertonix · 24/09/2022 18:49

Probably Agatha Christie and Maeve Binchy for me but we are coming into the season where i very much enjoy reading Rosamund Pilcher.

ithoughtisawapuddycat · 24/09/2022 18:47

Jeffrey Archer - 11
Lucinda Riley - 8
Julia Quinn - 8 (read all the Bridgerton books this year)

Helgadaley · 24/09/2022 18:42

The books are dated now, but Arthur Hailey was a brilliant author.
Also Antonia Forest
P D James
Maeve Binchy
Elizabeth Goudge
Noël Streatfield

MarthaMayWhovier · 24/09/2022 18:38

ChessieFL · 24/09/2022 18:21

A lot of The Babysitters’ Club books were ghostwritten so not sure that counts for being by one author. Same with Nancy Drew - Carolyn Keene doesn’t actually exist!

Mine would probably be Robert Goddard - he’s written 30 books and I have read them all, some numerous times. Enid Blyton would probably be up there too.

Ann M. Martin still wrote 30+ Babysitter books herself apparently.

Mayvis · 24/09/2022 18:30

I have no idea of exact numbers but probably Lee Child, Martina Cole and Charlaine Harris.

MamaNewtNewt · 24/09/2022 18:27

Definitely Stephen King for me. A couple of years ago I decided to read / reread all of his books in order so I don't expect this to change.

Original poster
TattiePants · 24/09/2022 18:26

I haven’t heard of lots of these authors so I fear my TBR pile is going to shoot up. It’s at 373 already!

OP posts:
certainlyitis · 24/09/2022 18:26

Though the comics and annuals will be multi authored of course.

17caterpillars1mouse · 24/09/2022 18:24

Scott Mariani - currently on book 20 of the main series but read a few of his shorter stories / spin offs too

certainlyitis · 24/09/2022 18:22

The author of The Beano Annual comes in a close second as I had one every year from around 6 to 14 🤣

We had inherited copies, too! In which cas I'd have to also add Beano and Bunty to the list.

ChessieFL · 24/09/2022 18:21

A lot of The Babysitters’ Club books were ghostwritten so not sure that counts for being by one author. Same with Nancy Drew - Carolyn Keene doesn’t actually exist!

Mine would probably be Robert Goddard - he’s written 30 books and I have read them all, some numerous times. Enid Blyton would probably be up there too.

certainlyitis · 24/09/2022 18:20

This is a numbers or a 'most read' question?

Numbers would be Shakespeare, Dickens, Zola and Trollope in terms of number of books currently owned. Childhood would be Blyton, Weis and Hickman, Jackson and Livingston, Coolidge.

I like to repeat read some of the same authors so that would be different.

theproudgeek · 24/09/2022 18:18

Like @EllieQ Terry Pratchett and Lois McMaster Bujold (not that often I come across someone whose even heard of LMB).
And then Christie, partly because there's a lot of them and they're generally short.
Blyton in my childhood and again now as my children get into her.

UnconscionableSnacking · 24/09/2022 18:16

The first that spring to mind

PG Wodehouse
Miss Read
Jane Austen
JKR/Robert Galbraith
James Herriot
Agatha Christie
Terry Pratchett
Ann M Martin
Roald Dahl
Elinor Brent Dyer
Alexander McCall Smith

Figrolls14 · 24/09/2022 18:14

Hilary Mantel
RIP

ofwarren · 24/09/2022 18:13

ShirleyJackson · 24/09/2022 17:29

Ooh, that’s a good question!

I’d like to say PG Wodehouse or Ann Tyler, but it’s probably Enid Blyton 😂

I was just going to say exactly the same. Mine is definitely Enid Blyton.
The author of The Beano Annual comes in a close second as I had one every year from around 6 to 14 🤣

EllieQ · 24/09/2022 18:12

Terry Pratchett (over 40 Discworld books plus a few of his others) would probably take the top spot, followed by Lois McMaster Bujold (27 books plus a few novellas), Carrie Vaughn (25 books plus some novellas), and probably Robin Hobb after that (15 books).

If children’s books were included, it would definitely be Enid Blyton!

IpanemaChic · 24/09/2022 18:08

And if we’re going way back;

Carolyn Keene - Nancy Drew Mysteries x 57
L.M. Montgomery - Anne of Green Gables x 8

Original poster
TattiePants · 24/09/2022 17:59

AdInfinitum12 · 24/09/2022 17:49

I think he's an acquired taste. Very wordy, very descriptive. It's not always peaks and troughs of the story, but providing so much context you end up knowing the entire town by the end of his books. For some, it's too slow, but I love it! If you can cope with the length, (it's quite a slog!) then I'd recommend Under The Dome. IT is my favourite but I've always had an unsettling feeling for clowns.

Show quote history

I’ve added Under the Dome to my ridiculously long TBR pile and I also wanted to try his new one, Fairy Tale. @ShirleyJackson hopefully I won’t regret reading 1000+ pages if I hate the ending!

OP posts:
Haus1234 · 24/09/2022 17:58

It will be Terry Pratchett, but that’s mainly because not that many people have written a series of 41 books - I’ve read all of Discworld and a few of his others.