Author meme

Tara tagged me for this one, and here goes:

The guidelines:

-Answer the questions as you see fit. Although they’re all phrased to ask about a singular author, feel free to respond with multiples, or even a list.
-Where possible & convenient (you don’t have to go as crazy as I did!), include a link here or there to an author’s website, your review of one of their books, or a review that inspired you to try the author(s), so your readers can get more information on anyone that sounds interesting.
-Tag five people and drop by their blogs to let them know you tagged them, or open-tag your readers.
-It would be nice if you included a link back to your tagger.

1. Who’s your all-time favorite author, and why?

P.G. Wodehouse. If he were the only writer I ever read, or who had ever written, it would be enough. There are those who say he is second only to Shakespeare, and I guess I would say, equal. His wit, his wisdom, his humor, his incredible capacity to keep all those characters and threads of stories straight make him a genius. I'm one of those that think humor is much more fun and maybe even harder to write than tragedy. A lifetime isn't long enough to spend with this man.


2. Who was your first favorite author, and why? Do you still consider him or her among your favorites?

Beverly Cleary, and interestingly enough, I've just gotten Henry Huggins to read (again) on audio. I love this series, and the Ramona series, and all the others. I own quite a few from when my kids were little. I wrote her a letter when I was thirteen, and she wrote back! I do still love her books.


3. Who’s the most recent addition to your list of favorite authors, and why?

Over the past few years, there have been many new (to me) authors I now love. First and foremost is Rick Bragg. I don't think anyone can touch him when it comes to a good story, well told, with excellent words and sentences. His writing takes my breath away.


Another man whose writing I absolutely love is John Mortimer. His Rumpole stories are perfect, period. I also think his autobiographies are excellent, and I love his Summer's Lease. And he keeps writing, just as Wodehouse did into old age. Long may he live!


A writer I discovered a while ago, and whose books I adore, is Raffaela Barker. Her Hens Dancing, and Summertime are two of my favorite books of all time. I love her depiction of family and rural life.




4. If someone asked you who your favorite authors were right now, which authors would first pop out of your mouth? Are there any you’d add on a moment of further reflection?

The same ones as in question 3. Others I didn't list because it would make this post endless are Miss Read, Virginia Woolf, Gladys Taber, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Alexander McCall Smith, David McCullough, Reeve Lindbergh, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, William Faulkner, Alan Titchmarsh, E.M. Delafield, D.E. Stevenson. You see what I mean? :<)

5. Instead of tagging anyone, I'll just say, if anyone reads this, and wants to offer their own lists, please do so.