Booking Through Thursday: Favorite Unknown

Who’s your favorite author that other people are NOT reading? The one you want to evangelize for, the one you would run popularity campaigns for? The author that, so far as you’re concerned, everyone should be reading–but that nobody seems to have heard of. You know, not JK Rowling, not Jane Austen, not Hemingway–everybody’s heard of them. The author that you think should be that famous and can’t understand why they’re not…

Hmmm - this is a good question! And I am sure I have a ton that I have felt this way over the years - but this is what comes to mind now :

1) Dianne Wynn-Jones - LOVE HER. For anyone that loves Harry Potter, and childrens fiction - they should pick up The Chronicles of Chrestomanci. I do not know why she is not as popular as Rowling - but without doubt she should be. I think the real problem is her books were written back in the 70s/80s before the marketing machine that made Harry famous was in place. Her books are a tiny bit more old fashioned then Harry Potter -but since it is set in a magical world, it works as timeless fiction. Author's such as Neil Gaiman have done homage to her.

2)  Joe Hill - A great horror novelist - and the next Stephen King. Oh and he actually happens to be Stephen King's son. I would not have thought writing talent is something that could be handed down from father to son - but this is just eerie. He is really good - regardless of who his dad is.

3)  Elizabeth Van Armin - I saw the film 'Enchanted April' and really wanted to read the novel - because I was going to Italy.  So I finally tracked down 'Enchanted April' and loved it. 

On top of this - I saw an old Bette Davis movie called : Mr. Skeffington - very dramatic - typical  Bette Davis fare. This also turned out to be adapted from a Van Armin novel

I never could find any more of her books - but I stumbled into them at a used book store. I found the book 'Love' and 'Vera'.   (These titles are not even found when searching Amazon or Library of Congress on Librarything!) I also have 'Elizabeth and her German Garden'  Still searching for a copy of Mr. Skeffington.

Not sure how she fell into obscurity - but Enchanted April is well worth reading if you like novels from the 20's/30's, between the wars time period.

4) Susan Hill - I first was introduced to her when I saw the one man play 'The Woman in Black' in the West End in London. I loved the play so I tracked down the novel - and found it to be a creepy little ghost story. She also had another ghost story - 'The Mist in the Mirror'. But the book that really impressed me was 'King of the Castle'.....Evidently in England this title is something that kids read in school - ala 'Lord of the Flies'.  But it is not known here in the US. (I had to get it from Amazon UK) Very disturbing and psychologically tense - and I would highly recommend that book to any book clubs - because I remember being shocked by the 'villain' and wanting to talk about the book after I completed it.

I am sure I will think of some more authors later in the day. If so I will update this post!

Comments

[Priscilla]

I almost picked up Susan Hill's The Woman in Black last fall. I am also surprised to see that Stephen King's son is a writer--I had no idea!

[Alayne]

I'll definitely be looking for The Chronicles of Chrestomanci. My pick is at The Crowded Leaf.

[Bluestocking]

I really do want to read some Joe Hill.

http://web.me.com/bluestocking_bb/The_Bluestocking_Guide/Book_Reviews/Entries/2010/1/21_Favorite_Unknown.html

[Jennifer]

Thank you for the authors! My BTT: http://www.rundpinne.com/2010/01/booking-through-thursday-21-january.html

[MissMeliss]

Oh, what wonderful suggestions! And thanks for your earlier visit to MY BTT post.

[Plottings]

Thanks for stopping by!
Here is Joe Hill's blog if anyone is interested!
http://joehillfiction.com/

[Novroz]

ow I love Dianne Wynn Jones' Howl's Moving Castle...I have to agree with you on the question why isn't she as famous as JK Rowling. Her imagination is wider than JK.

Joe Hill is in my search list...his books aren't easy to find here in my country

[Puma Outlet]

Scarcity of food markets? Not in this immediate part of the neighborhood -there's a Super Foodtown, Bravo, and a few fruit/veggie stands a couple of blocks away. In the summers there's a farmer's market that has gained momentum.