Living in the South, with all of the baggage attendant to that particular experience, I've always been grateful for the authors that have evoked this place with both a critical eye and affection. The oft cited ones of course -- Flannery O'Connor and William Faulkner most especially. But ones less often front of mind, like Wendell Berry, Walker Percy and Pat Conroy also make the list. If I had to pick one it would be Berry, both for fiction ("Jayber Crow"!) and his marvelous essays.
JRR Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings has unexpectedly turned into a spiritual guide. It comes to mind a lot of the time with examples that speak to me personally.
This is tough because I read so much and enjoy so many authors. I think my answer would be Louis L'amour. He isn't high class literature or anything. I doubt he ever won any awards. But his stories are comfort food for the soul. Like a hot bowl of soup on a winter morning. Whenever my head gets too full of all the other stuff I have been reading, I can pull Louis off the shelf and just immerse myself in a fun, enjoyable read without too many complications.
Chaim Potok’s “My Name is Asher Lev” let me know that a religious kid like me was allowed to be an artist.
Augustine & Blaise Pascal turned my mind inside out while Soren Kierkegaard & John Donne taught my heart to feel.
Indebted to Tolkien for giving me an unforgettable two years of reading-aloud to my children.
But it was Annie Dillard who in college made me first want to be a writer. I had never encountered someone who took deceptively simple observation and then exploded the smallest detail into a transcendent prism. When I read my first book, I still see her fingerprints, me striving for her lean prose.
I am grateful for the author Edgar Rice Burroughs. His books gave me the confidence to become a reader and saved me from the constant fear of my alcoholic father.
Me, too. I saved up and sent away for a collection of the first 20 books in the series. I have vivid memories of it arriving and my joy. My first collection of paperbacks!
I’m conflicted between answering Tolkien or Chesterton, but ultimately I’ll have to say Chesterton. I think his fiction is some of the most well-written and humorous I’ve ever read, and although I’m not Catholic his non-fiction has helped me gain some great insights on the Gospel.
The runners up who get an honorable mention are C.S. Lewis, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and Agatha Christie.
Living in the South, with all of the baggage attendant to that particular experience, I've always been grateful for the authors that have evoked this place with both a critical eye and affection. The oft cited ones of course -- Flannery O'Connor and William Faulkner most especially. But ones less often front of mind, like Wendell Berry, Walker Percy and Pat Conroy also make the list. If I had to pick one it would be Berry, both for fiction ("Jayber Crow"!) and his marvelous essays.
Willa Cather
I always enjoy reading Willa.
Seconded.
Tolkien, for me! :)
In my 20s it would have been Vonnegut. Existential sass.
Now, though, I'd say Im thankful for Steinbeck. Existential class.
EB White for the win!
JRR Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings has unexpectedly turned into a spiritual guide. It comes to mind a lot of the time with examples that speak to me personally.
This is tough because I read so much and enjoy so many authors. I think my answer would be Louis L'amour. He isn't high class literature or anything. I doubt he ever won any awards. But his stories are comfort food for the soul. Like a hot bowl of soup on a winter morning. Whenever my head gets too full of all the other stuff I have been reading, I can pull Louis off the shelf and just immerse myself in a fun, enjoyable read without too many complications.
It's been too long! Getting my short story collection out now. Thanks for the reminder!
Naomi Kanakia wrote recently about Louis L'Amour and recommended his memoirs: https://www.woman-of-letters.com/p/award-winner-vs-best-seller
Just one! Gosh.
Chaim Potok’s “My Name is Asher Lev” let me know that a religious kid like me was allowed to be an artist.
Augustine & Blaise Pascal turned my mind inside out while Soren Kierkegaard & John Donne taught my heart to feel.
Indebted to Tolkien for giving me an unforgettable two years of reading-aloud to my children.
But it was Annie Dillard who in college made me first want to be a writer. I had never encountered someone who took deceptively simple observation and then exploded the smallest detail into a transcendent prism. When I read my first book, I still see her fingerprints, me striving for her lean prose.
Thank you for this lovely string, JJM.
Grateful to George Orwell for naming the most serious issues we face today, 80 years ago.
Karen Swallow Prior - her books have always come just when I needed them.
I am grateful for the author Edgar Rice Burroughs. His books gave me the confidence to become a reader and saved me from the constant fear of my alcoholic father.
Wow. I loved the Tarzan novels as a boy and read several.
I think ERB is the writer who made me into a reader.
Me, too. I saved up and sent away for a collection of the first 20 books in the series. I have vivid memories of it arriving and my joy. My first collection of paperbacks!
Harper Lee -- To Kill a Mockingbird was the impetus for my career as an attorney
I may be biased but Eudora Welty is up there. Also, I have to give a shout out to P.G. Wodehouse who can always cheer me up no matter what!
Most recently I have to say the English converts to Catholicism - Chesterton, Knox, and Benson - are occupying most of my free time.
George Saunders. Few writers can make me happier.
Dante. Read him on my own in high school and it was transformative, both immediately and long term.
I’m conflicted between answering Tolkien or Chesterton, but ultimately I’ll have to say Chesterton. I think his fiction is some of the most well-written and humorous I’ve ever read, and although I’m not Catholic his non-fiction has helped me gain some great insights on the Gospel.
The runners up who get an honorable mention are C.S. Lewis, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and Agatha Christie.
I just re-read The Man Who Was Thursday and it was a riot. I definitely appreciated it much more the second time around.