Do you read the novel or the author?

[Roze]

What I find is that if I pick up a really good book and I like how the author writes the plot, develop the characters and how his writing style is, I tend to find more books from the author. If I really like his work, I try to read everything. I then start collecting them for my library collection I have quite a handful of authors I follow and my goal is to own every one of their work.

I prefer reading the Author, but if someone suggests to me a novel, I'll try it out

Before I started my library collection, I used to simply read the novels (borrowed from the library).

 

[Martimus]

Definitely all of the above! For years I'd only read certain series written by Anne Rice... but I'd read almost anything written by Richard Matheson. And only specific titles by James Joyce...

 

[Napalm]

I pick author, but really wanted to say both. I read recommendations all the time.

However, once I find an author I really like, I read almost everything they write.

Lawrence Block for example fits this category for me. Not everything he ever wrote was awesome, but I read just about all of it. The Burglar series is my favorite.

 

[eyebeam]

I do both.

There are many authors that I follow and will read just about anything they write. But, my favorite writers often don't write enough to keep up with my demand. So I hunt through the shelves looking for something that looks interesting. We're lucky here in the Minneapolis area to have an excellent SF & mystery/crime specialty book store Uncle Hugo's & Uncle Edgar's Bookstores - Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Mystery Books. The staff will be happy to discuss preferences, and is great with quality recommendations.

 

[OfTheDamned]

I do a little of both. I have found some authors that don't seem to be able to write a bad book and I will read almost anything they put out. Others I have found may be great in one series or on a particular subject, but the rest of what they have to offer doesn't really interest me.

 

[jroc]

I do both too. Like I've never read a James Patterson book before last year. Read one based off a recommendation and proceeded to read a series of books he has out.

At the same time, there are some book by him I'm just not that into. I dont think I will enjoy reading them so I havent yet.

But....lol, ANYTHING by Clive Barker or Stephen King I will read. Barker brings the eroticism too much sometimes tho...

 

[Hrethgir]

I do a little of both. I have found some authors that don't seem to be able to write a bad book and I will read almost anything they put out. Others I have found may be great in one series or on a particular subject, but the rest of what they have to offer doesn't really interest me.

This is how I do it. Kevin J. Anderson is one of the authors I'll read anything he writes, it's all been great so far. But other authors can be hit and miss sometimes, and I might enjoy one of their novels, then get another one and it will be meh.

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

Both.

Some authors i've read all their works in a row. Other's... not so much. Sometimes there's a great series by an author, if I try to read anything else by them it just isn't the same as that one series so I have trouble. Depends on what it is.

 

[NightAngel79]

In the beginning i definitely only read the author; Piers Anthony, David&Leigh Eddings; Anne Rice. Then when i discovered the Expanded Universe of Star Wars (over 300 books and still growing) I started devouring those. I estimate i have read at least 30 different Star Wars authors. Some i wouldn't care to read their other works and others are so well written that i have to read their other works, Timothy Zahn is a example. He writes stories that involve humans with 'space' settings, nothing mystical. I've read a bunch of his other stuff, (reading his cobra series now).

Hate to beat a dead horse but directly across the aisle from star wars at borders i kept seeing this Nightangel book... Finally decided to take a leap of faith, best decision i ever made. I will follow all his books for now on, his writting style is one of the best i have ever come across. There are a couple others i have mentioned in past threads that i will anticipate and follow as well; Brandon Sanderson, Patrick Rothfuss. Dude that writes the Gentlemen Bastards series (can never remember his name, lol)

 

[flowers4u]

Indeed most of the people read the author rather than the novel. This makes sense because the author puts part of his spirit into his work – so if you like his writing then in essence you like HIM – his spirit.
Personally I voted "both" like the majority of voters. If I like a specific author then I'll also try to read all the books he's written. However, there are many exceptionally good books written by unknown authors who only managed to publish one single book in their life. ​

 

[Podivin]

I'm a 'both' also. Like many others I have some authors that when they come out with a new book I buy it without even bothering to read the cover to see what it's about (Dean Koontz, John Sanford, Todd McCaffrey, Jeffrey Deaver). And then there are authors that I'll get a book if it's in a specific series that I like (Laurell K Hamilton (Anita Blake series), Douglas Preston w/Lincoln Child (the Pendergast books), Alan Dean Foster (Pip & Flinx, or anything Star Trek) and many others that I can't think of. Prior to finding free or nearly free ebooks I'd gotten to the point where I was hesitant to read a new author for fear that I'd really like his/her work - and then I'd be forced to go buy all their books.
My wife and I have around 4500 books in our library (we built bookshelves that fill almost all available space in one room of our house), and I have over 1000 books on my phone. I think it's safe to say I'm an addict. It would annoy me if I couldn't watch TV every now and then, I'd go plumb crazy if I couldn't read!

 

[Borat38]

My primary mode of picking authors I've never heard is the first two pages of their book. If that fails to hook me, it's a goner. With authors I've read, they must've impressed me with a previous work sufficiently for me to pick up another one of theirs--although that led me to buy a couple of worthless John Grisham books (anyone think he's declined steadily over the years, and that his writing has become lazier and lazier?)

 

[Roze]

although that led me to buy a couple of worthless John Grisham books (anyone think he's declined steadily over the years, and that his writing has become lazier and lazier?)

Not sure about 'lazier and lazier' as I don't read his books based on when he published it. I have noticed with his more recent releases that they have gotten more 'unoriginal' :/ Though I still buy them since I want all of his books in my library. XD