We all have authors who we can't get enough of. For me, more often than not, these authors only publish a novel every couple of years or so. Of course the writing process is one that takes time to perfect, but I wish these authors would work double time so I could read more of their books. The list includes debut authors, authors who have seemed to take a writing hiatus, and those that just take awhile to write a book.
I'm not complaining, I would hate to see these talented authors mass produce novels like they were one of James Patterson's ghost writers. I just wish they would giddie up is all.
1. Audrey Niffenegger - Last published a novel in September of 2009.
2. Jhumpa Lahiri - Last published a novel September 2004, though she has a more recent short story collection, I'm aching for another novel.
3. Zadie Smith - Last published novel January of 2005.
4. Miranda July - Aside from the two McSweeny's Irregular books she published in 2011 and 2009, (irregular books of irregular content in irregular intervals) Miranda July last published a short story collection in 2007. I'm ready for more from her.
5. Johnathan Safran Foer - Last published novel 2005. (I am not counting The Tree of Codes, published 2010, as it is considered more a work of visual art than a novel.)
6. Robert Sloan - Sloan wrote this pretty awesome short story entitled Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore and word on the street is that it is going to be published as a novel by Farrar, Straus & Giroux. I can't wait.
7. Alison Bechdel - I'd love to see another graphic novel out of her. She last published Fun Home in 2006.
8. Chad Harbach - Ok to be fair he just published his first novel this year, but he worked on it for nine years. I'm really hoping his second won't take him quite so long.
9. Margaret Atwood - Last published novel 2009. She is working on the third book for the MaddAddam series, but I enjoyed Oryx and Crake and The Year of the Flood so much I can't wait.
10. Sylvia Plath - It's not exactly possible that she write another book, but even so I wish we could have one more.
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
My number one writer I wished would publish a new book was Jo Ann Beard. I loved The Boys of My Youth when it came out in 1999. I was beyond excited when In Zanesville came out last year. It was a very long wait, but I wasn't disappointed. I loved In Zanesville.
ReplyDeleteI doubt it will be long before Niffenegger's next book. She is pretty near to the end of The Chinchilla Girl In Exile as far as I'm aware.
ReplyDeleteI am so with you on this. Zadie, girl, PLEASE!
ReplyDeleteI wish that Sarah Waters would write another. It feels like a long time since The Little Stranger, but it was only 2009.
ReplyDeleteI have been dithering about reading In Zanesville, so I am glad to read about Questionable Housing's love of it in the first comment!
Excellent choices. I would loudly and obnoxiously second Miranda July. I heart her.
ReplyDeleteGreat list - especially Zadie Smith, Atwood, and Plath.
ReplyDeleteI would have included Atwood, but there's so much of her's that I haven't read that it would be churlish of me to ask for more! (You can ask away though!) I also agree with Jonathan Safran Foer- even though I have some issues with his storytelling, I think his writing is breathtaking and I'd love to read more of it (does that even make sense as a sentence/judgement of him?! Whatever, either way, more please!)
ReplyDeleteYou and me both on Plath. How I wish she'd lived longer to write more essays. Of course there are those ever-present rumors that there's a second draft of a novel still in her sealed archives, set to be unsealed next year.
ReplyDeleteI'm only familiar with Margaret Atwood from your list. Looks like I can check out a few new to me author's. kaye—the road goes ever ever on
ReplyDeleteDefinitely agree with Zadie Smith - I love her books. And Plath too, the Bell Jar was so good.
ReplyDeleteI picked Chad Harbach too. I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed his book, I am not a baseball fan and thought I would be bored. I am really hoping he writes another soon.
ReplyDeleteSylvia Plath made my list too. The Bell Jar was amazing.
ReplyDeleteGood new: there's a new Bechdel coming in May (Are You My Mother?: A Comic Drama. I can't wait!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on Audrey Niffenegger and Foer.
ReplyDeleteDo you know about Foer's Eating Animals? It was published in 2009. And though it is about his investigation in the meat industry and factory food, he did it for private purposes, which adds to the reading experience, I think.
I can't wait for another Zadie Smith, though I am not sure if she is working on anything.
You're in luck with Bedchel: the sequel to Fun Home, Are You My Mother?, will be out this year. I can't wait!
ReplyDeleteDogEarDisks, Oh that is great news!
ReplyDeleteAnne, I was surprised by how much I liked his book too! It ended up being a favorite of 2011. I despise baseball, but really loved his book.
nomadreader, THAT IS FANTASTIC NEWS!!!
Sabrina, Yes I know about Eating Animals but since it in non-fiction I didn't count it as a novel. I really want some more fiction :)
Nymeth, I CAN NOT WAIT EITHER!
Surely we've missed the biggest culprit - J.K Rowling?!
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree about Zadie, Jonathan and especially Sylvia Plath. Many times I have wished she didn't get attacked by that oven.
Great list. Miranda July was actually the first writer I thought of when I saw this topic, and then I promptly forgot to include her on my list.
ReplyDeleteI second the Atwood, Foer and I can add more to the list - Donna Tartt, Nicole Krauss, Tom Rachman.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of most of the writers you mentioned - July, Sloan, Bechdel. I've never read Zadie Smith.
Oh and I forgot to add - I love Sylvia Plath but of course impossible to expect anything new from her. You can read her journals if you haven't yet.
ReplyDeleteYes on Zadie Smith. *Hurries off to find Miranda July* Excellent list!
ReplyDeleteI'm behind you shouting for Jhump Lahiri. I don't always love the sadness of her stories but her writing is phenomenal.
ReplyDeleteVery impressive use of Blogger - Marguerite Young has left the planet yet her archives contain many books which will no doubt leave us with her one big novel "Miss MacIntosh, My Darling" (Scribners 1965) - I would love to see her "The Muse And The Little China Dog" published.
ReplyDeleteGood to meet your blog!
Wayne
So many great ones! I don't know why I didn't think of Foer. I love Jhumpa Lahiri's work too and I'm so excited because she's coming to Indy to speak in a couple months!
ReplyDeleteThere's a new Zadie Smith coming out this fall in the UK (not sure when it will be out here). She was writing book reviews and having a child/children in the last few years.
ReplyDelete