When it comes to reading, I favor the one-and-done approach. There are so many voices vying for my attention that I only occasionally read the same author twice. There are exceptions. I’ve read oodles of Harlan Coben, nearly a dozen Armistead Maupin’s titles, and plenty of the Anne’s: Tyler and Lamott. That is not typical, though.
There is a secondary list of authors I can’t part with at one, but who don’t reach the exalted heights of the Annes. I think of them as The Thrice List. To be accurate, there is some creative accounting with that number. Let’s say these are authors I’ve definitely read more than twice without coming close to the double digits.
1. Joan Didion
Didion isn’t just a writer. She is an experience. To read her is to step into a privileged literary life, a rare vantage point. Her memoirs and essays are more famous – I love them – but I’ve also read two of her fiction titles: Play It As It Lays and Run River. I think of her style as ornamental nihilism. Her characters are soulless but look distractingly intriguing.
2. Ann Patchett
Another amazing fiction writer who can also do memoirs is Ann Patchett. I loved this story of her peculiar bond with late author Lucy Grealy. Her fiction is good too. The Magician’s Assistant is on my top 50 list.
3. Ann Hood
Another fabulous Ann is a (former) flight attendant, bibliophile, and fangirl who has written both fiction and memoir. She has been through a lot and her books help me understand a bittersweet life. Whether a short memoir about cooking or a more serious one about miracles, I am always stuck to my armchair until I’m done. I like her fiction, too.
Books Smitten 