Favorite Authors

My friend Jennifer tagged me in her blog about favorite authors inviting me to answer three questions concerning my favorite authors. This is more difficult that I originally anticipated because I read quite diverse things and have my favorites within the different genres in which I read. It is also difficult because I really get into one author for awhile and then I move on and rarely go back to read them again. So, with that said, here are my responses.

Who is your favorite author and why?

There are a lot of authors that I have a great deal of respect for and have enjoyed the books of theirs that I have read: Victor Hugo, John Steinbeck, JK Rowling (weird to put her on this list...) CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, Lois Lowry, etc. With the except of Rowling, I have not read the entire repertoire of any of these authors and do not feel motivated to do so, yet. However, I have had a strong desire for awhile to read all of Jane Austen, so I will list her as my favorite author. Currently I am in the middle of Mansfield Park and am enjoying it very much.

As far as my academic reading is concerned (I feel this should be included since I spend more time reading this stuff than fiction) I have two primary favorites: Stanley Hauerwas and Dallas Willard. Both of these men appealed to me intellectually and spiritually. They are challenging and uplifting at the same time and I have tremendous respect for both of these men and their writing.

Who was your first favorite author and why?

This is a little embarrasing, but it is true and so I need to just own up to it. My first favorite author was R.L. Stine. He wrote the Goosebumps series. When I was a kid, I liked reading these books instead of the more traditional Boxcar Children or Little House on the Prairie books. I think I read most of the goosebumps series. The first book I read in one day was a Goosebumps book (Phantom of the Auditorium). Thankfully, I have grown out of that stage.

My first favorite author in the field of theological writing was actually Max Lucado. I remember walking into a Christian bookstore for the first time in my life and looking through the books. His book And He Still Moves Stones had a nice cover and seemed interesting so I bought it. For about a year after that I just consumed his books. I borrowed them from the pastor across the street. They were crucial to my early development as a Christian and I am thankful for that.

Who is the newest addition to your favorite authors and why?

The newest addition is probably L.M. Montgomery, author of the Anne of Green Gables series. I finally read them this year and fell in love with the world she created on Prince Edward Island. Anyone who creates a heroine with red hair and have her hate her red hair has got it right in my book.

As for theology - I am always looking for new favorites. This may not count, but Kathleen Norris' book Dakota was great and I would love to read more of her. I also enjoyed reading Barth's Evangelical Theology, but am not in a hurry to read more of his right now.


So, Jennifer, this blog was primarily for you. I hope you enjoyed it.

For everyone else - Happy 4th of July!