Today’s TTT, hosted by the Artsy Reader Girl, is authors we’ve not read. I’m going to be straining a little here- my fiction reading is so specialized (almost entirely historical or science fiction) that I’m not really plugged into who is popular…or who even exists! But first, teases — these both from Uhtred’s Feast, a curious little volume that’s mostly an Anglo-Saxon recipe book but with three Uhtred short stories and occasional bits of background from Cornwell.
Strangely, not that I am old, I remember the women and never think about the victories. The memories of the women bring me comfort, while the victories are sour with the stink of blood, the death of friends, and the recollection of terror.
‘The Battle of Maldon’ […] was a description of a battle between Byrhtnoth, leader of an army of East Saxons, and a Viking band that hd taken up residence on Northey Island in the River Blackwater, which is not that far from Ashingdon. The Vikings won (again), but I recall a teacher telling us that the poem was ‘fanciful’ because the East Saxons on the bank of the river could have never heard a challenge shouted from Northrey Island; it was too far. That drove me and a few friends to Maldon, where we proved such a challenge was indeed audible, that expedition being the only serious original research I have ever undertaken.
Uhtred’s Feast
And now, authors I’ve not read!
1) Scott Turow. When I began souring on John Grisham in the early 2010s, I looked for comparable authors and was told that Turow also writes legal fiction. I’ve yet to read him.
2) George R.R. Martin and 3) Robert Jordan Considering how much stabby-stabby historical fiction I read, this epic of politics and fantasy in a pseudo-medieval setting should be right up my alley, but I’v never taken the bait for these.
4) Frank Herbert, author of the Dune series. I have the first one but have yet to seriously engage with it.
5) The Sisters Bronte. I’ll probably try Wuthering Heights at some point, if only for the Classics Club or Read of England.
6) PT Deutermann. I’ve heard great things about his historical fiction, but I’ve not yet managed to give him a shot.
7) Hilary Mantel. And not going to. I started Wolf Hall and returned it almost immediately. I cannot abide people who think they’re above punctuation.
8) Liu Cixin, author of Three Body Problem.
9) Phillipa Gregory. Given how many HF novels she has on both medieval England and Rome, two areas my historical reading spends a lot of time in, it’s odd that I haven’t really tried her.
And now to end, a bunch of nonfiction authors all in one go:
10) Arnold Toynbee, Daniel Boorstin, Paul Johnson — three historians who I’ve not gotten round to despite my interest in exploring their work — and Hannah Arendt, a historian/political philosopher who wrote The Origins of Totalitarianism.
Reading Freely 
I really didn’t enjoy Philippa Gregory’s work — though it’s been a long time, and I might feel a bit differently now. 🤔
I’ve read a few from your list…just Dune from Frank Herbert…just the first book in the big series from George R.R. Martin…only Wolf Hall from Mantel…one from Philippa Gregory…but none of the books I read from these authors suited me enough to read on.
I might make myself try a few next year since the TBR is…mostly…dealt with.
I just checked back & I haven’t read any Philippa Gregory since August 2017! I used to read her all the time (Tudors, what more can I say!). I’ll see if I can re-engage next year…
I haven’t read George R.R. Martin either.
And, yeah, I had a similar sort of problem with this week’s prompt. It’s hard to know which authors are mainstream enough for everyone to have heard of.
Thanks for stopping by my post earlier.
Lydia
Good list. I tossed Wolf Hall, but enjoyed 18 Months on Ghazza Street–it has normal punctuation iirc. It’s a very early one. Scott Turow’s One L is the classic on law school and is nonfiction but highly readable. Classic gift for college grads going on to law school. I enjoyed Kingmaker’s Daughter but reading more Philippa Gregory proved a a no-go. It seemed like the same book. The Brontes that I’ve read I enjoyed, but I felt no need to read beyond those so you are in the club!
That’s for the Turow reccommendation. Now that the TBR is not as formidable as it was, I’m hoping to do some exploring next year.
If it sounds interesting to you then I hope you enjoy it.
The only one I’ve read is #2 and it was before the show came out.
I thought you had read Jane Eyre?
….I have! And oddly enough my brain was bringing Jane Eyre to mind, but I wasn’t connecting the dots. XD
TBF, the other Bronte sisters are quite distinct from Charlotte and worth a try on their own. I think you may really like Agnes Grey. As for Wuthering Heights… people seem to love it or hate it!
I haven’t read the majority of these authors either. I do love historical fiction, so Gregory is one I want to read at some point.
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
I have read Martin and it does have a lot of stabby historical vibes.
I haven’t really picked up the Bronte sisters either.