How did you discover your favourite author? - Page 3

Hamlet53 · 02-26-2011, 02:27 PM

I was to meet someone in the Japantown district of San Francisco. I had arrived almost 45 minutes in advance of my appointment and so while the time away I was browsing the book store in the Japan Center when the cover of Seven Japanese Tales by Junchiro Tanizaki caught my eye. I had the time to read one of the shorter stories (I think maybe The Tattooer) and was hooked, buying that book right then (this is long before ebooks existed) and eventually everything ever written by Tanizaki.

silasgreenback · 02-26-2011, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

I was attracted by the cover image and read the first 20 or so pages in the shop.

Another I discovered by mistake, also buying a new paperback based on the cover image but without reading any of it.

Thanks for admitting that.

Despite the old adage about judging books, the cover art has a lot to do with piquing my interest.

Since the 90's (at least for me), the cover art isn't quite as important because most of the trends in design don't appeal to my tastes.

Namekuseijin · 02-26-2011, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamlet53

I was to meet someone in the Japantown district of San Francisco. I had arrived almost 45 minutes in advance of my appointment and so while the time away I was browsing the book store in the Japan Center when the cover of Seven Japanese Tales by Junchiro Tanizaki caught my eye. I had the time to read one of the shorter stories (I think maybe The Tattooer) and was hooked, buying that book right then (this is long before ebooks existed) and eventually everything ever written by Tanizaki.

oh, damn!

http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/31617/pg31617.html

I once tried learning some japanese (to play some much sought console JRPGs) and all was nice and dandy about katakana and even hiragana but I couldn't really get past the 5000+ ideograms of kanji!

hope it gets translated, it's easier for me reading a computer assembly language...

Valentino · 02-26-2011, 10:46 PM

I was reading up on all the amazing GRRM forgot what he was writing about posts and ran across recommendations to read Joe Abercrombie while waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting for GRRM.

He is my favorite at this moment.

Anke Wehner · 02-27-2011, 05:07 AM

Voted "other", thinking of Bujold, which I discovered via a new-but-remaindered book I got from a bargain bin for 1€

Terry Pratchett - I first got a new paperback (years and years ago, before finding used books online for cheap was common), because he had been highly recommended both in a fantasyy themed magazine and by multiple people I knew.

Steven Brust - bought a used book on amazon

Walter Moers - heard about the book from a friend, and years later picked it up at the library (then went and bought the paperbacks)

orlok · 02-27-2011, 05:15 AM

Like many others, it is hard to pick a favorite, but overall it's probably Robert B Parker (who sadly passed away recently). I *think* I first bought a paperback after being attracted by the cover and the blurb.

He is the only author that I have bought every book he ever wrote just so that I could go back to the first and re-read the lot in a single go. Given that Parker wrote prodigiously, this took up my reading time for quite some months

Sweetpea · 02-27-2011, 05:54 AM

I don't have a favourite author. There are a lot of authors I like to read. Some I discovered by way of the library, others because my parents had a book by that author, or I got a book as a present, or I bought the book in the shop based on the description and cover.

Quexos · 02-27-2011, 06:36 AM

I have or had through the years several favorite authors so It's hard to pick one. It can be Tolkien, Asimov, King or even Garry Jennings (putting his full name cause he is probably not as popular as the previous ones I quoted).

In the list there is "used ebook", what's a used ebook ?

mr ploppy · 02-27-2011, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quexos

In the list there is "used ebook", what's a used ebook ?

An ebook that was bought (or made) by someone other than you.

Lirael · 02-27-2011, 12:50 PM

I don't really have a favorite author. I re-read books many times, and don't want to spend money on something I won't reread, so I always read the book before buying it. The only exception to that is authors whose work I know that I'm guaranteed to like - my 'favorite' authors, I suppose - and I first discovered all of them by borrowing a library book.

(One of the reasons why library lending is so important!!!!!!)

View Poll Results: How did you discover your favourite author?
Bought a new hardback book	6	6.25%
Bought a new paperback book	27	28.13%
Bought a used book (hard or soft)	6	6.25%
Library loan	22	22.92%
Bought a new ebook	3	3.13%
Acquired a used ebook	3	3.13%
Other	29	30.21%
Voters: 96. You may not vote on this poll

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02-26-2011, 02:27 PM	#31
Hamlet53 Nameless Being	I was to meet someone in the Japantown district of San Francisco. I had arrived almost 45 minutes in advance of my appointment and so while the time away I was browsing the book store in the Japan Center when the cover of Seven Japanese Tales by Junchiro Tanizaki caught my eye. I had the time to read one of the shorter stories (I think maybe The Tattooer) and was hooked, buying that book right then (this is long before ebooks existed) and eventually everything ever written by Tanizaki.

02-26-2011, 10:46 PM	#34
Valentino Connoisseur Posts: 86 Karma: 999999 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: some.	I was reading up on all the amazing GRRM forgot what he was writing about posts and ran across recommendations to read Joe Abercrombie while waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting for GRRM. He is my favorite at this moment.

02-27-2011, 05:07 AM	#35
Anke Wehner Addict Posts: 249 Karma: 177956 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Germany Device: PRS-650	Voted "other", thinking of Bujold, which I discovered via a new-but-remaindered book I got from a bargain bin for 1€ Terry Pratchett - I first got a new paperback (years and years ago, before finding used books online for cheap was common), because he had been highly recommended both in a fantasyy themed magazine and by multiple people I knew. Steven Brust - bought a used book on amazon Walter Moers - heard about the book from a friend, and years later picked it up at the library (then went and bought the paperbacks)

02-27-2011, 05:15 AM	#36
orlok Close to the Edit! Posts: 9,797 Karma: 267994408 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis, Amazon Fire 8", Kindle 6"	Like many others, it is hard to pick a favorite, but overall it's probably Robert B Parker (who sadly passed away recently). I think I first bought a paperback after being attracted by the cover and the blurb. He is the only author that I have bought every book he ever wrote just so that I could go back to the first and re-read the lot in a single go. Given that Parker wrote prodigiously, this took up my reading time for quite some months

02-27-2011, 05:54 AM	#37
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	I don't have a favourite author. There are a lot of authors I like to read. Some I discovered by way of the library, others because my parents had a book by that author, or I got a book as a present, or I bought the book in the shop based on the description and cover.

02-27-2011, 06:36 AM	#38
Quexos Member Retired Posts: 1,999 Karma: 11348924 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Limbo Device: none	I have or had through the years several favorite authors so It's hard to pick one. It can be Tolkien, Asimov, King or even Garry Jennings (putting his full name cause he is probably not as popular as the previous ones I quoted). In the list there is "used ebook", what's a used ebook ?

02-27-2011, 12:50 PM	#40
Lirael Moomin Posts: 137 Karma: 202147 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: Sony PRS-350	I don't really have a favorite author. I re-read books many times, and don't want to spend money on something I won't reread, so I always read the book before buying it. The only exception to that is authors whose work I know that I'm guaranteed to like - my 'favorite' authors, I suppose - and I first discovered all of them by borrowing a library book. (One of the reasons why library lending is so important!!!!!!)

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