This is really interesting! Off the top of my head, the only authors that whose works I've read 5+ of are either YA/children's authors with long series that I read devotedly as a child (Cassandra Clare, JK Rowling, Brandon Mull, and, like, the Magic Tree House books), or authors that I've consciously gone out of my way to be well-acquainted with in adulthood. Annie Ernaux is on my list too, Jane Austen, Rainbow Rowell (also a YA author, but I've read her adult work too), Emily Henry, Charles Dickens... I'm approaching with Sally Rooney (4/4 published novels), F. Scott Fitzgerald (3 novels, 1 short story collection), Vladimir Nabokov (3 novels, 1 memoir), Henry James (do novellas count?), and a few others. Maybe I should make a list of authors I'd love to be a completionist about. I think James Baldwin and Kazuo Ishiguro would be on there.
Yes! So much of my reading growing up was based off racing through my favorite middle grade and YA series, which is one of the things that made me wonder why I don't approach my favorite authors now with the same fervor. I'd love to see your completionist list! I definitely have to dive into more James Baldwin, but I'd love to read everything by Ishiguro-- and Kafka, Erpenbeck, Ferrante seem within grasp. For reach goals/classics... Thomas Hardy's 14 novels maybe? (I've read just two so far, with two more on my shelf)
such a simple yet interesting system. i do believe in being an author completionist but don't really have a system - i just feel hesitant about reading the 'last' book of their discography! My completed authors include: margaret atwood, ian mcewan, eliza clark, meg mason, emily henry, the brontes (probably more but i dont remember!) I'm near to completing murakami, mieko kawakami, orhan pamuk and r.f. kaung
an amazing list!!! as a system I think it pretty simply helps me to recognize who I'm reading and gravitating towards, who I want to direct more attention to, etc. Would you consider the authors you've listed to be your favorite authors? Or have you ever felt surprised to realize you've read so much of someone's work?
100% some of my favourite authors, those I also trust will deliver each time. I think for me it’s in the writing and voice. They could write about something I’m not interested in but their writing reels me in
I like this idea! I found myself rooting for Ward and Zora on your leaderboard, lol. Both excellent, although I didn’t like Ward’s recent book “Let Us Descend”
I'm rooting for them too!! I definitely liked "Sing, Unburied, Sing" more than "Let Us Descend" --and I'm thinking Ward's memoir "Men We Reaped" is next on my tbr from her... or "Salvage the Bones" which also seems amazing! Do you have favorites by Ward or Zora you'd recommend?
My GR problem also reflects a majority of childhood series but now I've read the most by Edwidge Danticat (and when I started this I didn't know I'd become a fan!) and Toni Morrison. I like the idea of reading a majority or certain number of an author's work. For example I will probably not read Morrison's children books but I'd still view myself as a completionist (at least of her fiction)
Edwidge Danticat is a totally new name to me– thank you for sharing!! Do you have thoughts on which book of hers might be a good one to start with? I've read a few Morrison novels but am always wanting to pick up more– I have a copy of Jazz on my shelf right now that I'm eager to get to. I had no idea she wrote children's books, but I just googled and think it's so so cool she wrote them with her son
Either her debut (came out when she was 25 or 26!) BREATH EYES MEMORY or either of her short story collections KRIK? KRAK! She gave an eulogy at Toni Morrison's funeral and has a really gorgeous essay about their friendship in her latest book WE'RE ALONE. JAZZ is great but a very odd structure which makes it both fun and a challenge
I love this system!! This has made me want to create a system of my own. For my reading list I exclusively use a spreadsheet (no goodreads or anything), and I love the 5+ rule for familiarity. When it comes to contemporary writers, I think some of those that will (eventually) fulfill the 5+ rule are Knausgaard, Rachel Cusk, Sally Rooney, Ferrante, but it's always changing. Anyways this was a fun letter :)
So glad you got something out of it! & that's a solid solid list of 5+ club hopefuls!! Parade and Intermezzo have been staring at me from my shelf for ages now, but I'm still thinking i'll treat myself to Ferrante's final Neapolitan novel and the third of Knausgaard's my struggle series for Christmas
i’m so so far from a completionist! there are many authors i keep saying i’ll return to and then my desire for novelty outweighs it.
off hand i think only tana french, michael chabon, and jane austen are in the 5+ club for me, for very specific reasons (reliability; a teenage favourite; english degree)
I'd say go with Kavalier & Clay--haven't revisited it in 15+ years but I remember it being well-plotted with strong characters! I also liked Moonglow, which is a little formally looser.
Let me know how it goes! the gamification plays a role for me too, definitely. Whenever I read a book by any author that's new to me now, I'm immediately wanting to dive into a second so I can add them to my Notion page
Obviously I LOVE THIS. Now I must go back and see who is in my 5+ club!! I have no good tracking system they have all fallen apart because there are too many “categories” to keep track of with books and it can feel overwhelming. I might try a simple spreadsheet again and incorporate this five system.
You must!! Thanks for reading & for sharing that original completionism piece that got the ball rolling for me on this one :) I've absolutely been one to fall into the overwhelm of tracking books all sorts of different ways--a Moleskine book journal, a pocket notebook, storygraph, goodreads, an excel at one point--and have found I really just have to wait and see what sticks! this one has at least been around a couple years for me. I'll be eager to hear updates on your spreadsheet or on the authors that are in your 5+ club!
This is really interesting! Off the top of my head, the only authors that whose works I've read 5+ of are either YA/children's authors with long series that I read devotedly as a child (Cassandra Clare, JK Rowling, Brandon Mull, and, like, the Magic Tree House books), or authors that I've consciously gone out of my way to be well-acquainted with in adulthood. Annie Ernaux is on my list too, Jane Austen, Rainbow Rowell (also a YA author, but I've read her adult work too), Emily Henry, Charles Dickens... I'm approaching with Sally Rooney (4/4 published novels), F. Scott Fitzgerald (3 novels, 1 short story collection), Vladimir Nabokov (3 novels, 1 memoir), Henry James (do novellas count?), and a few others. Maybe I should make a list of authors I'd love to be a completionist about. I think James Baldwin and Kazuo Ishiguro would be on there.
Yes! So much of my reading growing up was based off racing through my favorite middle grade and YA series, which is one of the things that made me wonder why I don't approach my favorite authors now with the same fervor. I'd love to see your completionist list! I definitely have to dive into more James Baldwin, but I'd love to read everything by Ishiguro-- and Kafka, Erpenbeck, Ferrante seem within grasp. For reach goals/classics... Thomas Hardy's 14 novels maybe? (I've read just two so far, with two more on my shelf)
such a simple yet interesting system. i do believe in being an author completionist but don't really have a system - i just feel hesitant about reading the 'last' book of their discography! My completed authors include: margaret atwood, ian mcewan, eliza clark, meg mason, emily henry, the brontes (probably more but i dont remember!) I'm near to completing murakami, mieko kawakami, orhan pamuk and r.f. kaung
an amazing list!!! as a system I think it pretty simply helps me to recognize who I'm reading and gravitating towards, who I want to direct more attention to, etc. Would you consider the authors you've listed to be your favorite authors? Or have you ever felt surprised to realize you've read so much of someone's work?
100% some of my favourite authors, those I also trust will deliver each time. I think for me it’s in the writing and voice. They could write about something I’m not interested in but their writing reels me in
I like this idea! I found myself rooting for Ward and Zora on your leaderboard, lol. Both excellent, although I didn’t like Ward’s recent book “Let Us Descend”
I'm rooting for them too!! I definitely liked "Sing, Unburied, Sing" more than "Let Us Descend" --and I'm thinking Ward's memoir "Men We Reaped" is next on my tbr from her... or "Salvage the Bones" which also seems amazing! Do you have favorites by Ward or Zora you'd recommend?
My GR problem also reflects a majority of childhood series but now I've read the most by Edwidge Danticat (and when I started this I didn't know I'd become a fan!) and Toni Morrison. I like the idea of reading a majority or certain number of an author's work. For example I will probably not read Morrison's children books but I'd still view myself as a completionist (at least of her fiction)
Edwidge Danticat is a totally new name to me– thank you for sharing!! Do you have thoughts on which book of hers might be a good one to start with? I've read a few Morrison novels but am always wanting to pick up more– I have a copy of Jazz on my shelf right now that I'm eager to get to. I had no idea she wrote children's books, but I just googled and think it's so so cool she wrote them with her son
Either her debut (came out when she was 25 or 26!) BREATH EYES MEMORY or either of her short story collections KRIK? KRAK! She gave an eulogy at Toni Morrison's funeral and has a really gorgeous essay about their friendship in her latest book WE'RE ALONE. JAZZ is great but a very odd structure which makes it both fun and a challenge
Was just looking at the National Book Critics Circle award longlist and spotted Edwidge’s newest essay collection!
I love this system!! This has made me want to create a system of my own. For my reading list I exclusively use a spreadsheet (no goodreads or anything), and I love the 5+ rule for familiarity. When it comes to contemporary writers, I think some of those that will (eventually) fulfill the 5+ rule are Knausgaard, Rachel Cusk, Sally Rooney, Ferrante, but it's always changing. Anyways this was a fun letter :)
So glad you got something out of it! & that's a solid solid list of 5+ club hopefuls!! Parade and Intermezzo have been staring at me from my shelf for ages now, but I'm still thinking i'll treat myself to Ferrante's final Neapolitan novel and the third of Knausgaard's my struggle series for Christmas
i think that's the right choice, there's something perfect about Knausgaard when it's cold and wintery out...
his books are perfect to hibernate with!
i’m so so far from a completionist! there are many authors i keep saying i’ll return to and then my desire for novelty outweighs it.
off hand i think only tana french, michael chabon, and jane austen are in the 5+ club for me, for very specific reasons (reliability; a teenage favourite; english degree)
I have yet to read any tana french or chabon—so thank you for the comment /recs!!
to be fair, i don’t know that i endorse michael chabon so easily - definitely the least consistent!
Any in particular you’d recommend if I end up reading just one for the novelty? I hear about Kavalier & Clay most often!
I'd say go with Kavalier & Clay--haven't revisited it in 15+ years but I remember it being well-plotted with strong characters! I also liked Moonglow, which is a little formally looser.
This is a wonderful system! I’ve never been one to track authors but now I want to. Even for just for the gamification of it.
Let me know how it goes! the gamification plays a role for me too, definitely. Whenever I read a book by any author that's new to me now, I'm immediately wanting to dive into a second so I can add them to my Notion page
Obviously I LOVE THIS. Now I must go back and see who is in my 5+ club!! I have no good tracking system they have all fallen apart because there are too many “categories” to keep track of with books and it can feel overwhelming. I might try a simple spreadsheet again and incorporate this five system.
You must!! Thanks for reading & for sharing that original completionism piece that got the ball rolling for me on this one :) I've absolutely been one to fall into the overwhelm of tracking books all sorts of different ways--a Moleskine book journal, a pocket notebook, storygraph, goodreads, an excel at one point--and have found I really just have to wait and see what sticks! this one has at least been around a couple years for me. I'll be eager to hear updates on your spreadsheet or on the authors that are in your 5+ club!
Do you have a Notion template you can share?
Sure! dm me :)
may i also ask for it? 🥰
of course! just messaged you