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2024 Bookish Books Reading Challenge (Hosted by Yours Truly)

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30 / 30 books. 100% done!

2024 Literary Escapes Challenge

- Alabama (1)
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My Progress:


51 / 51 states. 100% done!

2024 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

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52 / 50 books. 104% done!

2024 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge


36 / 50 books. 72% done!

Booklist Queen's 2024 Reading Challenge

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52 / 52 books. 100% done!

2024 52 Club Reading Challenge

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51 / 52 books. 98% done!

2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge

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37 / 40 books. 93% done!

2024 Pioneer Book Reading Challenge


18 / 40 books. 45% done!

2024 Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge

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25 / 25 cozies. 100% done!

2024 Medical Examiner's Mystery Reading Challenge

2024 Mystery Marathon Reading Challenge

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5 / 26.2 miles (4th lap). 19% done!

Mount TBR Reading Challenge

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51 / 100 books. 51% done!

2024 Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge

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99 / 109 books. 91% done!

Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge

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52 / 52 books. 100% done!

Disney Animated Movies Reading Challenge

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139 / 165 books. 84% done!

The 100 Most Common Last Names in the U.S. Reading Challenge

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88 / 100 names. 88% done!

The Life Skills Reading Challenge

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45 / 80 skills. 56% done!
Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Top Ten Tuesday: New-to-Me Authors I Want to Try in 2023


Today's Top Ten Tuesday topic is a freebie. My mind is blanking on anything fresh and creative, so I'm going to continue with the author theme from last week. If you missed my post on my Top Ten 2022 New-to-Me Author Discoveries, you can find it here. Today, I'm going to dish about some authors I want to try out for the first time this year. In order to keep the list to just ten, I opted to leave out debut authors and focus on those who've already published at least 2-3 books.

Before we get to that, though, be sure to click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl and give Jana, our lovely host, some love. While you're there, read up on TTT and join in the fun. You won't regret it!

Top Ten Authors I Want to Try in 2023


1. Armando Lucas Correa—Originally from Cuba, Correa is a journalist who has penned articles, historical fiction and a memoir.  


Where I plan to start: The German Girl is a World War II novel about a young Jewish girl who must escape Berlin before it gets any more dangerous. She boards the S.S. St. Louis, a liner taking German refugees to safety in Cuba. What begins as a luxurious adventure soon turns into a harrowing nightmare. Sounds intriguing!


2. Tanita S. Davis—Davis writes contemporary fiction for middle-grade and YA audiences that feature diverse characters dealing with real-life problems. 


Where I plan to start: Mare's War, a road trip and dual-timeline novel about two kids who learn just how fascinating their eccentric grandma really is, sounds fabulous. I love stories about family history, unsung heroes, and generations learning about each other. 


3. Kimberly Duffy—Several of Duffy's historical fiction titles have caught my eye. They all have gorgeous covers and plot summaries that sound right up my alley. 


Where I plan to start: Duffy's newest, The Weight of Air, is about two female circus performers whose lives intersect in New York in the early 1900s. It sounds excellent.


4. Susan Furlong—Furlong writes cozy mysteries as well as crime fiction and psychological thrillers.


Where I plan to start:
What They Don't Know, Furlong's newest, sounds like the perfect way to start. It's about a mother who's frustrated with her son, who has run off to live a party-filled life away from home. When he becomes the prime suspect in the murder of a young woman, she sets out on a desperate quest to find her son, bring him home, and prove his innocence.


5. Kimberly Willis Holt—Holt writes contemporary and historical fiction for young readers. She won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature in 1999.


Where I plan to start: Blooming at the Texas Sunrise Motel is a middle-grade novel about a young girl who goes to live with her estranged grandfather at his dilapidated motel after her parents are killed. As she befriends the place's colorful residents, she finds healing and connection. 


6. Lydia Kang—Kang is a doctor who writes science and historical fiction as well as non-fiction with an emphasis on medicine, forensics, chemistry, etc.  


Where I plan to start: Kang has written two non-fiction books with Nate Pederson. Both sound interesting, but I think I'm going to start with Patient Zero: A Curious History of the World's Worst Diseases.


7. Caroline Lea—A poet and novelist, Lea writes historical fiction set around the world.


Where I plan to start: The Glass Woman, Lea's 2019 debut, is "a gothic thriller set during the Icelandic witch trials." Say no more. I'm in.


8. Kate Quinn—Quinn probably needs no introduction. Her recent war novels have gotten tons of buzz over the last few years, but she actually has a fairly long backlist of historical fiction.


Where I plan to start: Set in 1937 Ukraine, The Diamond Eye is about a studious young mother who becomes a deadly sniper in order to fight the Nazis invading her country. Based on a real person, the story sounds fascinating.


9. Nikola Scott—Although Scott had a career as a crime fiction editor, she writes historical fiction about families and their secrets. 


Where I plan to start: Scott's 2017 debut novel, My Mother's Shadow, is about Addie, a woman whose mind is blown when a woman shows up claiming to be her sister. Addie thought she knew everything about her mother's life, but clearly, her mother was keeping secrets. 


10. Art Spiegelman—Spiegelman is an American cartoonist, comic advocate, and Pultizer Prize winner. He's best known for his Maus books, a graphic novel series about his parents' experience as prisoners in Auschwitz. 


Where I plan to start: I'm not sure there's anywhere else to begin but with Maus, the first installment in Spiegelman's well-known series. 

There you have it, ten authors I want to read this year. Have you read any of them? What do you think? Which authors are you planning to try in 2023? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.

Happy TTT!

51 comments:

  1. I see several I have heard of, but no one I have read yet. I hope you enjoy them.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Thanks! I think it's a good mix of authors to try. I'll be interested to see which I enjoy most.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Deanna!

      Delete
  2. Mare’s War sounds very interesting. I hope you like all of these.

    My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-bookish-confessions/

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    1. I think so, too. It's fiction, but it's about a Black woman who was part of the Women's Army Corps during World War II. I haven't read much about that, so I'm excited to learn more.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lydia!

      Delete
  3. The covers on these books are just fantastic. Maus is great! And I want to read Duffy's novel too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've heard nothing but good things about the Maus books. Even though the graphic format isn't one that really appeals to me, I feel like I need to read these books. I'm excited to try Duffy as well. Her books all sound so good.

      Thanks for popping in, Nicole!

      Delete
  4. I hope you love Kate Quinn, the master of histfic/thrillers! My fav is The Rose Code! ~Carol @ Reading Ladies

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    Replies
    1. I hope I do, too. It's amazing that I haven't tried her yet given how popular her books are. I can be slow to jump on bandwagons, even bookish ones :)

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Carol!

      Delete
  5. LOL, I thought I was being so original when I decided to do this exact topic on Sunday for today's post! Then Jana did it and now you! I am going with great minds think alike! Love your list. I have Kimberly Duffy's book to read as well, I have several of hers on my TBR that I want to read, but this will actually be my first of hers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A few of us did this prompt, so lots of great minds out there :)

      I hope we both like Duffy. All of her books sound good to me, but the circus theme made this one stand out to me. Fingers crossed that it's as good as it sounds.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Cindy!

      Delete
  6. Your site is so colorful and unique! I love the graphics :) great list, I will have to go through it and check these out.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Good idea for this week's TTT, Susan! These are ten authors I've never read. I hope you get a chance to try some of their books this year. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's amazing, with how much we all read, that there are always MORE authors out there to explore. It's a nice problem to have, not gonna lie!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lark!

      Delete
  8. This is a great topic! I love Kate Quinn and I hope you enjoy The Diamond Eye!

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    Replies
    1. Everyone seems to love Quinn. I hope I do, too!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Wendy!

      Delete
  9. I absolutely love your theme for this week! So many great authors that I haven't read, either. :D I really want to read Maus, too, which would also be my first from the author. What They Don't Know also sounds super interesting!

    Here's my TTT post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've never been a big comics person, so the graphic format is one I haven't explored much. The Maus books seem exceptional, though. I'm excited to try them out.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Sammie!

      Delete
  10. I was thinking about reading Maus this year. I read it years ago but I have a copy combining Maus 1 and 2.

    The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn also sounds good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I should probably look for an edition that combines both. I'll have to see what my library has.

      THE DIAMOND EYE does sound good, doesn't it? I'm interested to see how a bookish mom turns into a deadly sniper. That doesn't happen every day!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Tracy!

      Delete
  11. The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn has been on my radar for ages. Not sure why I like the sound of it so much. I plan to read more sci-fi and fantasy this year and want to try authors such as Adrian Tchaikovsky and Sarah Maas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good for you for branching out! I tend to stick with my "comfort" genres and not try others. SFF is a genre I generally shy away from, although I have occasionally found ones I really like. I've heard lots of good things about Maas. I'd never heard of Tchaikovsky until you mentioned him, but now I've been seeing his name everywhere! I hope you enjoy both of these new-to-you authors.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Cath!

      Delete
  12. This is a great topic... I need to remember it for the next freebie! Kate Quinn is the only one of these authors I've read. Highly recommend The Rose Code. Lydia Kang's books sound really interesting. Hope you get to read most of these.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I saw on someone's blog that they keep a list of topics to use for freebie weeks. Brilliant! I should do that because my mind TOTALLY blanks on them.

      I actually have a copy of THE ROSE CODE on my bookshelf, but it's THE DIAMOND EYE that's really calling to me. Maybe I'll get them both read this year. We'll see.

      Thanks for stopping in, JoAnn!

      Delete
  13. You've got some good authors and books listed here. OK, I've read two books by Kate Quinn and enjoyed both. I have not read The Diamond Eye, but it will happen. I have read Maus a while back and think you'll enjoy that. I also will make note of a few of the other authors listed. Thanks for sharing, Susan!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Quinn seems to be almost universally loved, so I think I'll enjoy her books. MAUS sounds like my kind of reading. It's just the format that will be different for me. I'm hoping all of these authors will be winners that I'll want to keep reading. It's always nice to find new writers to love :)

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Kay!

      Delete
  14. 'The Glass Woman' looks intriuging. I hope you'll enjoy all of these new authors' books.

    Thanks for visiting my blog. Have a lovely day

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Funny thing about THE GLASS WOMAN...I looked up while I was writing the blurb about it and discovered that I have a copy of it on my review book shelf. Who knew?? LOL.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Lissa!

      Delete
  15. I've read Maus (I & II) and I think you'll enjoy/appreciate the read. (It's hard to say "enjoy" given the subject matter, but I think you know what I mean.) I have both volumes on my keeper shelf to revisit periodically. They're very important books, especially the first one.

    It looks like you have some great new authors to discover this year! I haven't read any of the others (besides Spiegelman) but I can see where Duffy's covers would be super tempting to pick up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right? I find books about World War II and the Holocaust fascinating, but saying I "love" reading about that era seems so...wrong. The stories really are intriguing and instructive, though, especially those told by the people who actually experienced them (or whose families did). I'm sure I will love the Maus books.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Nicole!

      Delete
  16. Ohhh, Kimberly Willis Holt is good. That particular book is a really sweet one and I think you'll enjoy it. I've also liked My Louisiana Sky and the focus on the impact of books across generations in Part of Me: Stories of a Louisiana Family.

    P.S. I'm sorry, the Icelandic WHAT?? I had no idea this was a thing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Literally ALL of Holt's books sound good to me, so it's about time I give them a go! I'm glad you're a fan. That's defnitely a vote in her favor :)

      Right? I'd never heard of the Icelandic witch trials either. Sounds super intriguing to me. And, bonus, I actually have a review copy of the book that I had forgotten all about! Ha ha.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, RS!

      Delete
  17. The only one from you list I've read is Maus. It was good. I hope you enjoy all these new authors.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've heard nothing but good things about MAUS, so I'm sure I'll like it. I'm heading to the library today. Hopefully, they have a copy available.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Kami!

      Delete
  18. I’ve only read Kate Quinn’s Alice Network a few years ago and it was beautifully done, but definitely leaned toward the heartbreaking side. I hope you enjoy all these authors!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Great topic! I cannot believe I haven't read a single one of these authors! So awesome that you found so many new authors last year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha ha. No matter how much we all read, there are ALWAYS more authors out there to try. Not that I'm complaining! It's a good problem to have.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Leslie!

      Delete
  20. I hope you end up enjoying all of these new authors. Kate Quinn is one of my favorites!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Everybody seems to love Quinn, so I'm guessing I'll enjoy her books as well. They certainly sound like they're right up my alley!

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Suzanne!

      Delete
  21. I only started reading Kate Quinn when she started writing the WWII books, and now I'm hooked. The Diamond Eye is a good start.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was surprised to learn that Quinn has written other books besides her popular WWII books. Of course, I don't usually read books set before 1800, so I guess that's why they weren't on my radar. At any rate, I'm excited to try her newer books.

      Thanks, as always, for coming by and commenting, Davida!

      Delete
  22. I recently read a book by Tanita S. Davis and I would definitely read more. I've never read Kate Quinn either!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, good, I'm glad you enjoyed Davis. I'm excited to give her a try. Quinn is so popular that I really can't believe I haven't read her already. I hope we both enjoy her books!

      Thanks for stopping in, Dara!

      Delete
  23. Kate Quinn is one I'd like to try too. Hope you enjoy these authors when/if you try them!

    ReplyDelete
  24. It's always fun to try out new authors! I really need to read Kate Quinn sometime too.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I just read Maus and was blown away by it.. Kate Quinn has been on my TBR for too long and now I have 8 other new authors added to my reading list (thanks!)
    Here is my TTT

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  26. I hope you enjoy reading all of these authors when you get the opportunity! I read Rose Code by Kate Quinn last year and enjoyed it. I hope to read more by her this year. Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier.

    Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!

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  27. Great topic! The only author I've read is Kate Quinn and I really loved the book I read. I have several books by Nikola Scott on my shelf but I haven't read any of them yet.

    ReplyDelete
  28. This is a great list, Susan. Most of these are new to me authors as well. David and Kang would be the first authors I add to my TBR pile. Thanks for sharing and for visiting my blog Tuesday.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I hope you enjoy these authors! I've read a few of them. Kimberly Willis Holt was a childhood favorite.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I haven't heard of any of these, but regardless I hope you enjoy all of the ones you're able to get too!

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  31. I hope you enjoy Kimberley's! I head amazing things about her novels but haven't really looked into what type of fiction or the stories she writes. :) Thanks so much for visiting my website this week.

    ReplyDelete

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