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My Favorite Living Authors

This is going to sound stupid and nerdy but I love looking at my books.  When I am bored I just stare at the shelves and think about the books I've read or books that I still want to read.

Last night, I couldn't sleep so I was looking at my bookshelf and I concocted a list of my top living authors.  These are the authors who, if I see a new book of theirs advertised or at a store, I do not hesitate to buy it.  These are also authors who have written more books that I like than books that I didn't like.  That would exclude, for instance, Mark Danielewski who wrote one of my favorite books (House of Leaves) but his second book was not so good.  Also, John Kennedy Toole does not make the list because he only wrote one book. Furthermore, I didn't list authors when I have only read one of their books, like Junot Diaz, Joyce Carol Oates or Paulo Coehlo. 

Is this a subjective list?  Yes.  Is this a pointless list? Probably but I was amused by it and I thought you might be too.  It also might give you some perspective on my thoughts on books when I post about things I have read recently.

My Top Living Authors:

  1. Paul Auster
  2. Jonathan Lethem
  3. A.M. Homes
  4. Cormac McCarthy
  5. Ian McEwan
  6. Neil Gaiman
  7. Chuck Palahniuk (he is barely clinging to this list after his last three, not-so-good books but he still meets the rule)
  8. Jeffrey Eugenides
  9. Gabriel García Márquez

Think I am missing someone important?  Want to argue about my list?  Do you absolutely hate one of the authors I listed or mentioned?  Let's fight it out in the comments or on Facebook.  Bring it on.
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