February challenge: read a book by one of your favourite authors

February's challenge is to read a book by one of your favourite authors. Tell us what you plan to read, and optionally, why the author is one of your favourites.

I'm planning to read The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold. I've read most of Bujold's massive Vorkosigan space opera series, but I've never tried any of her fantasy novels. Given Bujold's exceptional world-building and the depth and complexity of her characters, I expect her fantasy books to be just as good as her science fiction novels.

I'm going to read Mon "The Gate by Natsume Soseki. I enjoy reading contemporary Japanese literature, but I recently read Kokoro by this author and was blown away by the beauty of his writing.

I'm going to read Even Dogs in the Wild by Ian Rankin. I discovered Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus books probably in 2001 because I know the first book I read was The Falls. After that I tried to read everything new as it came out and I even acquired all the previous books through used book sales. A few years ago Ian Rankin came to Winnipeg for a book launch and I took my husband with me. He was just as great as I thought he would be. Even my husband who doesn't read fiction was impressed with him. Now my husband gifts me with Rankin's new releases and I got this one for Christmas. I've been making my way through a tower of library books in January but it is finally down to manageable proportions so I think I can get to this one soon.

I actually started out by reading The Sound of the Mountain by Yasunari Kawabata. I love so many contemporary Japanese authors, but this one is a favorite of many people beside myself. His writing is very gentle and lyrical.

>4 gypsysmom: I've read the first few books in Rankin's Rebus series and really enjoyed them. That's great that you were able to meet him.

>5 SqueakyChu: I'll have to keep your recommendations in mind, as I'd like to read more Japanese literature. Interestingly enough, most of the books by Japanese authors I've read have come to me through BookCrossing.

Mine will be Private Games. I'm on a bit of a James Patterson marathon.
This was originally registered by HerbertLooby and picked up in an OBCZ some time ago. I love Patterson books because I enjoy the super short chapters - some aren't even a page long! Also the scene is usually set very quickly as in the first few pages. I usually cannot put them down. I've decided to read my Patterson books as I realised I practically had a shelf dedicated to them! Also as I read them so quickly, my bookshelf looks better already!

I finished Even Dogs in the Wild and of course I loved it. One of the things I really like about Rankin is that he infuses his books with many references to music. The title of this book is from a recording by The Associates. I had never heard of the Associates but I got a YouTube video of the song and listened to it and liked it quite a lot.

>7 Nataliec7: I've never actually read Patterson, though I'm a big fan of the mystery genre. I've got so many mystery series on the go that I'm a little bit afraid to latch onto an author that's so prolific.

>8 gypsysmom: I agree about the music references, and it makes total sense to me that Rebus likes Leonard Cohen (one of my own favourites). :)

I finished The Curse of Chalion and happy to have discovered that Lois McMaster Bujold's fantasy work is every bit as good as her space opera novels.

>9 mathgirl40: The trick with Patterson is to find out which of his series you like & stick with those. For instance, I know I like the Women's Murder Club, the Alex Cross ones, & those he co-wrote with Michael Ledwidge. Not a fan of the Beach Road series, set on Long Island. That thins the herd a bit.

Far behind in posting these monthly ones.

So...dipping back into my spreadsheet to see what I really read in February - and the author is: Stephanie Laurens. She has written several series - some I've read and some not yet.

This set in February was The Bastion Club, starting with The Lady Chosen and finishing up eight books later with Mastered by Love. All set in regency England, very smarmy romances, which sometimes I just need for happy endings!