Question: Is one just enough?
Do you ever read and author and think, ok I’ve read them now and never go back? I don’t mean you hated what you read and wouldn’t touch it again even on threat of pain of death. More that you want to read a particular author for whatever reason and once you’ve done it you think maybe I’ll read another one by them and never do?
Expanding that a little can you tire of the same author? I know I have with a few that have been writing for a while and writing in a very similar style for most of their books and I’ve failed to be moved by the idea of reading another.
Or is it just me?
I’ve certainly read books before which did not get me excited, and which caused me to never pick up another book by the same author again.
Eg Robert Rankin, Tom Holt, Jasper Fforde, Helen Fielding, Doris Lessing, Ursula LeGuin, etc.
I think it’s a simple matter of taking chances with time. If I have the choice between reading a book by an author whom I’ve read before, but not been overly enamoured of, or a book by an author who I’m new to, the more exciting bet for the next week or two of reading is the new author.
If it’s between the read-once-but-not-excited author and an author whose work I know and really enjoyed last time, then the safer bet is with the really-enjoyable-writer.
Basic conclusion? One lukewarm book can deprive an author of many potential fans…
There have been times when I have encouraged / forced myself to read something by an author I’m not too sure about just so I can say I’ve tried and not written them off out of hand. I can’t think of any names at the moment but it’s happened.
And there have been authors who I’ve loved and read lots by and then just hit a brick wall and grown tired of them, or perhaps life moves on and I change and what interests and appeals changes with it. Authors I’ve abandoned after spending much time with include - Irvine Welsh, Iain Banks, and lots of the Beat writers.