Top Ten Tuesday: New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2021

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Strawberries, coffee, cookies, and an art book on a white sheet. Sometimes it feels like the January Top Ten Tuesday topics are so closely connected to each other that I need to be careful about repeating myself when responding to them.

For that reason, I’ll keep this week’s list short and sweet. Here are five books I read last year from authors who are new to me.

 

Author: Betty MacDonald

What I Read from Them: The Plague and I

Would I Read More from Them? Yes! I never would have guessed that a memoir about living in a tuberculosis hospital in the 1930s would be so funny or relatable nearly a century later. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for anything else she might have written.

 

Author: Annalee Newitz

What I Read from Them: Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age

WouldI Read More from Them? Yes! This author had a conversational writing style that made learning about history amusing and educational.

 

Author: Kathy Iandoli

What I Read from Them: Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah

Would I Read More from Them? No. I found the author’s writing style to be choppy, and she only skimmed the surface on some pretty important questions about Aaliyah’s life. I know that it was probably quite difficult to dig up new information about this singer given how private her family is, but I wasn’t impressed with this biography.

 

Author: Katherine Arden

What I Read from Them: Small Spaces

Would I Read More from Them? I already have! I’ll be reviewing Small Spaces and it’s sequels on this site in the near future, so stay tuned.

 

Author: Sandy Skotnicki

What I Read from Them: Beyond Soap: The Real Truth about What You Are Doing to Your Skin and How to Fix It for a Beautiful, Healthy Glow

Would I Read More from Them? Maybe. There was a lot of excellent information about skin care in this book, but I found the writing to be a bit repetitive at times. So I’d pick up more books from this author, but I might skim through them or only read the sections that are most applicable to my skin in particular.

95 Comments

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95 Responses to Top Ten Tuesday: New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2021

  1. Katherine Arden is such a great writer. I loved their bear and nightingale trilogy and Small Spaces was a good read too. I still need to read Dead Voices though.

  2. Didn’t Betty McDonald also write a memoir of her life starting an egg farm? I think I remember reading The Egg and I and thinking it was very funny.

    • Yes, she did! I haven’t managed to find a copy of that book yet, but I’ll keep trying. It sounds marvellous.

      Just so you know, I did try to comment on your post this week, but Disqus seemed to be having issues. I’ll try again later. 🙂

  3. Anita@seriesbooklover

    I haven’t heard of these authors buy will keep them in mind.

  4. the plague and I looks so interesting!!! i’m going to have to check out some more on this list

    my blog: https://www.writethroughthenight.com

  5. It’s always a good feeling to discover a new-to-you author. 🙂

  6. I like the blurbs you put in about whether you’d read anything from the particular author again, Lydia. And you have such an interesting mix of books, too.

  7. Sounds like a mixed bag of authors. I hope you continue to enjoy the ones you loved that you read.

  8. “The Plague and I” sounds interesting! I also keep meaning to read Katherine Arden but those books always get pushed back.

    My post: https://www.dreamcomereview.com/top-ten-tuesday-new-to-me-authors-i-discovered-in-2021/

  9. Kay

    I read Autonomus by Annalee Newitz and really enjoyed it, I need to read more by this author. I hadn’t heard of this one though!

  10. All of the authors you mention are new to me with the exception of Katherine Arden whose books I haven’t yet read but would like to. I will have to check out The Plague and I–it sounds like something I would like. Thank you for sharing!

  11. Small Spaces was where I started with Katherine Arden, too! That is such a fun series, and I’m looking forward to the conclusion later this year.

    My TTT: https://bookwyrmknits.com/2022/01/25/top-ten-tuesday-new-to-me-authors-i-discovered-in-2021/

    • Goodness, I left a comment on your post before noticing your comment here. It’s kind of funny when that happens. 🙂

      And it’s very cool that Small Spaces was also where you started off with Katherine Arden. I hope the last book in that series is good. I’m already on the library waitlist for it. Haha!

      • I know that I tend to open up a bunch of TTT tabs on my browser all at once, and then go through reading them and leaving comments without going back to see who’s commented on my post. So this is probably the internet version of crossing in the mail. 😉

        My library didn’t have one of the books in the Small Spaces series when I wanted to read it, so I ended up buying the ebooks. I’ve already put in a preorder for the last book, too. Fingers crossed that it lives up to our expectations!

  12. I <3 Katherine Arden so much! I love her Winternight trilogy. I didn't know about this book. I'm going to look into it. Thank you for putting it on my radar! Thanks also for stopping by my blog!

    • I’ll keep an eye out for her Winternight trilogy! May you enjoy the Small Spaces quartet. The first three books in it are perfect to curl up with on a chilly day in my opinion.

  13. I’ve seen Katherine Arden around the book community. I want to check out her books at some point.

  14. The Plague And I sounds interesting, I’ll have to check it out!

    Here’s mine:
    https://bookishyarn.ca/2022/01/25/top-ten-tuesday-contemporaries-i-didnt-get-to-in-2021/

    • It was so unique. I’ve never read anything quite like it. The author truly made me feel like I’d climbed into a time machine and travelled back to the 1930s to stay in a tuberculosis hospital for a while.

      May you enjoy it if you read it!

  15. Book Admirer

    I haven’t heard of these authors. I guess I now I have to go and check them out. Lol

  16. Oooh I’ve been wondering about Small Spaces as I didn’t like the writing in her other series. Been wondering if its different. Nice to see you enjoyed it.

  17. I really liked Katherine Arden’s Winternight trilogy and did not know about this other trilogy. I will watch for your reviews Lydia.

  18. I sometimes worry that I’m going to repeat myself! Seems like a good mix of reading material here?

  19. I adored Katherine Arden’s Winternight trilogy, but the Small Spaces books have been on my TBR for ages (and I really, really hope to get to them soon!).

    • Oh, lucky you for still having Small Spaces on your TBR. The final book in that series comes out in August, so you still have loads of time to catch up on it before then if that’s what you wish to do. 🙂

  20. Katherine Arden has been on my TBR, glad to hear you enjoyed her book – I hope to try her writing this year for sure.

  21. I read and loved The Bear and the Nightingale. I’m hoping to finish The Winternight Trilogy this year. Then I can move onto her Small Spaces series.

  22. I’ve really liked what I’ve read by Katherine Arden so far! Loved the Bear & Nightingale trilogy, and I enjoyed Small Spaces and the follow-up as well. (I think there’s another in the series that I haven’t gotten to yet.) I have two books by Annalee Neuwitz on my shelves that I haven’t read yet, but I’m really looking forward to them! Glad to hear you encountered some new authors that you like enough to continue reading. 🙂

    • There is one final book in the Small Spaces series that won’t be out until August. So you could always read book #3 in the meantime if you wished to. 🙂

      I hope you like both of the Neuwitz books on your shelf!

  23. Nice list! I like the format you chose for that

  24. Now these all sound like really interesting reads. Especially the first 2!

    Happy reading in 2022 and thanks for visiting us earlier.

  25. What a great list. The Plague and I and Four Lost Cities need to go on my wish list. Thanks for sharing and for visiting my blog.

  26. I’ve not read any of these books but I’ve heard very good things about Small Spaces. Happy reading! My TTT https://readwithstefani.com/2021-reading-year-in-review/

  27. I loved The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden – she’s such a good writer!

  28. I’ve felt that way about some of the TTT topics lately too. I haven’t read any of these books though!

  29. These sound really interesting–especially a skincare book! I’m glad you enjoyed so many new authors.

    • Thank you. Yeah, that skincare book is a good tool if you have any skin issues or even if you want to know how to take good care of your skin. It has so much information that’s current and based in the latest science.

  30. Four Lost Cities sounds really cool! I love a good non-fiction!

  31. I really loved Katherine Arden’s adult fantasy trilogy starting with The Bear and the Nightingale. Small Spaces sounds intriguing as well!

  32. Beyond Soap look like an interesting read. I been reading up on essential oils and how to make them. It usually used in soaps and shampoo.

  33. I love Katherine Arden’s books, especially her Winternight Trilogy.

  34. I love this topic, as I’m learning about so many new authors! Great post!

  35. THE PLAGUE AND I sounds good to me, too! I find those kinds of memoirs absolutely fascinating.

    Happy TTT!

    Susan
    http://www.blogginboutbooks.com

  36. The only author I know on here is Katherine Arden and I’ve only read one of her books (the first in The Bear and the Nightingale series) but I loved it so much. Definitely keen to read more by her! Great list 🙂

  37. Wow, so glad to see you enjoyed several of these! And I feel you on the repeats, I’ve noticed that with my TTT lists too.

  38. Newitz — I have Autonomous on my TBR pile, but haven‘t gotten round to it yet…

  39. All new authors to me Lydia.. The Plague and I sounds interesting.. I always discover something new when I visit your blog..

  40. New authors for me. Four Lost Cities seems interesting. Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving the link earlier.

  41. RS

    Oh my goodness I am SO ECSTATIC to see one of Betty Macdonald’s memoirs on here, and one of the lesser-known ones at that! I’ve only read The Egg and I*, but it was definitely as funny as I imagine this one to be. I’ve been meaning to finish the quartet for a solid decade now — I bought them all for my parents, who loved them, but somehow failed to continue myself! — and I’m so glad you enjoyed this one.

    (*also have a solid childhood love of her Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books, which are the main reason I read the memoir in the first place).

    • Yay! That is actually the first and only book I’ve read from her so far, but it was so good!

      Someday I want to read the rest of her work, too. I’m glad you liked The Egg and I so much. That one sure sounds funny.

  42. All these authors are also new-for-me!
    I like a lot that you also shared whether you would read more books from them!

  43. Small Spaces has been on my TBR for a long time. I need to pick it up, I’m very curious about Katherine Arden’s writing. 🙂

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