While I know that I could not get anywhere near listing every single author who has written a book that means something to me, there are a few authors that stand out in my mind for writing some of my favorite books and series of all time.
Sometimes you read a book and it stays with you for a while. And then, sometimes you read a book and it stays with you for a lifetime. Each of these authors has written books that I will always come back to. No matter how much time goes by, I will never get tired of re-reading them and falling in love with their characters and stories all over again.
J.R.R Tolkien
I have been a fan of the world J.R.R. Tolkien created ever since I was a young child. I grew up watching Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. And then, once I became old enough to read the books and actually understand the lore and the more complex aspects of the Tolkien universe, my love for the world he created grew even more.
No one had gone as in-depth with creating a new world in the fantasy genre before Tolkien, and he unknowingly inspired future generations of writers. He created characters that feel like close friends, and a world that feels like a second home. I am forever thankful to Tolkien for writing some of my favorite fantasy books, and for laying the groundwork for what later became my favorite movie series of all time.
C.S. Lewis
The Chronicles of Narnia books are enjoyable at any age, and sometimes even more enjoyable as one gets older, since the deeper meaning of the story is easier understood. As a child, Narnia had me believing in magic rings, talking animals, and portals inside wardrobes. As an adult, Narnia reminds me of the importance of loyalty, honor, faith, and friendship. It will continue to be a series that I re-read throughout my entire life, and for that I am thankful.
Rick Riordan
Rick Riordan (like the other authors on this list) did something that not all authors are able to do. He wrote a children’s book series, directed at middle school age readers, and still made it enjoyable for any age. You know an author is gifted when they can keep a reader just as engaged with their books at 20 years old as when they were 12 years old.
Riordan made greek mythology fascinating and humorous, and he created one of my favorite protagonists of all time, Percy Jackson. When I first read Percy Jackson and the Olympians, I fell in love with the characters and the storyline. It provided me with an escape into a fantastical world (set in our own world of course) with characters that felt real. From the humor to the adventure, to the lessons on friendship, I am very thankful to Rick Riordan for creating a series that means so much to me, and to so many others around the world.
L.M. Montgomery
I am forever thankful to L.M. Montgomery for creating the iconic character of Anne Shirley, (Anne of Green Gables) who happens to be my favorite redhead of all time. Anne is spirited, imaginative, kindhearted, and adventurous.
She was always someone I aspired to be like as I was growing up, and I can’t say that has changed much over the years. I still always try to romanticize my life, be as optimistic as Anne, and I’ve even tried out red hair for a few years because of her infamous “carrot” colored hair. The atmosphere of the world and characters that Montgomery created in Anne of Green Gables will always have a special place in my heart.
These authors’ works have shaped me in so many different ways, without them even knowing, and I will be forever thankful to them!
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