This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is Authors I’ve Read the Most Books By. This is such an interesting prompt and after looking through my Goodreads read shelf, I was surprised at some of the authors that made the cut! To make it more fair, I didn’t include manga or comic book authors because by sheer number of volumes many of them would make this list. I also didn’t count single short stories in my count, just full novels or collections of stories.
Mary Pope Osborne: I have read 63 books by Mary Pope Osborne. Yes, I do read every single Magic Tree House book that comes out, even new ones.
Melody Carlson: This was a surprise because I’ve only read one of her books recently, but I’ve apparently read around 33 of her books. So. Many.
Lisa T Bergren: It wasn’t as surprising that I’ve read a lot of books by Lisa, but the number (31) surprised me because I didn’t even realize there were that many!
Ted Dekker: Again, like with Lisa, I’m not surprised I’ve read a lot of books by Ted Dekker (those high school years, man), but the number (30) just seems so high!
Ron Roy: This name isn’t quite as familiar, but he has a whole series of mysteries for kids that go through each letter of the alphabet. So of course he makes the list with 26 titles.
Robin Jones Gunn: I’ve read 23 of her books and that’s not counting each individual book collected into the Christy Miller and Sierra Jensen volumes. So I guess the number would be way higher.
Rick Riordan: Uncle Rick, why you write so many books?! I’ve read 23 books by him and that’s not even all of the ones I own or that have been published!
Beverly Cleary: I was so happy that she made the list! I love all the books I’ve read (20), and I really need to read the ones I haven’t yet.
Lemony Snicket: When it comes to children’s book series, it seems like I read them all. I know Snicket has a few other books, but I haven’t read them so it’s just 14.
Donita K. Paul: Again, I was surprised that there are even 13 books by Paul out there, but she has several series and picture books, so it makes sense.
Keeper of the Wood Between Worlds 
Terry Pratchett has a full two shelves to himself at my home… And most of those books I have read at least twice!
Which books would you recommend to start with, if I wanted to read something by Rick Riordan?
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If you want Greek mythology, read The Lightning Thief. If you’re interested in Egyptian, read the Ready Pyramid. If you want Norse, read The Sword of Summer. There is a connection between the Percy Jackson series (The Lightning Thief) and Magnus Chase (Sword of Summer), but it isn’t until book 3 and doesn’t spoil a lot. His other two series (Heroes Of Olympus, Trials of Apollo) follow the Percy Jackson series, so I wouldn’t read them unless you’re okay with major spoilers and not knowing the characters as well.
And since I haven’t read any Pratchett (except Good Omens), what would you recommend to start with for his books?
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Thanks for such an in-depth answer!
Discworld is (in mine, and most other people’s opinion) Pratchett’s best work, but you might actually want to skip the first few books. The first two are very funny, but they are a total mess plot and writing-wise, and doesn’t reflect the style of the rest of the series at all. If I remember correctly, Pratchett himself actually advised readers to skip the first three books and start with “Mort”, which is also one of my favorites.
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Good to know! Thank you SO much. I’ll have to look into it whenever I’m ready to tackle his work.
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I had a friend start the Discworld books with the Tiffany Aching sub-series. It’s his YA Discworld, and was written toward the end. She said that was a good place to start, but it’s really up to what you’re looking for. I personally started with Mort in my recent re-read, and it’s a good start too.
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This is good to know as well. Thank you!
I’ve been eyeing his YA because a couple are award winners so I might try one of those. I don’t remember the titles or what series they are part of off the top of my head, though.
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I think I read all the Magic Treehouse books to my kids! And Beverly Cleary was one of my favorite authors as a child.
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Beverly Cleary books are so great. ❤
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Rick Riordan has been a very popular choice this week!
My TTT.
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He’s popped up on a lot of lists, it seems! 🙂
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Great list! I’ve seen Rick Riordan on a few lists this week, which is a big reminder that I need to give the Percy Jackson books a try.
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That’s cool! I hope you enjoy Percy Jackson whenever you get around to reading them. 🙂
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I remember the Magic Treehouse books! Though I didn’t read very many of them. I did read a lot of Beverly Cleary’s books, but I don’t remember now how many of them I read. Same for the Nancy Drew / Hardy Boys books.
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It would have been SO helpful to have Goodreads as a kid to keep track of all those long children’s series, right? XD
I only know I read all the Magic Tree House because I went back and reread all of them in order and then continue with whatever is the newest. I’ve read some Nancy Drew, but I couldn’t tell you which ones except for sure the first one.
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I’ve read a few MTH books thanks to my kids and my volunteer work with the elementary school reading program. I would have devoured those if they’d been around when I was little. I love that you read them even now!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
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Even if they’re a bit formulaic, they’re fun to read. I love all the places Jack and Annie go and what they learn. Plus, it’s a fast and easy read to add to my Goodreads goal! XD
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I’ve also read quite a few books by Beverly Cleary. Great list this week!
Here’s my TTT list.
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That’s awesome! Thank you 🙂
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Hey neat, Cleary made my list this week too. I thought she might be on more lists than she is, at least from people who included childhood authors. Do you have a favorite? I’ve decided I’m partial to The Luckiest Girl, Strider, and Ribsy. Three-way tie is allowed per the rules I just made up.
As a fun aside, my mom didn’t read a lot of teen books growing up, but she will rave to this day about how much she loves “Fifteen.” She reread it for the first time in decades when I got it out of the library as a teen, and she loved it just as much.
Also very nice to see Melody Carlson; I’ve only read 3 or 4 of hers (the Diary of a Teenage Girl quartet), but I find the sound of most of her work very comforting.
—RS
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I’ve always been a huge fan of the Ramona books. I read those books over and over as a kid. I was also weirdly intrigued by Socks, and I, of course, love Ralph S. Mouse! But Ribsy is good too. Maybe just all of her books? XD
Most of the Carlson books I read are her teen ones like the Diary of a Teenage Girl series and its off-shoots. I think her books are good for people looking for a Christian or clean read, though!
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I’ve read a lot of Rick Riordan too. And Beverly Cleary! I read a bunch of those as a kid. I have no idea how many, though.
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It’s hard to keep track when they have so many books! 🙂
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