Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2014

It's time for another rendition of Top Ten Tuesday.  This is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week's theme a is "wrapping up the year" type theme.  It's Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read In 2014. My new-to-me authors list is rather long this year, so it took some work to get it down to ten, but I succeeded. Here we go:

1. John Steinbeck: That's right, before this year, I had never read John Steinbeck. I heard so many people talk about how awful he is, but I actually really liked Of Mice and Men. Is it sad? Well, yes, duh, but it was good.

2. Jane Austen: Yep, this was the first year I have ever read Jane Austen. I only read Pride and Prejudice. I anticipate that some day I will read more.

3. Jeffrey Eugenides: I had heard a lot about Middlesex, but it didn't seem like my kind of book.  But I am reading my way through the Pulitzer Prize winners, so I figured I'd check it out. I actually really liked it. It was fascinating.

4.  JRR Tolkien: Ok, so here's another very famous author I finally read this year. Will I read more?  I am still on the fence. While I enjoyed The Hobbit, I feel like The Lord of the Rings is just too complex for me.  I also read The Silmarillion which was well written and really shows off Tolkien's talent, but was just way too much information for me. I don't know.  We will see where the future leads. 

5. Cormac McCarthy:  The Road was my first go at a McCarthy book.  I really enjoyed it. I know he also wrote No Country for Old Men, but I saw the movie and am not sure the book is for me. One thing is for sure, McCarthy doesn't feel the need to end his book happily!

6. William Golding: Here is another famous author that I can now say I have read.  I loved The Lord of the Flies.  It was captivating and so realistic. I think he did a phenomenal job and I really like the imagery of the book.

7. Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman:  I list these two authors together because I have only read a collaboration by them. I full intentions of reading each author separately as well now, because Good Omens was a very good book that made me chuckle out loud.

8. Jennifer Egans: This year I read Jennifer Egans as well.  I don't think she has many other books, so I am not sure I will read her again (unless she writes something new) but I did think A Visit From the Goon Squad was unique and interesting.

9. Gillian Flynn: I also read my first Gillian Flynn book. I was insanely good, but so dark and so pure evil. I am not sure I can handle another one, despite the amazingness of the first book. I don't know. I am still on the fence.

10. Rob Thomas and  Jennifer Graham: I will definitely read more of these books, because I love Veronica Mars!