DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE WRITER?
By GreatMartin
@GreatMartin (23670)
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
February 17, 2016 10:43am CST
It is very difficult for me to list one writer as my favorite as the list is endless ranging from Rita Mae Brown to Larry Kramer to John Rechy, Tennessee Williams and the list goes on. Definitely on the list--and high on it--is Maya Angelou. I had the pleasure of meeting her a couple of times and she was as open as if we had been friends for years!
After carrying these books with me for over 35+ years (and reading them at least once a year since I have had them) it is time to let go--what a powerful writer she is!
MAYA ANGELOU--PAPERBACKS--CLASSICS--MUST HAVE/READ
5 paperbacks by one of the greatest living writers--certainly the greatest female writer!
1) "I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS"--A CLASSIC--A STUDY OF A WOMAN WHO SUCCEEDS IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING
2) "GATHER TOGETHER IN MY NAME"--CONTINUES THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE AND HER STORY
3) "SINGIN' AND SWINGIN' AND GETTING MERRY LIKE CHRISTMAS" --THE THIRD VOLUME IN HER AMAZING LIFE--SHE CASTS THE SPOTLIGHT ON HER INTERNATIONAL SHOW BUSINESS CAREER, HER FAILED, SAD MARRIAGE TO A WHITE MAN AND HER SENSITIVE, ACHINGLY RELATIONSHIP WITH HER SON
4)"THE HEART OF A WOMAN"--THE FOURTH VOLUME OF HER HIGHLY ACCLAIMED AUTOBIOGRAPHY AS A SINGER/DANCER/WRITER AND HER INVOLVEMENT IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT--ALL WRITTEN FROM THE HEART
5)"POEMS"--WRITTEN HONESTLY, PAINFULLY AND FROM THE HEART--THE WHOLE SPECTRUM OF A BLACK WOMAN'S LIFE AND LOVE--CELEBRATING LIFE
18 people like this
19 responses
@celticeagle (189927)
• Boise, Idaho
18 Feb 16
I have a long list of great authors I like. Such as Harper Lee who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird, Mark Twain, and more recently Anne Rule who wrote the best vampire series ever written as far as I am concerned. Then, due to my love of books, there is Ray Bradbury for his Farenheit 451. There is Edgar Rice Burroughs for his Mars series and creation of Tarzan. Many others but these have woven for me a love of writing and shown me such interesting aspects of the written word.
3 people like this
@celticeagle (189927)
• Boise, Idaho
18 Feb 16
@GreatMartin ...It's impossible for me. Sort of a mood thing. I enjoy a lot of different authors depending on my mood.
2 people like this
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
18 Feb 16
When I am asked who is your favorite writer or favorite actor or movie or singer, painter, etc., no way can I just give one name!
2 people like this
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
20 Feb 16
@JudyEv You are right--sorry it was misleading--I will take it out.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382371)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb 16
@GreatMartin Your last sentence says 'looking forward to another book by her' so I thought you meant a new book.
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
24 Feb 16
I have never read any of her work, I know, I should but it just isn't my style. Right now I am reading Ladies of Liberty by Cokie Roberts.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
24 Feb 16
@GreatMartin No I am sure she is not but this is a very interesting book.
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
24 Feb 16
I like Cokie but she is no Maya--the latter will be remembered through the ages!!
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
25 Feb 16
@BelleStarr Just start reading one of her books and you will want to read them all!
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54180)
• Louisville, Kentucky
20 Feb 16
@GreatMartin That is the book that I want to read as I have heard a lot about it.
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
20 Feb 16
Once you read "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" you will immediately
want to read whatever she wrote!
want to read whatever she wrote!1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
19 Feb 16
Do you know this book? Some great guys gave me this!!
@amadeo (111937)
• United States
19 Feb 16
@GreatMartin Have you starting reading this.I am reading slowly Secret Historian.
The life and times of Samuel Steward When I say slowly.meaning going back and forth to the chapter to see if I miss anything.So far I enjoy reading it and he was quite the person.
Thank you for sending this to me.
1 person likes this
@jillybean1222 (6406)
•
21 Feb 16
It's hard for me to name my very favorite, but I am a huge fan of the following: Tolstoy, Tolkien, Dickens, and Rowling. (Yes, I rank JK & Harry Potter up there with the classics of my other faves!)
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
22 Feb 16
I haven't read a Potter book yet--not into that genre though I am sure if I started I wouldn't stop until I read them all! :O)
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
18 Feb 16
I never heard of some of the ones you mentioned but I'm more into the horror genre.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (40052)
• Toccoa, Georgia
23 Feb 16
My favorite is Jane Austen. She is the one who wrote classics like "Pride and Prejudice".
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
24 Feb 16
I am very familiar with Austen--my friend has been a member of the JA Society for decades and was secretary for awhile--she also wrote a book "The Humor of Jane Austen".
1 person likes this
@sherryericha (1806)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
18 Feb 16
I enjoyed Dr. Angelou's books, but I'm more of a mystery/crime aficionado. Here's my list: Ruth Rendell, Elizabeth George, John Sanford, James Lee Burke, George Pelecanos, Lee Childs, Max Allen Collins, Stephen King and several others that I won't remember until much later tonight 
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
19 Feb 16
I don't know why but I have never been able to read a King novel all the way!!
1 person likes this
@sherryericha (1806)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
19 Feb 16
@GreatMartin. Some Joyce Carol Oates books are hard or impossible for me to finish.
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
19 Feb 16
She did many talks here and was very open. I, also, saw her on stage.
1 person likes this
@Shayani (250)
• Pune, India
18 Feb 16
Well to be frank I do have favorite writers !! But that does not make me bias in picking up some of the other interesting writers. Yes you are write , the list of favorite writers will be a long one. But if you know your taste, you tend to stick to that most of the times. I am fond of thriller , mystery and at times romance.
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
19 Feb 16
I have always read all genres--a good writer will get your interest no matter what he/she writes about!
@silvermist (19701)
• India
17 Feb 16
@GreatMartin I have so many writers I like.I have read'' I know Why The Caged Bird Sings'' and her poems.The flowers are beautiful.
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
18 Feb 16
I am going to have to write about those flowers--basically it is a Christmas cactus because it blooms every Christmas except when I have a Leap Year Birthday!
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
7 Mar 16
AHA!!! That's not A author!! It's difficult isn't it?
@slayer08 (2377)
• Philippines
7 Mar 16
@GreatMartin well, they've authored some great books, right?
