When I was small my mother used to get cross with me for forgetting the authors of the books I liked. (A stance not entirely unrelated to the fact she is a professional author herself). Now I am older and have achieved memory skills better than than the average goldfish I do remember authors and titles , which is why I share these enviable skills on what’s that book
But I do pity Monica Hughes who seems to be the most forgotten of all authors. Today yet another of her books was listed by someone who’d forgotten author and title. It is, of course, Keeper of the Isis Light. Monica Hughes died in 2003 and her wikipedia page lists 37 published titles from the 1970s to the turn of the century. I have read five of those: Keeper of the Isis Light, The Guardian of Isis, Devil on My Back, The Dream Catcher and Sandwriter. I’ve read each of those several times and still have copies of the last two. But there are 32 more books of hers to read and I am determined to acquire more of them – if only to prove that someone remembers her and rates her work high enough to recall.
Eva Ibbotson is another who seems to linger in obscurity although she is very much alive and published two new titles last year. Margaret Mahy doesn’t get remembered well either and at the height of the Harry Potter craze many of my friends bewailed the fact that Diana Wynne Jones wasn’t getting more notice.
What are other people’s candidates for forgotten authors who deserve better of their readers? And which are the books I should immediately order?
Hi, just found your blog – I enjoyed your ‘Hex’ series.
I think Diana Wynne Jones is one of the great and inexplicably ovverlooked authors, particulaly considering the quality of her writing.
Are you familiar with the ‘Stump the bookseller’ website? (http://www.loganberrybooks.com/stump.html)Similar to ‘what’s that book’.
would you like a copy of Monica Hughes’ ‘Invitation to the Game’? I am thinning out my library and have a copy going spare.
Best wishes,
Comment by Marjorie — March 9, 2009 @ 9:10 pm
Thanks for the link and for commenting. I’m glad you liked Hex. I’d love a copy of the Monica Hughes book! I don’t want to post my address on the internet though. If you let me know your email perhaps we can work something out?
Comment by Rhiannon Lassiter — March 11, 2009 @ 12:17 pm
Hi,
I wasn’t sure whether you had aces to my e-mail from the comments. You can e-mail me at tmargo@tiscali.co.uk (which is my secondary e-mail I don’t mind leaving lying around on the internet address, so it doesn’t get checked every day!)
Comment by Marjorie — March 11, 2009 @ 1:04 pm
Cheers, I didn’t know if I could find your email from the comments either. I thought I had best reply quickly so you knew I’d seen yours.
I will email you shortly. Thanks again!
Comment by Rhiannon Lassiter — March 12, 2009 @ 11:55 am