I'm sure that all of ourselves have authors that a year ago we had no idea of who they were, or we did but we hadn't had the chance to read them.
This thread is to list all those good surprises for authors you haven't read and have become your favorites right now.
I'll start with some that really marked this year direction for me:
Roberto Bolaño: Doubted to include him, since I read
The Savage Detectives in December last year, but his discovery had me thrilled for all the year so he has his place well deserved.
Books Read this year:
The Savage Detectives, Distant Star, Amuleto, Phone Calls, Nazi Literature in Americas, Amulet.
Enrique Vila-Matas: First read this year. I had heard his name an even saw him live once or twice but never was interested in his works. Terrible mistake that I've partially fixed.
Books Read this year:
Bartleby and Co., The Illustrated Assasin, A Home Forever.
Italo Calvino: Before this year I had read only one short story by him and the
Cloven Viscount. Don't know where I got the idea he was tedious. I couldn't been more wrong.
Books Read this year:
The Nonexisting Knight, The Baron in Trees, Difficult Loves, The Watcher.
Javier Marías: Misconceptions again. Don't know where I picked the idea he was a cheap bestseller novel writer. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Amazing writer.
Books Read this year:
A Heart So White, Man of a Feeling, The Domains of the Wolf.
José Emilio Pacheco: The best poet I found this year. It took me so long to read him since he is the most acclaimed living poet in my country.
Books Read this year:
The Silence of the Moon, The Battles in the Desert.
Miguel Delibes: I knew of his existance as a very awarded author, The Premio Cervantes in his showcase and the acclamation of Spanish people as his most treasured living jewell. They were right.
Books Read this year:
The Road, Holy Innocents.
Paul Auster: I had seen his books on the libraries, but never captured my attention. Suddenly I decided to read one and although he's not top for some reason I can't stop reading him:
Books Read this year:
The Country of Last Things, The Red Notebook, Man in the Dark, The Book of Illusions.
Georges Perec: A selection of many of you in their top 50 books ever, was a long time wait in my tbr list. A shame it had to wait so long. Probably the best book I've read this year. Not easy to find his works here, but I'll keep on searching.
Books Read this year:
Life: A User's Manual
Mikhail Bulgakov: Same than Perec's, a recommendation here of many. Maybe I should listen more carefully to you guys
. I'm still reading it but I'm loving it so far. Excelent book.
Books Read this year:
Master and Margarita