American Author Challenge 2018: General Discussion

^^Joan Didion, Tobias Wolff, Alice Walker, Walter Mosley, Amy Tan

January- Joan Didion http://www.librarything.com/topic/279506#
February- Colson Whitehead http://www.librarything.com/topic/285691#
March- Tobias Wolff http://www.librarything.com/topic/287687#
April- Alice Walker http://www.librarything.com/topic/289310#
May- Peter Hamill http://www.librarything.com/topic/290673#
June- Walter Mosley http://www.librarything.com/topic/291960#
July- Amy Tan http://www.librarything.com/topic/293046
August- Louis L'Amour http://www.librarything.com/topic/294348
September- Pat Conroy http://www.librarything.com/topic/295559#
October- Stephen King http://www.librarything.com/topic/296865#
November- Narrative Nonfiction http://www.librarything.com/topic/298161#
December- F. Scott Fitzgerald

Okay folks this is the fifth year of the AAC, so we should all be familiar how this works. This is how easy it is: Pick a book or two by that author, hopefully something off the shelf, (that is always the mission folks!) and read it. It is that simple. If a certain author does not appeal, feel free to substitute another American author. The Book Gods do shine down on "The Purists", so keep that in mind, before deciding to skip something. If you want to read authors out of order, I have no problem with that.

^^I will post the links to each author AAC, next to the author's name for easy access.

**This will also be my final year hosting the AAC. I think 5 years is a helluva run. It looks like Linda (laytonwoman3rd), is planning on taking over hosting duties, starting in 2019. Go Linda! She will be a perfect host!

I am working on the Didion thread. Hope to get it up shortly.

^The Joan Didion thread is up: http://www.librarything.com/topic/279506#

Got you going on the group wiki!

Dropping my star!

>4 msf59: Thanks, Mark. I'm taking copious notes!

Looks like I have taken up the challenge again - and I said I was going to do fewer challenges. What was I thinking?

Oooh, the AAC! I managed exactly one from last year, and am very proud of that :)

>8 laytonwoman3rd: Atta girl! Do you have a Didion lined up, as well? Grins...

>9 Familyhistorian: come on, Meg. This is the Warbler's Swan Song! You gotta tag along.

>10 LovingLit: I think you deserve a special award for that lofty achievement.

Hope springs eternal and I'll aim to complete more AAC books in 2018

January- Joan Didion--The White Album
February- Colson Whitehead--Sag Harbor
March- Tobias Wolff--The Barracks Thief
April- Alice Walker
May- Peter Hamill
June- Walter Mosley
July- Amy Tan
August- Louis L'Amour
September- Pat Conroy
October- Stephen King
November- Narrative Nonfiction
December- F. Scott Fitzgerald

>11 msf59: Well, Mark, I posted the AAC list to my 2018 thread and brought a Didion home from the library. Looks like I'm in.

Dropping off my star although my participation may be somewhat spotty this year.
Regardless, it's always fun to follow along and see what people are reading and see if any blue book bullets come flying off the computer screen! (They usually do.)

I am planning to add this to my challenge list - lots of my favorite authors here this year - and some who are new to me! Starting with South and West

I'll definitely join you in June. Mosley is one of my favorite mystery novelists! He's apparently got a new novel coming out in February - Down the River Unto the Sea. Not an Easy Rawlins set in L.A., but a new detective set in NY.

I also like that you've got Stephen King on deck for October. :)

And though Willa Cather is not on this year's roster, the Kindle edition of My Antonia is free today! For anyone who hasn't read this wonderful novel yet, or who wants to read it again (like me), here's the deal for you! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N394V65/

>16 Storeetllr: Thank you for the My Antonia link! I love that book. :)

>17 nittnut: Me too! Cather is a favorite, tho I admit to not yet reading O Pioneers. Not quite sure why, as I've read and loved most of her other novels.

The Colson Whitehead thread is up. Stop on over: http://www.librarything.com/topic/285691#

>17 nittnut: >18 Storeetllr: I am a big Cather fan too. One of my favorite AAC authors. Glad to see the love continue.

>18 Storeetllr:, >20 msf59: The love continues! I think O, Pioneers is my favorite of the ones I've read. I haven't read Death Comes to the Archbishop yet, but it will happen eventually. Have you read Alexander's Bridge? It's a short one and not one of her best known works. I really liked it.

>20 msf59:, >21 nittnut: Yes, the love definitely continues. I missed Alexander's Bridge, Jenn, though it's also on my veeerrrryyy looooooong TBR list, along with O Pioneers. I really loved Death Comes for the Archbishop and am sure you will too.

My Antonia for free on Kindle? Thanks, Mary! That's my favorite of hers, too.

^The Tobias Wolff thread is up. Stop on by: http://www.librarything.com/topic/287687#

I had heard vaguely that Sherman Alexie was accused of sexual predation....now here it is, and it's mighty sad.

ETA: This update---Alexie has chosen not to accept the ALA's Carnegie medal, and the non-fiction prize will not be awarded for 2018.

^The Alice Walker thread is up. Stop over and let us know what you will be reading:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/289310#

^The Peter Hamill thread is up and running: http://www.librarything.com/topic/290673#

^The Walter Mosley thread is up. Stop by and let us know what you will be reading: http://www.librarything.com/topic/291960#

Sorry, for the delay, but the Amy Tan thread is up: http://www.librarything.com/topic/293046

Yay. Finally an author I have on my shelf. The Valley of Amazement awaits.

The Louis L'Amour thread is up: http://www.librarything.com/topic/294348

^The Pat Conroy thread is up. Stop by and let us know what you are reading: http://www.librarything.com/topic/295559#

^The Stephen King thread is up: http://www.librarything.com/topic/296865#

I've put up a thread for discussing and planning the AAC for 2019. You can find it here. Please drop in and share your thoughts.

Just bumping this thread up, reminding everyone that I'll be coming up with a tentative list for the 2019 challenge in about a week (it will have more than 12 selections, and will be subject to more discussion and final cuts). If anyone wants to chime in on the original (looooooong) list of suggested authors, bop over in the next week and share your thoughts. Link is in >34 laytonwoman3rd: above.

-The NNF thread for November is up: http://www.librarything.com/topic/298161#

The F. Scott Fitzgerald thread is up: http://www.librarything.com/topic/299446

I hope everyone can join me, on my final author. It has been a GREAT run.