This blog is for the “Meet the Authors: Exploring the Creative Process ” course, taught by Dr. Leslie Donovan in the Honors College at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM, USA. It provides an easily accessible, electronic space for 100-level Honors students to discuss texts and ideas, develop critical thinking skills, and practice college level writing. While anyone may read our work, only class members may post.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Favorite NM Author
Who is your favorite New Mexico author? Why is this person your favorite? Which of the works of this author is your favorite and why?
My favorite New Mexico author is Steve Brewer, who we'll get a chance to hear from at some point in the semester. I've taken two wonderful classes from him through Honors on hard-boiled fiction and how to improve my writing. Both of these have had a huge impact on the way I write, which by itself shows that Steve knows what he's talking about. I just started his book "Box of Pandoras," so I don't know how much I like it, but I'll be sure to update everyone as I go!
So far every New Mexico author I have read I have enjoyed. It's hard to say who my favorite is. I have been a pretty big fan of Lois Duncan since middle school, and I recently read some of Tony Hillerman, and I think he's fantastic. I think both authors are good at drawing the reader into the story, making it believable and hard to put down. All the New Mexico authors on the list we got on Monday are on my to-read list now (if I haven't already read them), so maybe I'll have an absolute favorite in the near future.
I haven't read too many books by New Mexico authors. The only New Mexico authors I'm familiar with are Lois Duncan and Rudolfo Anaya. I did like reading Lois Duncan's books when I was in middle school and I really enjoyed Rudolfo Anaya's novel Bless Me Ultima. I wanted to take this course so I can read more works by New Mexico authors and see what makes them New Mexico writers.
From the list we were given last class, the only authors I'd heard of were Rudolfo Anaya and Willa Cather, and the only book from either of those authors that I'd read was Cather's "Death Comes for the Archbishop" (which I did enjoy). I blame this on the fact that I'm not originally from New Mexico, and I usually read books written by non-local authors who are long dead.
I am only familiar with two New Mexican authors, Rudolfo Anaya and Leslie Marmon Silko. The only two books I have read by them are "Bless Me Ultima" and "Ceremony." I really enjoyed both books. I especially enjoyed "Bless Me Ultima" because of its ability to bring together innocence and growing up with the symbolism of spirituality and animals. It brought together the roles of death and experience. I found that it was an influential book and I hope to read it again. "Ceremony" on the other hand was a rather morbid book. However, it captured the experience of PTSD and explained it in a way i had not seen before. I enjoyed the experience that the book brought and found that it had many interesting lessons.
A couple weeks ago, before this class began, I would have said my favorite author was Tony Hillerman. I love a good detective story and because he was a NM author, I had been assigned one of his books for a class a long time ago. From there I read most of his books in the Navajo mysteries series. I would have to say my favorite of his books is Skywalkers. I don’t know why really, it just stuck with me more than all of the others.
Now that this class has started, I learned that Roger Zelazny is from NM. Although I like detective books, my favorite genre is Fantasy/Scifi, which is why Zelazny is now my favorite NM author over Tony Hillerman. I have all of the Chronicles of Amber books and my father has even more books by him. If I'm not mistaken, I believe my dad had actually met him. What surprised me is that I had no idea he was from New Mexico! I choose Zelazny to do my research paper on so it should be interesting to find out more about him.
I don’t think I have a favorite New Mexican author. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to read many novels from local authors during our high school years. In school, we focus on reading from authors like Shakespeare and Mark Twain among other widely known authors. I’m looking forward to reading novels from New Mexican authors because in some sense I feel closer to them, like I know them almost on a personal level because we share similar backgrounds.
Anyway, I started reading “A Box of Pandoras” on Monday after our second class and I must admit I am truly enjoying it. I love the way Steve Brewer combines comedy and mystery. I was laying down reading this book and I laughed out loud a few times, which made my family a little curious about what I was reading. I also found that I couldn’t put the book down and so read the first ten chapters in one sitting. I am looking forward to his speech and getting to meet him. Maybe he will be the New Mexican author that I end up liking the most.
My favorite New Mexico author is Steve Brewer, who we'll get a chance to hear from at some point in the semester. I've taken two wonderful classes from him through Honors on hard-boiled fiction and how to improve my writing. Both of these have had a huge impact on the way I write, which by itself shows that Steve knows what he's talking about. I just started his book "Box of Pandoras," so I don't know how much I like it, but I'll be sure to update everyone as I go!
ReplyDeleteI read "Box of Pandoras" and loved it! Steve Brewer is so funny. I didn't realize that he teaches honors. I'm looking forward to hearing his talk.
DeleteSo far every New Mexico author I have read I have enjoyed. It's hard to say who my favorite is. I have been a pretty big fan of Lois Duncan since middle school, and I recently read some of Tony Hillerman, and I think he's fantastic. I think both authors are good at drawing the reader into the story, making it believable and hard to put down. All the New Mexico authors on the list we got on Monday are on my to-read list now (if I haven't already read them), so maybe I'll have an absolute favorite in the near future.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading Lois Duncan's books. I did not know that she was a New Mexico author. That is exciting to me.
DeleteI was pretty excited to find out that she's a New Mexico author, too! :)
DeleteI haven't read too many books by New Mexico authors. The only New Mexico authors I'm familiar with are Lois Duncan and Rudolfo Anaya. I did like reading Lois Duncan's books when I was in middle school and I really enjoyed Rudolfo Anaya's novel Bless Me Ultima. I wanted to take this course so I can read more works by New Mexico authors and see what makes them New Mexico writers.
ReplyDeleteFrom the list we were given last class, the only authors I'd heard of were Rudolfo Anaya and Willa Cather, and the only book from either of those authors that I'd read was Cather's "Death Comes for the Archbishop" (which I did enjoy). I blame this on the fact that I'm not originally from New Mexico, and I usually read books written by non-local authors who are long dead.
ReplyDeleteI am only familiar with two New Mexican authors, Rudolfo Anaya and Leslie Marmon Silko. The only two books I have read by them are "Bless Me Ultima" and "Ceremony." I really enjoyed both books. I especially enjoyed "Bless Me Ultima" because of its ability to bring together innocence and growing up with the symbolism of spirituality and animals. It brought together the roles of death and experience. I found that it was an influential book and I hope to read it again. "Ceremony" on the other hand was a rather morbid book. However, it captured the experience of PTSD and explained it in a way i had not seen before. I enjoyed the experience that the book brought and found that it had many interesting lessons.
ReplyDeleteA couple weeks ago, before this class began, I would have said my favorite author was Tony Hillerman. I love a good detective story and because he was a NM author, I had been assigned one of his books for a class a long time ago. From there I read most of his books in the Navajo mysteries series. I would have to say my favorite of his books is Skywalkers. I don’t know why really, it just stuck with me more than all of the others.
ReplyDeleteNow that this class has started, I learned that Roger Zelazny is from NM. Although I like detective books, my favorite genre is Fantasy/Scifi, which is why Zelazny is now my favorite NM author over Tony Hillerman. I have all of the Chronicles of Amber books and my father has even more books by him. If I'm not mistaken, I believe my dad had actually met him. What surprised me is that I had no idea he was from New Mexico! I choose Zelazny to do my research paper on so it should be interesting to find out more about him.
I don’t think I have a favorite New Mexican author. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to read many novels from local authors during our high school years. In school, we focus on reading from authors like Shakespeare and Mark Twain among other widely known authors. I’m looking forward to reading novels from New Mexican authors because in some sense I feel closer to them, like I know them almost on a personal level because we share similar backgrounds.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I started reading “A Box of Pandoras” on Monday after our second class and I must admit I am truly enjoying it. I love the way Steve Brewer combines comedy and mystery. I was laying down reading this book and I laughed out loud a few times, which made my family a little curious about what I was reading. I also found that I couldn’t put the book down and so read the first ten chapters in one sitting. I am looking forward to his speech and getting to meet him. Maybe he will be the New Mexican author that I end up liking the most.