Authors to Complete

On all the authors that I want to become a completionist in...

We all have our favourite authors and those we will always return back to. Their writing impeccable, their vibes exactly what we are looking for. Even the books that score low on the star rating still don’t put you off these works.

I sat down the other day and listed all the authors that I want to read every work from and then listed every work they have written — however I did exclude some poetry (I just don’t vibe with it) and smaller stories they have published online.

I hope this will allow me to return to these authors I love, implementing one of them into my tbr each month just to provide that reassurance that I won’t be let down by the words I read (or at least that is what I hope).

Here are the current list of authors I want to be a completionist for and I am sure there will be many more to come.

Ian McEwan

20/21

McEwan is my favourite author. His writing is detailed but clear. He explores complicated concepts and nuanced history is such an articulate way. I actually only have one more of his works to read (For You) but I do know he has something lined up so of course I will be reading that at soon as it comes out.

Margaret Atwood

24/27

Again I have read most of Atwood by now. And while I don’t resonate with her work as much as I used to, it would be nice to tick them all off the list. There are a few older short story collections to get through and one novel.

Taylor Jenkins Reid

7/9

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Reid is probably the only contemporary author doing anything interesting with the narrative form. I’ve finished all of her most recent works and have two older ones to tackle (although these are thematically very different they are still enjoyable). I will probably pick these up as audiobooks throughout the year.

Meiko Kawakami

4/4

My profile picture may describe how I feel about Kawakami. I will drop whatever I am reading to consume her next release.

Han Kang

4/5

I have blitzed through Kang’s works this year and I’ve only got her latest release to read now. It’ll be a bitter sweet wait until she publishes something new. There is this power in her words than loom over you days after you close the covers.

Haruki Murakami

8/21

I’ve been reading Murakami for a while now and tend to only pick up one or two each year. His works can be on the longer side and sometimes you don’t know what world you are in. But, they always provide me with such profound feelings that I still cannot describe. It’s an ineffable feeling.

Orhan Pamuk

5/13

It’s been a while since I’ve picked up Pamuk but I have a few unread copies sat on my bookshelves. Pamuk’s writing is sophisticated and informative. I enjoy being transported into a different culture, a different country. Vividly understanding without travelling.

Kazuo Ishiguro

6/12

Again I have a few unread Ishiguro’s sat on my shelf and you know you are in for a literary journey with Ishiguro. My personal tutor at uni specialised in his works and I also admired him so I feel there must be a lot of value in being a completionist in Ishiguro.

Sally Rooney

5/5

Nothing needs to be said here!

Ali Smith

9/12

I cannot say that I ever know what is going on in a Smith novel. But I did meet her at an Atwood talk! Anyway back on track, I don’t quite know what’s going on in these novels but I still manage to feel in touch with the current state of affairs after reading Smith. So I will thus read whatever she published.

Eliza Clark

3/3

Much like the others that I am currently a completionist in I will rush to the bookshop to read whatever she publishes.

Julia Armfield

3/3

Ergo. She was also from my uni.

Which authors do you aim to be a completionist in?