10 New-to-Me (Female) Writers I Read in 2014

The focus of this week’s Top Ten Tuesday (hosted by The Broke and the Bookish) is to spotlight the authors we’ve read this year for the first time. When I realized that I had mostly women writers on my list, I decided to take it one step further and make it a showcase of some of the female writers I read for the first time in 2014. This inadvertently calls to mind the awesome #readwomen2014 movement, which has been a great reminder to celebrate the unique talents women bring to the literary world. (I wrote about that this summer on Steph’s blog, The Loudmouth Lifestyle.) I read a lot of great female writers this year, many for the first time, and narrowing it down was nearly impossible. Here are my top ten picks, in no particular order:

Rainbow Rowell (Attachments)
Despite that I first discovered Attachment when I was living in Omaha back when it was first published, I didn’t get the chance to actually read the novel until this year – and it was my first Rainbow Rowell book. She has such a fresh, delightful voice and I just loved her approach to breaking the romantic-comedy gender stereotypes. Plus, she turns an e-mail correspondence into an engaging narrative style, and her balance of heart and humor is superb.

Anne Lamott (Bird By Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life)
This woman laid down so many raw and relevant truths in Bird by Bird, which was an instant favorite/personal classic when I read it back in March. I scribbled pages upon pages of notes and even considered getting a quote from the book tattooed. (“You are capable of quiet heroism.” How phenomenal is that?) Her ability to touch on our emotional connection to our writing as well as our spiritual connection, and how it all permeates into the fullness of our lives, is transcendent.

Robin Oliveira (I Always Loved You)
I Always Loved You was one of my favorite novels of 2014 and it introduced me to Robin Oliveira’s beautiful historical writing. I was hooked on her subject matter (following Mary Cassatt, Degas, and the Impressionist masters in Belle Époque Paris), and the richness of the history really makes it come alive. She’s a terrific researcher with great attention to detail (and she packs a lot of emotion into the story, as well).

Manju Kapur (Difficult Daughters)
I was increasingly drawn toward Indian literature this year, and Manju Kapur writes about the culture and history of her home country beautifully. I especially loved how she documented the diversity of Indian women among different generations in Difficult Daughters; as someone on the outside looking into that cultural sphere, I really enjoyed Manju’s combination of information and feeling.

Anne Easter Smith (A Rose for the Crown)
Anne Easter Smith is a master researcher and fearless writer of sweeping historicals. A Rose for the Crown has been on my reading list for more years than I can recall, and it didn’t disappoint. She took on such an impressive story with that novel; it’s immense in its scope yet she maintains a wonderful intimacy throughout.

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (Oleander Girl)
I was, of course, familiar with Mistress of Spices, but Oleander Girl was my first time reading Chitra Divakaruni’s work and I really enjoyed it. She bridges the divide between Indian and American cultures beautifully, and she also crafts a smart, charming female character in her protagonist, Korobi Roy.

Elisabeth Gifford (The Sea House)
Elisabeth Gifford’s debut was gorgeously atmospheric with a unique story steeped in the lore of the Hebrides. She alternates between a modern storyline and a 19th century narrative, both of which revolve around the same mysterious sea house; I loved the way she transitioned from historic detail to contemporary sentiment. I can’t wait to see what she publishes next.

Linda Francis Lee (The Glass Kitchen)
Finally reading Linda Francis Lee was such a fun experience – I loved her novel this year, which was a smart and charming combination of romance, food, family, and a touch of magic. She writes such memorable characters, and the love story was positively addicting. It was the perfect escapist read.

Helen Simonson (Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand)
I had been wanting to read Major Pettigrew since it was first published, and over that time my expectations had been building up. Helen Simonson certainly didn’t disappoint. She writes with warmth, wit, and that uniquely British charm. The relationship between the Major and Mrs. Ali was also disarmingly sweet, and so simple.

Stacey Rourke (Crane)
It would be a really tall order to take the iconic characters of Washington Irving and spin them into a contemporary-new-adult-romantic-suspense-fantasy, unless you’re Stacey Rourke. Then it just happens, and it’s incredibly entertaining. She’s fun, intelligent, quick-witted, and a truly capable writer, which combines with her knack for creating storylines that pull you in right from the beginning. I’m itching to get to the next book in her Legends Saga.

Did you have any great author discoveries this year? Male or female, past or present? I’m always up for a recommendation!