I've
been reading other blogs lately that everyone either loves reading books in a
series or they don't. There's no middle of the road, it's a love or hate
relationship. Actually, I don't think it's that at all. There's
some series that click with people and some that don't.
I've
been loaned a trilogy of books by Peter F Hamilton. He's a great sci-fi
writer. He's not complicated and gets right into the story.
However, his books are the size and weight of doorstops! I found one of The
Dream Trilogy series and not the other two; and one of my friends has the other
two. So, we put our heads together and thought to share.
Well! My friend zipped through all three books and then handed them onto
me. I jumped in and only read to chapter two of book one and found it was
such a mammoth read I couldn't get any further (sorry Geoff!). But
really, do books have to be so physically huge to carry the story along?
I have
easily followed Raymond E Fiest's 'Magician' series along; and I stumbled upon
that one by mistake while holidaying in Cairns
one time. I bought it at a second-hand store where the money went to
build shelters for beaten women. This one book led to another, and then
another - then the next thing I knew I was buying the whole five of the
series. And you know? I've still got those books in my collection
to read. I just can't part with them.
I've
read 'Lord
of the Ring's and 'The Hobbit' before it; however couldn't get into any other works
by Tolkien, which is a pity as I do love his works.
Peter
Straub and Stephen King both worked on a two-parter book together called 'The Talisman' and 'Black House'. I bought
the first one in Cairns
(in the same place as I bought 'Magician') and found a copy of the next one at
a garage sale to buy and keep as the libraries didn't like how slow I read at
the time. I still have these two books; and really I must read them again
as the storyline is brilliant!
Even
Stephen King has done a great, well-known series called 'The Dark Tower
Series'.
Now, I was late in getting in on this one; but I'm there. To start with I
was given 'The Drawing of the Three' but it fell apart on me and I had to throw
it out. So, I ended up buying the first one - 'The Gunslinger' and tried reading
it. But my head wasn't really in it. So, I kept it (as it was brand new I
don't give away those books; especially when I want to read them) and was given
'Wizard
and Glass' by my brother; which I also kept (and is the fourth
book). Eventually, Mum bought me 'Song of Susannah' and I found 'The Wind Through
the Keyhole' (the latter was bought on Thursday this week). So, I'm
slowly getting the whole series together. I only need three more books
and I'm set to read them at my leisure. The one mistake I've made with
reading a series is reading them back to back; as they get a little too
much. So, I'll read one, then read something in between, then read the
next one.
So, what
is your favourite series to read? Be it from childhood or from now?
Please do leave a comment and let us know. Until my next post, happy
reading!
It's great to read a good book. I finished the book I was reading last year in Minneapolis, so went at The Mall of America into a bookshop for another book. The shop owner asked me if I had anything particular in mind. I said, Do you have any suggestions. Well, why not try this one (on the counter), the author is local. It was John Sandford's new book SHOCK WAVE. I loved it and have since bought several of his books and taken out a few at the Logan North Library. I just love his style. I particularly like his 'VIRGIL FLOWERS' series.
ReplyDeleteI always liked the first two novels in any series Orson Scott Card has written. Not sure which side that puts me on.
ReplyDeleteAlso, loved the whole whole Tripods series by John Christopher, and The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper, and the RiddleMaster Series by McKillip. I think I have a greater fondness for YA series; maybe it's because if they were printed with the size and weight of an adult novel, they'd really be just one or two novels.
For me, it wasn't until I read LOTR when I got into reading a series and became comfortable with them. Then, just as quickly, I was reading singular books again... strange how that can happen. I think there's a kind of security that comes to reading a series of books where you know there's another book to read; and you're not going to be stuck for another book to stick your nose into... however, there's also the other side of the coin where there's the pressure to keep up with the books too.
ReplyDeleteI think we all find both these kinds of pressures fun as it's a good way to keep everyone reading books and keeping authors writing. :D
There are some book series that have clicked with me and others that do not. I remember reading V.C. Andrews "Flowers in the Attic" series in high school and loving it. I also loved Babar books when I was toddler. I tried reading the Little House on the Prairie and C.S Lewis's The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe a youngster and couldn't get into either series.
ReplyDeleteAs an adult, I've enjoyed quite a few cozy mystery series, even if I haven't read all of the books in each series. I've also enjoyed reading novels from Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series... I know I've read other books that were part of a series that I've enjoyed, but can't remember which ones!!