Hi Bookworms!
For this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, the ladies at The Broke and The Bookish have asked a very important question. What are the top ten series you’d like to start that you haven’t yet? Admittedly, I had a tough time with this category. Most series that I’m interested in, I’ve already started and/or finished. Luckily, I have fabulous friends who don’t mind me whining to them when I can’t think of anything to blog about. I shall dedicate this post to Lauren and Chrissy for helping me compile this GLORIOUS post… Allow me to direct you to THE LIST!
1. Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien. Oh yeah. I’m procrastinating. I know I should start it, I just can’t get my head into that fantasy space. It was a New Year’s Resolution. It’s only March. Plenty of time still. (Yes Chrissy. I know. I know I should just get on with it. Now shoosh.)
2. Divergent by Veronica Roth. What can I tell you? I cannot get enough dystopian teen fiction. I’ve got a fever, and the only cure is more cowbell post apocalyptic teen angst!
3. The Passage by Justin Cronin. Zombies meet vampires in a tale of human devastation?! Sign me up! But… I’m going to wait until after Daylight Savings Time because I prefer to read about terrifying things with natural light. You can’t be too careful!
Creepy!
4. The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman. I love the show so much I really should read the comics. I know they’re very different from the show, so it’ll be a whole new way for me to appreciate the zombie apocalypse. Zombies are indifferent to light and dark, so DST won’t save me here.
5. Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. Witches and vampires and such? I can get down with that. Actually, I’ve heard a lot of good things about these books, so I’m intrigued.
6. Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. Westerns aren’t normally my thing, but I really like historical fiction, and Lauren swears by the Lonesome Dove books. If it turns out I hate them, I’ll hold her completely responsible, stand beneath her window in the night, and yodel in retribution. (I can’t yodel. It will be very punishing.)
7. The Magicians by Lev Grossman. Obviously I’m in the mood for supernatural hijinks. But the last book I read about magicians was so dang MAGICAL. I mean, hello, The Night Circus!
8. North & South by John Jakes. Civil War drama! I’m guessing sort of like Gone With The Wind minus Scarlet, which is awesome, because I spent an awful lot of time wanting to punch Scarlet. All good books have someone you love to hate in them, though, so I’m sure this will be no exception. I look forward to meeting my next favorite frustrating character!
9. The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis. Don’t get your undies in a twist. I have read The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Twice even. I also read The Magician’s Nephew. I ran into trouble when I hit The Horse and His Boy. I got halfway through that bad boy and decided to take a break from Narnia… I’ve yet to return.
Oh. In case you were wondering. Turkish Delight is NOT delicious. “Turkish” in UK candy means “gross gelatinous substance that is icky.”
10. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. I read and enjoyed Ender’s Game (well, I DID have some trouble with my crappy spacial reasoning skills imagining all the interplanetary zero gravity training scenarios… But that’s minor.) I just haven’t delved into the 80 thousand sequels/parallel series.
What about you, Bookworms? Do you enjoy reading series? Do you prefer your books to stand alone? I’m interested. Talk to me!
Liesel Hill
Numbers 1-3 = AWESOME! Narnia as well. Lonesome Dove would be interesting to read. I love the miniseries they did, probably 15 or 20 years ago, now, but I never thought of reading the books. Great picks! 😀
My TTT.
Words for Worms
Thanks Liesel!
Charleen
Series are a huge commitment. I don’t have anything against them, per se, but I do kind of wish there were more stand alones out there. Sometimes I just want a taste of something without feeling like I’m missing most of the story if I only read one book. Especially YA. They all look intriguing, but I can only take so much angst.
Let’s see, of the ones I’ve read… #1 is good, but it could be a chore at times. #3 I liked, but the sequel didn’t quite live up to the first book. Same with #5, actually. And I LOVE #9 but to be honest I don’t know if I would if I read it for the first time now. I think it’s got a lot of childhood nostalgia wrapped up in it.
Words for Worms
I hear you! YA seems rife with series these days. I don’t know when I’ll be getting back to Narnia. Maybe when I have kids of my own… They’re so lucky. Seriously. I do all the voices when I read aloud.
Barbara
Lord of the Rings yes, definitely worth bringing on holiday for 2 weeks, and the Narnia books, well if you’re not going to read them now, read them to your children, they make good bedtime stories.
Like you, I can’t think of any that I want to read that I haven’t read. I discovered Terry Pratchjett about 10 years ago and insisted in reading his Discworld series in order, although it doesn’t matter much, but am completely up to date with him now, and I can’t think of any new ones that are tickling my fancy!
I like reading series, as you can really get into the characters, and read several books in a row without having to leave the realm of the book. I tend to come across them by accident nowadays, for example the Palace of Desire series by Naguib Mahfouz, which I found in Egypt because I like reading books about the country that I am in, while I am there. I didn’t realise it was part of a series until I went to look for other books by Mahfouz and realised there was more. I love when that happens 🙂
ashley
I love reading a good series! Normally after I read a book I’m left wanting it to continue Anyways! Thanks for the list! I’m definitely going to check some of these out!
Megan M.
My husband tried to force me to watch all of the LOTR movies this past weekend because I haven’t seen them or read the books. It did not end well.
I have Divergent on my Kindle but I haven’t read it yet. I also just read Beautiful Creatures and I have the entire series on my Kindle but haven’t started the next book yet. I agree with Charleen, series’ are such commitments! Even when they’re really good, you’re like, Man, five books? I don’t know…
That being said my absolute favorite (YA) series is The Morganville Vampires. I think they’re up to 14 or 15 now. They’re really good, fast-paced, and two are published per year. I read the new ones immediately.
twobrokegirlsreading (@twobrokereads)
The Walking Dead Comics are AMAZING. W
The Well-Read Redhead
I usually prefer my books stand-alone, but I completely agree about the Passage series…I want to read that like whoa.
I read the LOTR in 7th grade, thus cementing my nerd-dom forever. It took a LONG time, I don’t blame you for procrastinating 🙂
Divergent is totally worthsies though!!
Words for Worms
Hahahaha I keep hearing the same thing about LOTR. One of these days- I WILL DO IT. I hope…
therelentlessreader
I’m not a HUGE fan of series but there are a few that I’ve loved to bits. Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter to name a couple. Ken Follett’s Winter of the World series will be fantastic because his stuff always is.
You know, I think I’d like to get to The Walking Dead books as well. Hmmm. I adore that show and I’ve heard great things about the comics
Words for Worms
Oh Harry Potter, I mean, like you’ve got to have split your soul into tiny pieces and hidden them in meaningful objects to not LOVE Harry Potter. I do love Ken Follett- I’m waiting for the final book in that series to come out so I can read them all at once!
Sami
I have Divergent on my Kindle as well just haven’t gotten to it yet! I loved the Discovery of Witches and follow up book…highly recommend! I am in the middle of the Game of Thrones books and had put it off for so long…glad I finally started reading them. I have problems with patience so I tend to look for series where all books are already out so that I can read them one after the other! I haven’t read the LOTR’s either so you aren’t alone! I need a month vacation by myself to get caught up on my “To Read” List…it’s ridiculous!
Words for Worms
I’m up to date on the Game of Thrones books. I won’t spoil anything for you. The overarching storylines rock but sometimes the side characters bore me. FREAKING DORNE. I’m mad at the entire fictional country.
Ashley F
Discovery of Witches is great! Add to this, the Robert Ludlum, Bourne Series. They really are great. But only the original series, not the later stuff that had a ghost writer.
Words for Worms
I’m not usually big on spy novels or crime fiction- are the Bournes still worth it if I can’t watch Matt Damon being hunky?
Ashley F
Yes totally!!! But you have to at least enjoy mystery a bit to appreciate them.
Btw….I was sad that the last movie kinda sucked because OMG I love Jeremy Renner.
Rhian
I do love a series, I enjoy the opportunity for long-term character development. It can lead to a feeling of loss when the series ends, and there is always the danger of an author not knowing when to quit, but (with a good series) each new book is like catching up with old, good friends.
Having said that, I also enjoy stand alone stories because you have all your resolution in the one book.
Re Enders Game, I liked the Shadow series *way* more than the original sequels (i.e. Speaker for the Dead, etc) but I have a special fondness for extremely clever people.
Words for Worms
I also enjoy extremely clever people. The Shadow books are Bean’s series, right? I kind of loved him.
Amanda
I try not to get involved in series but would love to read Harry Potter. I started the Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris a couple of years ago, and read all 11 books in about 2-3 weeks. Lots of late nights and procrastinating on other (more important) projects were involved. So as a general rule I *try* to avoid series.
Words for Worms
OH when I started Charlaine Harris I read all 9 that were out at the time in 2 weeks. They have gotten worse as the series has waned, but always an easy read. And… You NEED to read HP. You really just need to. Like. Stop whatever you’re doing and go get them right now.
It's A Dome Life
I did the same thing with Narnia. Lord of the Rings is hard to get into, but once you do it is so good. Lonesome Dove is weird for me. I have started it about three times, but can never seem to get into it. My mom and sister say it is SUCH A GREAT book so I feel bad that I can’t get through it.
Megan M.
That’s frustrating isn’t it? Anne of Green Gables is my best friend’s all-time favorite book. I finally got it from the library to read it and I can’t get past page 88. Anne Shirley talks. too. much. and I can’t handle it.
Words for Worms
I rather enjoyed Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea, but I threw in the towel after that.
Words for Worms
I’ll be sure to keep you posted, Lily. LOTR will be a major undertaking I’m sure!
Katie Chamberlain
Diana Gabaldon Outlander series. I have read this entire series like 10 times; and sometimes just 1 or 2 books by themselves over and over again. My husband says I have an addiction to books and the Kindle is the best/worst gift he’s ever given me…..
Words for Worms
Oh I ADORE Outlander! The latest is due out in the fall and I’m SO EXCITED! (Seriously, it is not nice to leave a little boy in a cave, I’ve been SO WORRIED!)
Katie Chamberlain
Oh and the Passage = Awesome
Dana
Ooooh, I forgot about The Walking Dead graphic novels! I should have added those to my list. I am not really a fan of graphics but Walking Dead? YES PLEASE! Great list!
Dana
Words for Worms
I’ve definitely heard good things about The Walking Dead books. Even non comic readers think they rule.
Lyssapants
I do like me some series…es.
That, and my cat likes to pretend she’s Aslan.
Words for Worms
Haaaaaaaaaa! I love that.
Lyssapants
Of course you do!
Brittny
I’m definitely a series reader. I loved A Discovery of Witches, but I haven’t made it to the second book yet. I’m definitely intrigued by the Passage though. 🙂 It might have to make it on to my 100 in 2013 list.
Words for Worms
Excellent!
comehometobooks
Nice list (except for ENDER’S GAME — I can’t stand that book)! I’ve started several of those series myself. Maybe this TTT will jumpstart my motivation to finish them. Maybe …
Glad to have found you via TTT!
Words for Worms
Ha! What about Ender’s Game didn’t you like? Do you have spacial reasoning issues like I do? Oh please tell me I’m not alone!
Megan
Agh, I totally forgot The Passage! I’ve been meaning to start that one for a while, but I’ll admit, I’m a little daunted by the size. I read Lonesome Dove during the summer when I was in college and loved it, not sure why I never returned for the rest of the series, but I really should!
Words for Worms
I feel that so much of what I want to read anymore is enormous. Perhaps I’ll start posting “progress” blogs because there’s no way I can finish a thousand page honker in 2 days, you know?
roshniaamom
Lord of the rings and only the first of Narnia! So, I look forward to your reviews of the others!! 😛
Words for Worms
Oh thank you dear. I hope to get to them sooner than later…
Darlene
I prefer stand alones.
I have read some series over the years but now that I am on my current reading challenge, I don’t have time to read a series. I did read Lord of the Rings about a year ago. It took a long time but at the end I felt so rewarded. I had not seen the movies at the time so it was all new and I took months to get through it. (It’s a lot to take in).
The Narnia books are on my current challenge so I go through them sporadically when I need a light read. I’m reading them in order but not all at once. I’m sad I didn’t read these books as a kid because I think I would like them better now if I had.
Words for Worms
I read The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe as a kid, which is probably why I still enjoyed it. The others it’s tougher to get into without the nostalgia factor.
Jayne
Yay for The Passage! So amazing! I can’t wait for the third to come out!
Words for Worms
On a scale of 1 to night terror, how many nightlights am I going to need?
Sarah Says Read
TWD comics are really good! I think I’ve read the first 5 or 6 “books”, which is like 2 or 3 comics in each hardcover book… I don’t know. But I haven’t finished/caught up completely yet. The honeyman owns them so I’ll get around to it.
And yay for A Discovery of Witches even though the romance in it is a teeeeeny bit like Twilight-romance. Just a tad.
But The Magicians? GAG. I totally read it and totally hated it (I have the review on my blog, I think). But you know… I hope you like it?
Awesome list! I’m so sad I missed TTT this week, I was really looking forward to it 🙁 womp womp
Words for Worms
LOL your comments always crack me up! You hated the Magicians, you say? I’ll keep that in mind. Hope you get to play TTT next week!
Yamika
I had a similar problem with ‘The chronicles of Narnia’. I was all set to read when my sister’s boyfriend started telling me about reading them in the right order. Spoiler alert, chronological order is different from the order in which they was printed and people in each fandom are insane, do not engage with either. Good luck.