Challenge: 50 Books discussion

Happy Friday!

This week's questions are all about serial fiction.

Do you read serial fiction? Why or why not? Do you have a favorite series of books and one that you recommend to other readers? What is it about that series that you like? Bonus question: What series have you started and then abandoned, and what made you abandon it?

I just finished reading L.A. Confidential l with my intro to lit students, and the next day I bought a book in the Discworld series which I am steadily making my way through, so I've had serial fiction on the brain. I read a lot of serial fiction and love watching the characters evolve and the world-building that takes place. My favorite series is most definitely the Dresden files by Jim Butcher. I am also a big fan of the Philip Marlowe books by Raymond Chandler.

The series that I have most recently given up on (and I read ten or eleven books in the series before giving up) are the Hannah Swensen books by Joanne Fluke. My impatience with Hannah's wishy-washyness and the lack of change or development in her character finally reached an end.

What about you? What do you think of serial fiction and what series are your favorites? What series have you given up on and why?

I love Alexander McCall Smiths books - The Scotland Street are my favourites, followed by The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. I also like the Jo Nesbo 'Harry Hole' books.

I like the China Bayles Series by Susan Wittig Albert.but I like mysteries and plants/gardening so its a nice mix.
Also jd robbIn Death series
both are fast reads but i thoroughly enjoy the characters and the writing style.

As a kid, I was obsessed with Pullman's The Ruby in the Smoke series. Currently, I can't put down Sue Grafton's alphabet mystery series. I'm reading the last one that's published right now and I'm kind of disappointed I won't have anything to move on to.

I also started reading the Percy Jackson series last year. I loved the first book, was very disappointed by the second. I wasn't going to pick up the third but found it for $1 at half-price books and I'm loving it so far.

There have been so many series that I gave up on. I read Twilight and abandoned that immediately. I read the first Dresden series book and didn't love it and gave up on that (may re-visit because I heard they get better).

I picked up a mid-series Stephanie Plum novel and vowed never to touch another one of those.

I love any series by Anne McCaffrey , she wrote the Dragon Riders of Pern series, the Freedom series and the Powerlines series as well as several others. I also love Alexander McCall Smith especially The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. I had the pleasure of meeting him when he flew through Denver (I work at the airport).
As a child I read over 50 Bobbsey Twins books and I have many other series that I have read.

I`d not come across the description `serial fiction` before, but assuming it`s along the lines of Noir and / or Crime Fiction suggest the following ;
David Goodis (considered by some to be dated, but i disagree), Elmore Leonard and Donald E Westlake (AKA Richard Stark, altough his `parker` books are nasty).
Best of all though is Mankell`s `Wallander`.
Have a great weekend ;-0

Are we talking series of books i.e. Stephanie Plum series, Alex Cross? Or parts of a whole i.e. Twilight, Hunger Games, Kindle serials?

If former: LOVE Stephanie Plum, Sookie Stackhouse, Pendergast, Black Dagger Brotherhood, Pretty Little Liars (not my usual cup of tea but I got into them). Loved Anita Blake until about 10 then hated them and abandoned the series around 15. Pretty much not into the YA series. I've read a few and couldn't get past the first.

If latter, LOVE Hunger Games, Green Mile. Hated 50 Shades.

i just started reading the Anna Pigeon books by Nevada Barr, which were recommended to me by two of my friends. the books are in the mystery genre, with the twist that she is a national park ranger. the first book was set in the west texas mountains; the second is set in Lake Superior.

because i was looking for books set in Scotland, i started reading Ian Rankin's Rebus books. Rebus is a cranky so-and-so, but still entertaining and i love the setting (Edinburgh)

Alexander McCall Smith books, however, didn't do anything for me, in spite of being set in Edinburgh. he wrote a book (can't recall the name) set in London--in Pimlico, in fact, where i have frequently stayed when visiting there, and i was bored because the characters were all just the same as the Edinburgh characters. so much promise left on the table.

right now, i'm enamored of the John Russell "Station" books, written by David Downing. set around the time of WWII, mostly in Berlin, they are really interesting to a history buff like me.

i have read many of Sara Paretsky's books, starring V. I. Warshawski, and set in Chicago (a Chicago that i know well and love) but i haven't read the last few of them. i'll catch up on them some day.

The Inspector Rutledge (by Charles Todd) and Maisie Dobbs series (by Jacqueline Winspear) are both good, especially if you enjoy the post-WWI period. Read them in order, if possible.