The Book Vipers discussion

Do you read books in series? Trilogies or longer? Not just books by the same author but ones that really do follow on and interlink.

Not sure why, but I feel like I want to read a series, or a good chunk of one. I am thinking about possibly the Cazalet Chronicles, or the Matthew Shardlake set. I have read series before - a decent number of the Inspector Montalbano books, several of the Harry Potter books. I would like to finish the Shadow of the Wind and the Northern Lights trilogies too.

Just wondered what others thought about series of books - do they inspire you or leave you cold? If you have or would like to, then what is on your list?

I easily read YA series, but now I read a lot of classics, they're rarely a series. I also read the Nikki Heat series (inspired by the TV series Castle), but they're rather simple reads, so they were easy to get through.

I recently started the Enders Game series by Orson Scott Card, and there's loads of them. I've read the first two, and I really enjoyed them. I just haven't got round to finishing the series.

I read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings straight after one another this summer, and I found that very easy going. I think if I like the first book in the series, I'll happily continue it. Although big long series, like Terry Pratchett's Diskworld series kind of freak me out. I only read Ender's Game when I didn't know it was a series. I'd definitely recommend them though!

Like Holly, I read YA series to keep up communication with my 13 year old granddaughter; she is autistic, so our shared love of these series is of great importance to me. With her, I've read the three Rick Riordan series, and enjoy how they are based on mythology, which I taught for many years: Percy Jackson and the Olympians Boxed Set focuses on Greek myth in 5 books, The Kane Chronicles centers on Egyptian myth in 3 books, and the "Heroes of Olympus" series adds Roman mythology to the Percy Jackson books.(It will end up being 5 books.)

I always read a series in order, and try to do one at a time to stay in the frame of mind the author is creating. J.R.R. Tolkien is the Shakespeare of fantasy for me, and Philip Pullman holds that position in YA for the trilogy His Dark Materials imho.

I'm going to be taking a break after The Annotated Alice: The Definitive Edition to read the trilogy Jo mentioned by Carlos Ruiz Zafón: The Shadow Of The Wind, The Angel's Game, and The Prisoner of Heaven. Together they are called "The Cemetery of Forgotten Books" trilogy, and I know I'll want to immerse myself in this magical realism set.

For me I read series The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes!
I think it's series average to now

I have the Cazalets series by Elizabeth Jane Howard ready to read, and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series. And I want to read the other two of Carlos Ruiz Zafon's Shadow of the Wind series.

I've read the Harry Potter series and I read the Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series.

I like reading a series of books, like all the Culture series by
Iain M Banks, Discworld by Terry Pratchett, the Pashazade series by Jon Courtenay Grimwood, and so on.

I have read the first two in the Shardlake series, with the final three sitting on a bookshelf to read. I have the final two of the Millennium series as well to go (note to self: read faster). I want to retread the entire series of 29 novels by Raymond E. Feist at some point. And Game of thrones....

Perhaps a challenge for next year?

I've read an awful lot of fantasy fiction and in that world series come with the territory. I will say I like staying in the same world over a number of books, but I'm not a fan of massive cliffhangers or authors (looking at you George RR Martin) who never finish said series.

I can't list all the fantasy ones I've enjoyed as we'd be here all day, but Mike Carey's Felix Castor series is great (contemporary world, mostly London, main character's an exorcist), I always enjoy Robin Hobb when I get around to reading hers, and Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan is a fun military SF series.

In crime, I love love love Inspector Montalbano (is the TV series any good?) by Andrea Camilleri. MC Beaton's Hamish MacBeth ones are rather old-fashion cosy crime but quite nice when you want something comforting.

I also want to read the Patrick O'Brian series (Master & Commander etc) but I've only managed the first three or so, so far.

YA is on my list too. Loved(ish) the Hunger Games for example.

(also not stalking your posts today, honest Paul)

Patrick O'Brian is hands down one author I want to read. I watched the film and loved it. Tried to get through the first book but really struggled, I'll try again some time :)

Could be a good challenge idea there Paul. To choose a series and read all of it in 2014. We will talk further in the other place!

Elizabeth wrote: "Could be a good challenge idea there Paul. To choose a series and read all of it in 2014. We will talk further in the other place!"

Of course! How early were you up this morning?

Ridiculous o'clock, as usual :D 4.30am my son decided he'd had enough sleep and so woke us up. The effect at the other end of the day is that I'm fit to drop by about 9pm!!!

I read When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson last year without realising it was part of a series - I hate reading a series out of order, and I think it's number 3 of 4! It stood alone fine as a novel, really enjoyed it, but I'd like to go back & read all of her Jackson Brodie series. I'd be up for a series challenge too - I like a good variety of genres so I'd be up for any!

Chatterjak wrote: "I read When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson last year without realising it was part of a series - I hate reading a series out of order, and I think it's number 3 of 4! It stood alone fine..."

Oh yes, I've read the whole Jackson Brodie series! Forgot about those. The earlier ones are well worth reading, Chatterjak, I found the series got a bit crazier and more ridiculous as it went on! Lots of leaps of faith in the story lines.

Definitely up for a series challenge.

I imagine Game of Thrones might be a popular choice for a series too.

Helen wrote: "I've read an awful lot of fantasy fiction and in that world series come with the territory. I will say I like staying in the same world over a number of books, but I'm not a fan of massive cliffhan..."

Helen, in my opinion, the Montalbano TV series is great. It restarted on BBC4 last night with some new episodes and I have several already saved in my Sky planner from earlier in the year. I adore the books. A great mix of detective, humour and Sicilian atmosphere.

I forgot to add The White Queen and the rest of the Cousins' War series by Philippa Gregory

Oh yes, The White Queen etc. I now have 4 of those, collected at 99p each.

I could spend the whole of 2014 reading several series by the looks of things.

Good point, Jo--I'd probably start with the Answered Prayers sextet by Jonathan Carroll:

Bones of the Moon
Sleeping in Flame
A Child Across the Sky
Outside the Dog Museum
After Silence
From the Teeth of Angels

Chatterjak wrote: "I read When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson last year without realising it was part of a series - I hate reading a series out of order, and I think it's number 3 of 4! It stood alone fine..."

Funny you should say that - I did the exact same thing, I read "When will there be good news?" without realising it was part of a series, and I haven't got around to reading the rest of them either! I also did that with Jo Nesbo's "The Redeemer". In both cases, it has made me want to read more!

Jo wrote: "Chatterjak wrote: "I read When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson last year without realising it was part of a series - I hate reading a series out of order, and I think it's number 3 of 4! ..."

Oh, I can forgive a bit crazy & ridiculous & leaps of faith for a good thriller/crime novel - they're my weak spot, and fave guilty pleasure, trashy or quality I tend to enjoy both in that genre! I'm much more intolerant of 'fluff' or lack or quality writing in other genres though, strange really, but I just can't help loving the whodunnits!!

Shirley, that's a funny coincidence isn't it? I picked it up from a book-swap scheme so it was a bit of a random choice too! I haven't read any Jo Nesbo, but the name rings a bell.

I enjoyed the white queen on TV, and then finally picked up & read the other Boleyn girl which has been sitting on my bookshelves for a few years, and thoroughly enjoyed it! I think the red queen & the white queen have both been on kindle for 99p recently (not sure if they still are though), so I've got both of those waiting for me to start the cousins war series, looking forward to that!

Re Game of Thrones - I don't read much in that sort of genre, so I'd actually quite enjoy trying something different!

Chatterjak wrote: "I read When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson last year without realising it was part of a series - I hate reading a series out of order, and I think it's number 3 of 4! It stood alone fine..."

I hate reading a series out of order!

Me too Paul.

I have 11 series to either start or finish, without even looking for anything new! A year's reading, right there.

Chatterjak - the Brodie books are fun, just go back and start from the beginning and you'll love them all.

I've read most of the young adults series' and am currently reading book 3 of the Millennium Trilogy by Steig Larsson.

I am interested in Game of Thrones but looks hard work.

I have the first five game of thrones book to read. Maybe over Christmas...

I have read two and am on the third....loved 1, enjoyed 2 and losing a little motivation with 3...perhaps due to the length rather than the actual plot. Third one is just over 1100 pages, so perhaps too long for my liking. I will see it through and read all 5 that have been published so far.

Am a big fan of series...have read all the Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Hitchhikers Guide, the stieg Larrson books, just one left from True Blood & the Shardlake series. Have read many of Philippa Gregory's, lots of the Stuart Mac Bride & Shona MacLean, and nearly all the Discworld series. I love getting to know characters and following them on through their next journeys.

I love to read books in a series. I seem to be more drawn to them than stand alone novels.

Bobbi Jo, we are going to have a series challenge later in the year, so keep an eye out for it.

I love all the Jasper Fforde series. I used to love series as a child. Things like sweet valley high where there were hundreds in the library.

I have four of the Jasper Fford from the library to read. Just a few others to clear before then...

I'm a series addict - if a story is great, it keeps continuing this way. A lot of times it's because I'm in love with the characters. I read too many to name here.

We are doing a series challenge till the end of the year if you want to join in Erin

I don't like series too much, too much commitment is needed. I like the Anne Rice vampire series though.

I'm re-reading the Harry Potter series at the minute

All the series I'm reading are fluffy thrillers, light reads like the Dream House Kings books by Liparulo, Rice's Vampire chronicles (a guilty pleasure) and the Guillermo Del Torro Strain books which I like a lot. Fun and not too scary. About to start the Shardlake mysteries very soon as I have book 1.

Summerdale wrote: "All the series I'm reading are fluffy thrillers, light reads like the Dream House Kings books by Liparulo, Rice's Vampire chronicles (a guilty pleasure) and the Guillermo Del Torro Strain books whi..."

Have you been watching the strain TV series?

Summerdale wrote: "All the series I'm reading are fluffy thrillers, light reads like the Dream House Kings books by Liparulo, Rice's Vampire chronicles (a guilty pleasure) and the Guillermo Del Torro Strain books whi..."

I have read the first three of the Shardlake series, with two more to go soon. Hope that you enjoy it Summerdale

The series I am reading are the "The Bow of Heaven", I already finish the first one The Other Alexander and enjoyed very much! They are historical fiction and the author is Andrew Levkoff. I will start the second one next week and I heard that is even much better than the first one.

@Jason: Yes, I decided to read the first book before watching the first few episodes. Now I'll read the 2nd book, watch a few more episodes and so on as long as I don't get further in the series than I've read I'll have fun with it and, so far, I am.
@Paul: I hope so too. I can't really say I've read anything like it. I'm assuming it's murder mystery which I've managed to avoid. But I would like to be able to say I like a bit of that kind of thing too since I like every other type of book.

Reading the first of Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series at the moment and planning to read the whole series for the challenge. I actually read this one years ago but thought I'd remind myself before reading the others. It's a fun, easy read and I love all the literary jokes. Planning to take a few of them on holiday - just the thing for on the beach I think.

Just about to finish my 6th book. Need to get a wriggle on to read the whole 25 I challenged myself to!

Working on GoT. I'm reading this with a buddy @ work and my middle child (he is on book three). He is teasing me to read faster, he doesn't realize I'm reading more than one book. Love it when the kids read!!!

Just finished Casting Off which is the fourth in the Cazalet Chronicles, a family saga. I've loved all of them ; the characters are so well-drawn and convincing.

I enjoy reading series. I like the idea that a storyline is so detailed and exciting that one book can't contain it. I am not the type of person who has to read a series start to finish all at once, so that helps sometimes. I will read one or two of the books, then take a break with a stand-alone, then return to the series where I left off. I find it helps me to not get bored with the characters.