Scrolling through my dashboard, I noticed that Lenore had written a lovely post on some book series she'd read. My comment became so long that I knew it had to find a home here at FNC instead of winning the award of Longest Comment Ever.
So what distracted me from starting chapter 14 (I really will begin after this post. Promise!) and inspired me to Google YA series--just in case I'd forgotten any? That would be the pull of a book series.
You may have read about my penchant for TV show addiction. Sometimes I even wait for a show to be over to rent it on DVD, just so that it doesn't overtake my life for a period of years! I'm the same way with book series. I have this love/hate relationship with them (why God WHY can't we tie authors to their computers until they finish the next book?!), but only because they can be so. darn. good.
And since I'll snatch up any excuse to make a list, here are the series that I've read in their entirety. Some delectable, some cringe-worthy. In no particular order...
Sweet Valley High, Sweet Valley University - Francine Pascal
(I read the vast majority of these when I was in grade school. Don't judge. And the original covers make me giggle.)
The Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot
(Mia annoyed me in the middle, but then she was worth it by the end! And I've read many of Meg's other books, but it's hard to keep up!)
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
(Newest addiction. Read about it here.)
Richelle Mead's Succubus (Georgina Kincaid) and Vampire Academy series
(Succubus is my favorite, but VA's growing on me.)
Twilight - Stephenie Meyer
(I just had to know about the fuss. Not quite sure I understand the magnitude, but I sure read them all. Still love Cleolinda's take.)
Lisa McMann's Wake series
(Another recent addition. Refreshingly abrupt, and I can't wait to see where she takes it next.)
Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis
(I read these for the first time in college and loved them.)
Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling
(Just...brilliant. I heart J.K. Rowling.)
Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkein
(Honestly, I got through them, but never again. Cool, but wordy.)
Maria V. Snyder's Study and Glass series
(I like that they're set in the same world with overlapping characters.)
Libba Bray's Great and Terrible Beauty trilogy
(Definitely worthwhile to read them all.)
Cara Lockwood’s Bard Academy series
(Every lit nerd's dream. Heathcliffe, yum.)
Roswell High – Melinda Metz
(There's something about these books...I read the whole series about once a year.)
Shannara trilogy – Terry Brooks
(LotR knockoff? Maybe. But I still enjoyed them more.)
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants – Anne Brashares
(I love that friendship is the central factor in these.)
Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series
(I'm not a fairies (or faeries) kind of girl, but I still liked these a lot.)
And I've only mentioned series that already have at least two books out. This doesn't even count the first-books I've read that have left me dying for more! (Shiver, anyone?)
So what distracted me from starting chapter 14 (I really will begin after this post. Promise!) and inspired me to Google YA series--just in case I'd forgotten any? That would be the pull of a book series.
You may have read about my penchant for TV show addiction. Sometimes I even wait for a show to be over to rent it on DVD, just so that it doesn't overtake my life for a period of years! I'm the same way with book series. I have this love/hate relationship with them (why God WHY can't we tie authors to their computers until they finish the next book?!), but only because they can be so. darn. good.
And since I'll snatch up any excuse to make a list, here are the series that I've read in their entirety. Some delectable, some cringe-worthy. In no particular order...Sweet Valley High, Sweet Valley University - Francine Pascal
(I read the vast majority of these when I was in grade school. Don't judge. And the original covers make me giggle.)
The Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot
(Mia annoyed me in the middle, but then she was worth it by the end! And I've read many of Meg's other books, but it's hard to keep up!)
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
(Newest addiction. Read about it here.)
Richelle Mead's Succubus (Georgina Kincaid) and Vampire Academy series(Succubus is my favorite, but VA's growing on me.)
Twilight - Stephenie Meyer
(I just had to know about the fuss. Not quite sure I understand the magnitude, but I sure read them all. Still love Cleolinda's take.)
Lisa McMann's Wake series
(Another recent addition. Refreshingly abrupt, and I can't wait to see where she takes it next.)
Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis
(I read these for the first time in college and loved them.)
Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling(Just...brilliant. I heart J.K. Rowling.)
Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkein
(Honestly, I got through them, but never again. Cool, but wordy.)
Maria V. Snyder's Study and Glass series
(I like that they're set in the same world with overlapping characters.)
Libba Bray's Great and Terrible Beauty trilogy
(Definitely worthwhile to read them all.)
Cara Lockwood’s Bard Academy series
(Every lit nerd's dream. Heathcliffe, yum.)
Roswell High – Melinda Metz
(There's something about these books...I read the whole series about once a year.)Shannara trilogy – Terry Brooks
(LotR knockoff? Maybe. But I still enjoyed them more.)
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants – Anne Brashares
(I love that friendship is the central factor in these.)
Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series
(I'm not a fairies (or faeries) kind of girl, but I still liked these a lot.)
And I've only mentioned series that already have at least two books out. This doesn't even count the first-books I've read that have left me dying for more! (Shiver, anyone?)
What are your favorite series or trilogies? Anything I should read? (You may have noticed that I've so far steered clear of Gossip Girl and Clique-type novels, though I don't doubt their addictiveness. Here's your chance to convince me to branch out!)
Oh, I loved Sweet Valley High! Just seeing that cover brings back memories. And Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle series was awesome too.
ReplyDeleteBut my all time favorite series has to be the Stephen King Gunslinger series. I heart Stephen King.
I definitely support chaining authors to their computers in order to convince them to work faster. I also agree about LOTR-I will stick to the movies. I've read some of these but will definitely check out some of the others so thanks for the new book ideas!
ReplyDeleteSweet Valley High! Awesommme....I always felt I had the brains of Elizabeth but the heart of Jessica - bahaha. And what about that TV series?! Memories.
ReplyDeleteChronicles of Narnia is so phat - they're one of the few series that I read over and over again, almost every year, and they've never lost the magic I felt when first reading them as a little girl who dreamt of flying ponies and wicked witches.
I enjoy Harry Potter for what it is - but i still think Rowling borrowed her best bits from Enid Blyton! Can't beat Enid Blyton.
I would suggest perhaps for a darker magical read thats steeped in symbolism and just general AMAZINGNESS is the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman. My heart feels funny whenever i think about those books...
-Aimee
www.myflutteringheart.blogspot.com
oh and that libba bray series rocks my socks - if you havent read prophecy of the sisters by michelle zink, you should do so cos its right up Bray's alley.
ReplyDeleteOMG, seeing that Sweet Valley High cover brought back so many memories! I used to adore those books.
ReplyDeleteI never got into Sweet Valley High for some reason, I was always aware of the books and the board game and the tv show, but I was a babysitters club fan ALL the way-I even read some of the books about Kristy's little step sister, Karen. I wonder if this somehow influenced my decision to write about seven girls now...
ReplyDeleteI need to actually finish more series - LOL!
ReplyDeleteIt seems that EVERYONE has read Twilight and Harry Potter except for me. Even my stepmother.
I, of course, have to mention Tamora Pierce's series Song of the Lioness and The Immortals which I read in early middle school, and were the books that made me go from "I like to write" to "I want to be a writer."
ReplyDeleteDonna, it's actually kind of funny you posted this, as I spent my summer trying to catch up on the all the series I started and never finished--even if I really like a book, I had a terrible habit of not starting the next one (perhaps out of fear it won't be as good?)
Aimee - His Dark Materials is already on my to-read list! Glad you love them.
ReplyDeleteStephanie - I thought I was the only one who thought that about LotR!
Lenore - Harry Potter is a must. Even if just to see what the fuss is about. But it's so worthy of all the fuss!
And it's so funny how many people remember SVH fondly. I was drooling over the TV show too! (Although the twins who played J & E previously played whorish twins in The Basketball Diaries movie, which was surreal.) Babysitters Club just bored me to tears!
LOL. I think everyone on the planet earth (and probably some aliens) has a love/hate relationship with series. Of course, the love & hate varies depending on how many books are out when you hear about them
ReplyDelete(“OMG! I found an awesome completed series!”
*Squeals like a rabid fangirl*)
or
(“I loved that book, the cover said it was book one in a series, I wonder when the next one comes out and how many more will be in the series!”
*Googles it*
“…………………”
*screams in anguish and throws computer out window*)
As for series you should read
ReplyDeleteThe 1-800-WHERE-R-U series by Meg Cabot - Completed
The Darkest Powers series by Kelley Armstrong - Ongoing (book one and two out; book three, The Reckoning, and the final book, to be released on April 27, 2010)
The Heir Trilogy by Cinda Williams Chima - Completed (also, I haven't read it, but I think her new book The Demon King, might be connected to it in some way, but I'm not sure.)
The Maximum Ride series by James Patterson - Ongoing (book six, Fang, to be released on March 15, 2010)
The Mediator series by Meg Cabot - Completed
I own at least one of the books in each of the series I listed above. AKA: I adore these book series. I've also been meaning to check out some of Linda Joy Singleton's series, though I havn't got around to it.