luvtoread

When working on my Reading Goals for 2016 (post coming soon!), I realized that I have waaay too many series that I’m behind on reading. I love to read series, and I have a bad habit of starting series and then not finishing them. Part of my problem is that I like to vary my reading, and there are SO many books out there to read! I also don’t care to read multiple books in a row by the same author – I like to mix it up. So, here is my list of Ten Series I Need To Catch Up On. I really hope to finish some of these in 2016, as some have been gathering dust on my shelves for quite some time.

1. Juliet Marillier’s Sevenwaters series – A great fantasy series, I’ve read the original trilogy, but not the newer books. I think with this one I need to do a re-read of the first 3 books before going on to the later ones.
2. Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books – I really haven’t read very many of these, but they are non-stop action, and Jack Reacher is just so cool. And anytime I carry one of these books around, I get tons of comments about the books.
3. Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency & 44 Scotland Street series – both of these series are incredibly sweet with heartwarming characters. Ladies’ Detective Agency, set in Botswana, is more of a mystery series, and 44 Scotland Street, set in Edinburgh, is a wonderful character series.
4. Donna Leon’s Commissario Guido Brunetti Mysteries – Set in Venice, these are smart and atmospheric. I’ve only read a few, but have been stockpiling all I happen to come across at garage sales, library sales, etc.
5. Nancy Atherton’s Aunt Dimity series – a cozy mystery series, and this one is pretty high on the cutesy, predictable plotlines. I’d like to get this series read and done with. Hmm … that makes it sound like I don’t enjoy the series, and I do, I adored the first two books, but the ones after them have been a little too sweet for me, and the main character, Lori, never does anything wrong and has a perfect life, so that can be very frustrating.
6. Anne Perry’s William Monk series – William Monk has got to be one of the most interesting male characters I’ve ever read. He’s arrogant and not always very nice, but he is intelligent and brave. And Hester Latterly, a former nurse in the Crimean War, is a wonderful foil to Monk.
7. Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody books – The first book takes place in 1884 Egypt, and introduces two of the most confident, smart, and hilarious characters I’ve ever read. Amelia Peabody, with her trusty umbrella at her side, and the dashing Radcliffe Emerson will make you smile. The first book, Crocodile on the Sandbank, is one of the few mysteries I’ve saved for re-reading. The books are just a little too long for a quick read for me, so I don’t always pick them up.
8. Susan Wittig Albert’s China Bayles Mysteries – these are light mysteries – not quite as cutesy as some mysteries can be. China Bayles lives in Texas and runs an herb shop. These are fun, and a basic who-done-it is sometimes just what I need.
9. Caro Peacock’s Liberty Lane Mysteries – another mystery series set in the Victorian era! I’ve really enjoyed the ones that I’ve read, but it has been years since I’ve picked up one of these books.
10. C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia – I really need to make finishing this one more of a priority.

I’ve been kind of in a reading slump lately – I was stuck on Winter, not wanting to finish it and say goodbye, and I’m still working my way through the never-ending Anna Karenina (I swear it just keeps getting longer and longer!).  But last night I finally finished Winter – post to come soon! I think I may start on The Farthest Shore, the third book in Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea series next.

Are there any series on your shelves that you’d like to catch up on? Which of the series I’ve listed here should I catch up on first?   Happy Reading!