Wednesday, August 21, 2013

My Favourite Book Series

Sewing is not my only hobby. Reading has been a life long love for me, ever since I was small. I've been discussing books with friends lately, and on my facebook page over the weekend. I love talking about books so I thought I'd bring the conversation here today.

One of my favourite things to do is get lost in a book series. It's fantastic when you find a book that keeps you turning the pages all night long until you realise it's 3am. It's even better still when you know that there are several more books in the series to keep you busy for weeks to come!

My tastes in reading are pretty varied, but when it comes to book series, I tend to lean towards historical, fantasy and supernatural themes. So here is a list of my favourites - I hope you find some recommendations among the list!

The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare


Man, I loved this series. Set in Victorian England, this is Cassandra Clare's second series and is set in the same Shadowhunter world as the popular Mortal Instruments series (that I also love but probably not as much as this one.) Be warned - you will become very emotionally invested in the characters! There are 3 books in this series - Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince and Clockwork Princess.

Divine Secrets of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells


 I know many of you will know this story, but did you know there are two prequels as well? I loved these books! I've read Divine Secrets so many times, and was crushed many years ago to lend my copy to someone who never returned it. I have searched thrift and second hand stores high and low for copies of Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood but I've only ever managed to find copies with the film tie in cover (I will NEVER buy books with a film tie in cover). One day I will find it or give in and buy a new copy. Until then, I still read Little Altars Everywhere every few years. There is also Ya Yas in Bloom.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer


Ok, I know everyone has an opinion on this series. I'm a big fan. I was enormously pregnant during a very hot summer, and the trials and tribulations of Edward, Bella & co got me through my 38th & 39th weeks! The movies have been a bit of a disappointment though, but then again, they are NEVER as good as the books. (My only exception to this rule is High Fidelity by Nick Hornby. Book and film starring John Cusack were both excellent.) I'm a person who sees reading as a form of entertainment, and these books are great in that regard.  I'm sure I'll re-read them lots of times in years to come. The books in the series are Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. Even though it's completely different, I also really enjoyed Stephenie Meyer's other book, The Host.

Divergent by Veronica Roth


 Another young adult series (I read a lot of YA literature) set in a future version of Chicago. The main character, Tris, is a pretty hardcore chick - I like books with strong female characters - I was glued to Divergent and it's sequel, Insurgent. The third book in the series is yet to be released but I can't wait. If you enjoyed the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, you will definitely enjoy these.

The Earth's Children by Jean Auel


 This series has been around a long time and tells the story of Ayla, a young girl orphaned and adopted into a Neanderthal clan. I am still reading this series - the books are LONG so I usually borrow one from the library every year and see what adventures Ayla is up to next. Jean Auel is obviously a very passionate historian and fills her books with a lot of detail of this prehistoric era. The first book is Clan of the Cave Bear.

The Ancient Future by Traci Harding


 Time travel, martial arts, Celtic history, a passionate love story. This book has IT ALL. My sister and I both devoured this book in less than a day. The subsequent books in the series get a bit weird and futuristic for me, but certainly books one and two will have you up until the wee hours of the morning following the story of Tori and Maelgwyn. The first book is The Ancient Future. It seems to be quite hard to buy - perhaps it's out of print? I've linked to the Kindle version. If you see it in a second hand book shop, grab it, you won't be disappointed.

Cross Stitch by Diana Gabaldon


 This series has a lot of similarities to the Ancient Future series mentioned above (although this one was published first). Time travel, Celtic history and myths, a love story. It is set in the Scottish Highlands, and in places I've visited in real life which makes it really interesting for me. I haven't quite finished reading this book yet but I know this series has been a huge favourite for many people I know, and the past few nights as soon as the kids are in bed, I jump in bed too and read until very late! I'm addicted so far so I can't wait to keep reading all the books in this series! I'm quite happy to add it to my favourites list already. The first book is Cross Stitch. (Edit: Lots of you may be familiar with this book being titled "Outlander" - it was only published as Cross Stitch in the UK and Australia)

I could go on, but I think that's enough for today! What series do you love? Is there a particular book or series that you just keep going back to? I'm always on the look out for great series, please give me your recommendations!

23 comments:

  1. I love reading, but don't make time for it nearly enough! I tend to read crime novels the most. Michael Connelly is my favourite author. If you feel like switching genres, let me know, I have nearly all of his :) I got right into the Harry Potter series and read them in quick succession. I remember dreaming about spells and wizards!

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    1. I haven't read much crime in the last few years but I used to a lot. I read quite a few of Michael Connelly's, Harlen Coben, pretty much everything written by Patricia Cornwell (although the Scarpetta novels got a bit weird towards the last few) and lots of the Kathy Reichs novels (which the TV series Bones is based on).

      I totally adore Harry Potter but I didn't include it in this list because I figure everyone is wild about Harry? Right?

      And kind of crime related, another series I ADORE with a passion is the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series. Lisbeth Salander is up there with Elizabeth Bennett as one of my all time literary heroes.

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  2. I love the Game of Thrones books, The Hunger games which I read with my boys, and as much as I loved the books I really loved their views on politics, and their ideas about society. I also loved that they were so disappointed in the movie after reading and becoming invested in the books. I also loved the Bridget Jones books, laughed out loud and hard so many times, probably the most disappointing book to movie ever. Also loved the notebook and cried my eyes out, surprisingly the movie, which i had seen first, was only a very small section of the book and someone very close to me was diagnosed with vascular dementia (very similar to Alzheimer's) just before I read it and it really moved me. Ill have to check out a few of these :)

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    1. Love Game of Thrones! Although I do find I need breaks from it - sometimes I find myself getting used to the violence and gore. When I get de-sensitised I know it's time for a break! Bridget Jones is awesome, I did love it although book 2 wasn't nearly as good. Book one was brilliant and I will re-read it every few years for the rest of my life I suspect. I didn't mind the film, mainly for Colin Firth as he still has me mesmerised as Mr Darcy from the BBC series of Pride & Prejudice.

      I feel I am betraying my fellow females by confessing A) I have not seen the Notebook or read it and B) I don't get the whole Ryan Gosling thing as I've only ever seen him in Half Nelson and he wasn't too attractive as a drug addict!

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  3. I love Fantay books! My fave, at least at the moment is the Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop. I never get tired of them.

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    1. Ooh thanks for the recommendation, I will check those out :)

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  4. How do you stay awake? I haven't read a novel once since the kids have been born. Heaps of parenting books and cookbooks, that's about it! LOL I'm not into supernatural books at all but I do love English literature and a huge fan of the Bronte sisters. I must say I'm on the look out for the complete series of The Little House on the Prairie for my daughter. I read them all when I was about her age and loved them. Other than the Flowers In the Attic series that came out when I was at high school, I don't think I've read a book series.

    Anne xx

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    1. Haha I think Flowers in the Attic is one of those series that is a rite of passage for teenage girls! I remember reading it in high school too - it was pretty full on! I wonder if it would be quite so racy and shocking if I read it now?

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  5. I think I may try a few of these I havnt read a good book for ages.oh and thanks we got our bibs and they are gorgeous-love deex

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  6. Thanks for this post Ros, I haven't finished a book since I started sewing obsessively last year! I remember reading Clan of the Cave Bear book back in high school and loving them. I think I will have to read these again as I'm about to go on holiday and can't take my sewing machine! Will be interesting to see if my book tastes have changed much since then.

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  7. If you like historical, romance and time travel books you might also like some of Lynn Kurland's books (http://www.lynnkurland.com/) :)
    xx

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  8. Oh my, I thought Diana Gabaldon had a new book! Love that series! I'd like to re-read the Jean Auel series as well.

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  9. I really enjoy the historical fiction of British author Sharon Kay Penman. She writes of English and Welsh history mostly and it's fascinating. She does a great deal of research, you won't find a bunch of glaring inaccuracies and she spins wonderful stories that I fall right into and read to all hours! Time and Chance is the first in her trilogy about Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitane and their large and contentious brood. I started reading her novels at about the same time as Diana Gabaldon's and I love both author's works dearly. Penman doesn't write fantasy, but she knows her history and brings her characters to life. Thanks for sharing your picks, Ros!

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  10. I love posts about books! I'll check out the Clockwork series. Have you read The Scorpio Races by Maggie Steifvater? It's a YA book, but I absolutely loved it. It's one of my all-time favorites. I also really like John Green for YA lit (most recently I read The Fault in Our Stars). I'm not sure my most recent read fits in your categories - but i just couldn't put it down - was Where'd You Go, Bernadette?

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    1. Oops - hit publish too soon. Have you read anything by Neil Gaiman? Neverwhere was one of my favorites of his.

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    2. Ooh thanks for those suggestions, they sound great, I'll add them to my list! Yes I love John Green, I read The Fault In Our Stars earlier this year. Aww that book really made me cry (actually sob and have snot pouring out everywhere) but it was great - I'd recommend it to all teenagers and parents of teenagers! Don't worry about not fitting into my categories - I'll read anything (but not too keen on horror!)

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  11. I love reading about all these new to me series- thanks for the suggestions! As for me, I've reread the Anne of Green Gables series multiple times since childhood. Different genre than most here, but still my favorite.

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    1. I only read the Anne of Green Gables series a couple of years ago. SO good. I'll be getting Anna to read them the minute she is old enough!

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  12. I LOVE to read! Tho anymore I just listen to the audio books- I can sew or clean while listening. I LOVE the Outlander series & am looking forward to the tv series (tho I will have to wait for it to come to Netflix) I have a most of these books on my "to read" list & will add the others. Looks like we have very similar tastes in books. I'd like to suggest the Parasol Protectorate series -victorian england with vampires, werewolves, ghosts, etc.
    And the twilight series got me through a couple weeks nursing my daughter (my sister is/was obsessed)-the books are soooo much better than the movies. Tho they don't hold a flame to Harry Potter ;-) The female roles are so much stronger in Harry Potter.

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  13. Hi. I'm new to your blog and enjoying looking around. I enjoy book posts as well, and coincidentally, I am 80% of the way through rereading my 18yo copy of Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood right now. I had forgotten what an excellent book it is. A great character study and I love the focus on the mother-daughter relationship. Will look for the prequels. I think I read Little Altars long ago but don't have a clear memory of it. I'm wondering if Rebecca Wells has written other novels in addition to this trilogy...

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    1. Hi Liz, welcome! It's such a great book, I agree completely about the mother-daughter relationship, it's such an excellent element of the book. I know Rebecca Wells has a couple of other novels but they are not part of the Ya-Ya series. Another book that kind of reminds me of the Ya-Ya series in a small way is The Help by Kathryn Stockett, especially the awkward relationship between Skeeter and her mother.

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  14. I haven't read any series lately but I have read many books from my two book clubs. The first series you presented sound really interesting. I read the first book in The Outlander series but I haven't continued. When I was younger, I read almost all the series of Virginia C. Andrews. I used to love these books.

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  15. I'm a pretty big Stephen King fan, so I have read The Dark Tower series. I am a slow reader and have found less and less time for reading since having kids, so I don't read a lot of books anymore, especially series. And I am nearly ALWAYS disappointed with the movie adaptations. Even though I am enjoying watching Stephen King's latest book-to-TV show, Under The Dome, I have had to completely give up on comparing it to the book and just enjoy it for what it is (which is really only loosely based on the book).

    Last year I read The Long Earth, by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter, then found out there is a sequel out this year, so now I feel obliged to read that, and just today I read that there will be two more books in the series. It is pretty likely I will read them all, even if I begin to lose interest, because I just always seem to need to know what comes next. It will just irritate me to much not to find out.

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