You know, every once in a while I get the feeling that I want to start reading one particular author’s works all the way through, from the first to the last novel. The most recent time I thought that I would do this was Agatha Christie… the time before that was Ruth Rendell, and even before that was Patricia Moyes. All some of my favorite authors, but I’m not sure why I just can’t stick to that plan… of reading all of the series’ novels at one sitting. (I use that term – “sitting” – loosely, since it would take me a rather long time to achieve that feat>>> All of those particular authors have a lot of books in their series.)
Getting back to the point… I truly had thought that I could do that… stick with one author>>> even though the authors in my bookshelves beckon me with their brightly-colored book spines. BUT!!!:::>>> The last time I stuck to the read-the-entire-series-all-the-way-through plan, I became somewhat disappointed/disgruntled with the author.
The last author I succeded reading all the way through was E. V. Cunningham. I had read a few of his Masao Masuto books in the past, before the chronological order of a series was that important to me, and had enjoyed his books immensely. But, maybe it was the fact that I was re-reading some of the novels, or maybe it was the fact that the same day I finished one novel in the series I started reading the next… I really don’t know what it was, but I started getting mildly annoyed at Masuto! Yes, I actually started feeling annoyance toward a fictitious character!
So, it is with that knowledge that I am now going to say this: The next time I say I am going to read a cozy mystery series from the beginning to the end, with no other reading interruptions… It’s not that I am brazenly lying, because I truly am thinking that I will do just that, it is that I won’t be able to carry through with that plan. So, right after I blog about that intention, just think of it as a lapse in my judgement, a foolish mistake on my part… It just ain’t going to happen!
Vickie says
You crack me up. I have, in the past, read an author for several books. Then I get kind of numb. I like to mix it up. It’s why I read three or four at a time of all different styles or genres or subgenres. It’s a good thing I don’t think of my marriage in the same light. = )
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hi Vickie!
Your husband must be delighted to know that no matter how much he is around… you won’t get irritated with him!
#1topcop says
I started Mary Daheim’s Alpine series last summer and read it straight through to her most recent 2008 book. I loved doing it but was really let down when I ran out of books.
I’ve read a few other authors here and there but am still looking forward to her next book.
I need my fix!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Isn’t it “maddening” when a favorite author just doesn’t write her/his books fast enough?!
Beth H says
Interesting. I do like to read a series in order, but I don’t think I could read an entire series without mixing in some other authors.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hi Beth,
There was one author in particular whose series I read all the way through and LOVED the series: I was an Agatha Raisin fan and had put off reading her other series. I decided to finally try the first book in her Hamish Macbeth series, and could not put them down! Hamish quickly became my favorite of Beaton’s two series.
Truly… I start to knit-pick characters in most series if I try to read them all the way through. I find myself thinking things like: Didn’t this character just do this same “crazy-stupid” thing? OR Why is this character still pining for this same idiot? OR Wasn’t this character married to the murderer in the last book?
Some things are simply unforgivable! (Pretty minor problems… but too many books out there to simply “make do” with some!)
Jan says
I can only read about 3 or 4 books at a time in the same series and then they start to all run together. I did read about 6 of the Hamish MacBeth books back to back…now it is hard to wait a year in between books!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hi Jan,
I know what you mean about waiting for Hamish! I sort of wish that Beaton would put more of her efforts into his series, although I know that is simply selfish on my part. There are a lot of people who feel that way about the Agatha series, also.