Book Series I Would Like to Read ( or Reread! ) - Top Ten Tuesday

Today I am sharing with you the top five book series I would like to read (or reread)! This post is part of Top Ten Tuesday, which is hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. This week's theme was a bit of a challenge for me - to be honest, series just aren't my thing. It's been a while, basically since the OG Harry Potter days, since I was really into a series. But, I know that there are some great ones out there, and some that I'd like to give another go. Let's chat!



Outlander 
by Diana Gabaldon

goodreads // amazon // library

One of the very first series that came to mind when I heard this prompt was "The Outlander" series by Diana Gabaldon. There are so many fans of this series, but I think there might be just as many readers who dislike it! I read the first book in the series while caring for my six week old son, and this story was just the escape I needed. I enjoyed it, but also had a lot of issues with it as was pleased to find that many other readers did as well. Generally, this series is pretty problematic, primarily because of the relationship between the male and female leads, which leaves a lot to be desired. Since I've only read the first book, it's difficult for me to comment on the series, but several moments stick out to me from the first book that left me feeling not great, particularly the scene where the male lead, Jamie, hits the female main character repeatedly for disobeying him. Yikes! On the other hand, I was totally captivated by the plot and storytelling. I'm torn as to whether I'll continue in this series - I do want to know what happens, but I'm also not sure that I'm in love with the idea of the character's relationship. Have you read or finished "The Outlander" series? What are your thoughts? Should I pick these back up! Let me know below. 

Harry Potter
by J.K. Rowling

goodreads // amazon // library

And oldy but a goody - P.S. this book had over 5 million reviews on Goodreads, is that not insane!?! And a series I have been wanting to reread for the last five years or so. I was a huge Harry potter fan back in the day, and attribute my life long lover of reading to the popularity of this series during my middle, high school, and college years. I am constantly surprised by Harry Potter references, and how commonly it is referred to especially in the bookish community online. And what sucks, since it has been probably 15 years since I have read the series, is that I just don't remember most of it - which means I also don't get a lot of the references! I'm totally out of the Harry Potter loop now, and that's gotta change! I downloaded the first book of the series on my Kindle - hello, Prime reading library! I'm about 1/4 of the way in and it has been SO MUCH FUN - I love revisiting this world and it is all just as good as I remembered it!

Anne of Green Gables 
by L.M. Montgomery 

goodreads // amazon // library

I read the first book in this series last year, and absolutely loved it. I have seen the movie countless times, but had never read the book! I also didn't realize that Anne's story takes place over a remarkably long series of books, eight books in total! Having only seen the movie, I assumed the story ended with Anne and Gilbert in a field somewhere, but nope! There's more Anne! yay! I was a little unsure going into this book, it is a classic afterall, and those can be a teensy bit tedious at times - but this book was such an easy and fun read. Anne is so over the top but also relateable at the same time. I had a renewed appreciation for Anne, and a new appreciation for the author who created her character. I would love to continue in this series and read more about Anne and continue to follow her life! Check out the video below for a 60 second book review I created for "Anne of Green Gables"

Game of Thrones
by  George R.R. Martin 

goodreads // amazon // library

While I have watched all of the Game of Thrones HBO series, it has always been reluctantly. Not entirely sure I'd have made the plunge were it not for my husband's insistence. For one, fantasy just isn't my thing, especially fantasy based languages, they make me giggle mercilessly ( sorry, not sorry).  I have such a hard time keeping the characters straight, and typically need a debriefing from my husband before we start each new season. But after a few episodes, I'm in it and loving it, goofy names and all - which makes me think maybe the book series would actually be enjoyable for me! My biggest resistance to reading these, is also due to the size - reading this series feels like a HUGE commitment. As someone who is easily confused between characters and storylines, and since I have heard that the plots are at time different between the show and book, it just seems like A LOT - a lot to read, a lot to remember and digest. So I'm definitely on the fence with this one, but I really would like to read it still, what an accomplishment to finish all of those pages and what a story to get as well!



Six of Crows 
by Leigh Bardugo 

goodreads // amazon // library

Fantasy is not my thing, have I said that enough in this post / blog, yet lol sorry I'm a broken record about it, but it is such a popular segment of fiction at the moment that I hear SO much about but rarely commit to reading. BUT, I recently sat in a panel at North Texas Teen Bookfest with Leigh Bardugo - she was hilarious, witty, and I really appreciated the things she had to see about fantasy writing. She seemed incredibly aware of the tropes and pitfalls in fantasy, and her ability to acknowledge what I dislike about fantasy gives me the hope that her books can avoid them. My interest was especially peaked when she acknowledged that a common problem in fantasy writing is when the "world bends around serving the character" - as a reader I am frequently frustrated by that! How annoying when things so conveniently work out because the author has shaped a world where, well where things work out even when it seems they shouldn't. I don't know very much about this series about based on my enjoyment of the author, I'm hoping I'll enjoy it, too!