I first read the Harry Potter saga when each book was published and, like zillions of other people, loved all seven novels. But it was torture waiting a year or more for the next installment. Also, I would lose track of some clues and forget some of the foreshadowing.
It was a different experience rereading J.K. Rowling's books last fall, one after another. No delayed gratification, and I could spot and remember the sometimes-subtle building blocks used by the author to construct her story and bring it to a breathtaking and moving conclusion.
I did miss the element of surprise that comes with reading a great book or book series for the first time. But the pleasure of a second, compressed go-around was considerable.
Astor goes on to site Anne of Green Gables as another example of a wonderful series that can have a great impact when a reader is able to map its progress within a short time frame.
So, this summer, while you’re at the cottage, on vacation or simply reading during your lunch hour, why not start at the beginning of Anne’s story and treat yourself to a full reading of her saga – one book after the other?
Here are some other suggestions for summer series reading. Please comment with your own favourite series so we can add to the list!
Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery
Emily Climbs
Emily’s Quest
The Story Girl by L.M. Montgomery
The Golden Road
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Hobbit
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Two Towers
The Return of the King
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games
Catching Fire
Mockingjay
A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
A Game of Thrones
A Clash of Kings
A Storm of Swords
A Feast for Crows
A Dance with Dragons
The Winds of Winter
A Dream of Spring
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
New Moon
Eclipse
Breaking Dawn
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Prince Caspian
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Silver Chair
The Horse and His Boy
The Magician's Nephew
The Last Battle
Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Little House in the Big Woods
Farmer Boy
Little House on the Prairie
On the Banks of Plum Creek
By the Shores of Silver Lake
The Long Winter
Little Town on the Prairie
These Happy Golden Years
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
The Bad Beginning
The Reptile Room
The Wide Window
The Miserable Mill
The Austere Academy
The Ersatz Elevator
The Vile Village
The Hostile Hospital
The Carnivorous Carnival
The Slippery Slope
The Grim Grotto
The Penultimate Peril
The End
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Little Men
Jo's Boys
