Or, what do you do in between books in a series?
A couple of years ago I found myself in the middle of a Sherlock Holmes binge. If binge is what it could be called. Frankly, I’m not sure.
The problem is not new. It is also rather simple. Simplistic? <sigh> The problem is what do you do when you are in between books in the series you follow. You’ve read all the books by your regular authors, you are up to date, you are ready for the next adventure, but… The next book won’t be out for months yet.
To quote Charlie Brown, “Aaaarrrrrrrrgh!”
I’ve been blessed this past year or so to find a couple of new authors and series that have captured my imagination. When I look back at my book list I’m astounded – One series in particular has over 20 books.
On the other hand, I’ve dropped one author of a long running series who seems to have either given up or just gone off the rails. I honestly don’t know. I’ve another author, also of a long running series, who usually produces a book every 3 years or so but for reasons beyond explanation (or at least made public) this last offering took 7 years to appear. I have it, but I’ll be honest and tell you I haven’t opened it.
So, how have I managed to survive the time in between? I’ve re-read (re-listened, actually) to quite a few books in a series. I’ve looked for new authors. I’ve revisited classics. I’ve gritted my teeth and pulled up my library list from Audible to see what I haven’t listened to lately. 🙂
Speaking of Audible.com, I am extremely grateful for their Audible Plus Catalog. (If you want details, check out their website.) In addition to the credits I purchase every month, I have access to hundreds, if not thousands, of books to tickle my fancy. Remember that series I mentioned … the one with the 20 books? Found it in the Audible Plus Catalog. 😀
Over the years I’ve had several authors who made my ‘Hardback List’. They were the ones I didn’t wait until the new books made it to paperback, I got them as hardbacks. Sadly, those authors have passed away. I have many, if not all, of their books on audio, so I can indulge as I choose. I can’t complain as I get to visit with old friends every times I pick up one of those wonderful books.
In the meantime, I’m doing my best to explore and find new authors. I look for different times, timelines, subject matter, you name it. It really is like wandering through the local book shop to see what catches my eye and my imagination.
Don’t Forget Those Readers!
One other thing I’ve been doing is following my favorite readers. For audio book fans, the readers can make or break the book. Here are a few of my favorites:
The amazing Jim Dale gained fame voicing the Harry Potter books. I love listening to his work! Stephen Fry is not only an excellent reader but has produced several fascinating books on a variety of topics that he has also read. Well worth checking out. Scott Brick is an excruciatingly busy reader! I find him reading many adventure books by different authors.
Simon Prebble is a long time favorite. His distinctive voice and excellent vocalization takes any work up a level. Davina Porter is one of the most interesting readers I’ve encountered. She manages not only a large number of characters but also a variety of accents and languages with apparent ease. Barbara Rosenblat is the reason I started reading what turned out to be one of my favorite series. Her work is impeccable.
I’m glad to say that I have a few items on my Pre-Order List to look forward to. Maybe relieved would be a better word? Let’s just say I’ve got things to look forward to. In the meantime, I’ve taken the time to go back and revisit authors and series to make sure I’ve not missed anything.
On to the next adventure!
