Ms. Anderson's ATM

Okay, so I am still waiting for fall to officially arrive, but I'm still excited about the pending weather change. Cooler temperatures, red-yellow-orange-green leaves, the crunch of detritus, and the smells of spices in the air. Oh, and the pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns of course! Insert contented sigh. I better go get some more coffee before I continue....

Okay, I'm back. And I have a revelation. I made a (library big) decision over the weekend and I'm so excited!

I guess I should start with a confession. I rarely finish a series. I know, right? It's a disappointing fact to learn about your librarian. I'll be honest, I can count on one hand the number of times I've read each book in a set. And it's not because I don't like the first books! Often I love the introduction to the world, characters, and story, but I just don't make it back to the next title because I have so many others books that I "should" read.

Here are a few of my favorite series that I started but have gone unfinished:

• Hunger Games

• The Testing

• Unwind

• An Ember in the Ashes

• The Daughter of Smoke and Bone

• Scythe

• The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

• Red Queen

• Carve the Mark

• Etiquette and Espionage

• The Naturals

• The Monstromologist

• The Raven Boys

And what about the series that I thought I finished but have since added new titles? Can I even count them as finished?

• Harry Potter

• The Dark Materials (Golden Compass series)

If I can't count those two as finished then I am left with only one. One! That is a lonely number. The only series that I have completed is....The Gemma Doyle series by Libba Bray (A Great & Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, and The Sweet Far Thing). For the record it is one of my very favorites by one of my favorite authors. But seriously, how is this possible !? I am hanging my head in bibliophile shame.

Deep breath.

Today I have cause to celebrate. I've reached my series tipping point. I need to be a finisher! In an ideal world I would create a Google Form and have students pick which series needs my attention first, but right now that just feels a bit extra (but feel free to email me if you have a passionate suggestion!) Over the weekend one story leapfrogged to the top of the list: The Raven Cycle (The Raven Boys, The Dream Thieves, Blue Lily, Lily Blue, and The Raven King) by Maggie Stiefvater. I have been excited to read this series for a while and am finally ready to commit. In fact, I restarted book 1 over the weekend (audio) and am delighted by the narrator, Will Patton, who has a delicious, gravelly voice. I'm not sure if I'll continue listening to the series or migrate to print eventually. That verdict is still out. I'm just excited to have a long-term reading project.

Do you have any series that you have left unresolved? Do you have a favorite series to recommend? Do you prefer series or stand alone titles? I have so many questions!

Happiest (series) reading everyone!

Ms. Anderson