Thursday, July 31, 2014

A Near Impossible Choice -- Help Me Decide!

As I mentioned in my Harry Potter fangirl post this past weekend, I'm really itching to re-read the series. The only *problem* is this isn't the only big reading project I've been itching to start. And once I commit, I know it's going to be a while before I move onto anything else, so I'm being very indecisive about the whole thing and sticking to lower commitment reading at the moment. Looking ahead to Bout of Books 11 though, I'm thinking that might be the perfect week to jumpstart one of these *projects*. I'm very much a mood reader, so ultimately that will be a big factor in my decision, but I'm really curious to hear input/suggestions from my lovely readers, if you would be so kind. The potential options, in no particular order:

1. Re-read the Harry Potter series


2. FINALLY read the Game of Thrones series (My goal is to do this sometime before season 5 airs on HBO in the spring of 2015)


3. Re-read Diana Gabaldon's Outlander #1-6 + Lord John #1-3 so I can read Outlander #7 & #8 + Lord John & the Scottish Prisoner for the first time

All these books & there's still one missing!

4. Read Deborah Harkness' All Souls Trilogy now that the final book has been published


My knee-jerk reaction is to lean toward the All Souls Trilogy simply because it is the least number of books and I know it won't take as long before I can move onto other things. However, all the books on this list (particularly the ones I've read before) are definitely worth savoring, so the time any of these *projects* would take isn't really an issue, it's just a bad habit to reach for whatever I can finish the quickest. Seems I like both quality AND quantity which has left me in quite a conundrum.

So, given these options, what would you choose first? There is always the option of choosing none of these and pulling a stack of shorter stand-alones I've been meaning to read, but I think I'm ready for something BIG. Something EXCITING. And if nothing else, all of these options are both of those things :)

19 comments:

  1. I would put Gabaldon at the top of the list -- recognizing that this is a huge commitment, but so worth it! ( In fairness, I'm obsessed with Outlander, so take that with a grain of salt.) In terms of a reading experience, I'd say the Game of Thrones books are a terrific choice. The TV show is great, but it's quite different than the experience of reading the books, and I do think they're must-reads. The All Souls trilogy is enjoyable, but I'd hesitate to call it essential, which I would for the others on your list. As for Harry Potter... well, I'm definitely an HP fangirl and I've read the series countless times -- but it's a finished series that will always be there, so there's no reason to feel like it has to be re-read right now vs a bit later down the road. At least, that's how I feel about it! I know I'll read and re-read HP many more times in my reading life, but there's no urgency about it.Good luck! I'll be interested to hear which you choose!

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    1. I knew you would choose Outlander! The Starz show actually has me even more indecisive about a re-read -- watching the premiere, I wanted to take my books off the shelf and start re-reading immediately, but on the other hand, I tend to find adaptations more enjoyable if I don't have the book super-fresh in my mind and am therefore more likely to be overly critical. HP will always be there, but I'm thinking I may be in need of a comfort read. I can always change directions by the time the readathon comes along, but I think I'm going to start the first HP tonight...

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  2. I have to admit that I read A Discovery of Witches and I didn't really like it, but I know others have raved about it.

    I would vote for Game of Thrones, I love that series to pieces and am in great anticipation for the next one to be released. They are easy reads, so you don't really feel their length.

    Or failing that, you can't go wrong with Harry!

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    1. I think it might have to be Harry! The definition of a comfort read for sure. Game of Thrones definitely will happen though, if not quite yet -- I'm determined to get cracking on those before the next TV season airs :)

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  3. All Souls Trilogy! With HP as a close second ;)

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    1. HP is currently winning in my brain -- my husband even got distracted from tackling the rest of All Souls Trilogy, so it doesn't feel quite as urgent to catch up to him now.

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  4. Harry Potter. And you should start today, since it's his birthday.

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    1. Excellent point! Harry is definitely at the top of the list at the moment :)

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  5. Reread Harry Potter...

    Because I started doing that when I had a bout of insomnia last week and it's just as good this year as it was the year before and the year before that and the year before that and...

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    1. Harry is definitely a front-runner -- I'm not 100% sure I'll read it all the way through without any breaks for other books though. I'm so familiar with the series, I think I can handle taking a break from it if needed -- or I'll get totally hooked and live in Harry Potter Land for the next few weeks -- either one is a realstic possibility!

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  6. My vote is Read Deborah Harkness' All Souls Trilogy. I have to read book 2 and 3. I am not a fan of re-reading when there are so many books out there to be read.

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    1. I actually went a several years (pre-blogging) where I made it a new year's resolution to not re-read any books because I found I was doing it too much to the detriment of all the other books on my shelves! It's kind of carried over into the blogging years unofficially since there is always something new and exciting, but I find it's been so long that I really miss it. I'm still a bit on the fence, but I can completely see your point -- thanks for the input :)

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  7. So hard to give a recommendation of course since people like different things - I'm a big fan of Martin but made it only to half way with Outlander. However, I like your plan of starting with a bigger "project" during readathon, I think it has great potential to get you into the mojo :)

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    1. Yes, I'm really looking forward to delving in for the next readathon -- I'm not leaning toward Martin at the moment, but I WILL read that series before the spring -- I am determined!

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  8. I'm leaning toward HP for sure -- I think I will start it tonight and see how it goes. There are still 2 weeks before Bout of Books, so I can always switch to something else -- or continue with HP if I'm totally hooked which is a distinct possibility :)

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  9. Why would you put me in this position and ask for my opinion?!?! lol I think it is a great idea to start one of these projects for bout of books tho! :) Good thinking. So I think you should read them all right now, okay, only kidding. I would do A Discovery of Witches first... or maybe HP...or maybe Outlander. Ahhhhh this is such a hard decision! Okay my final vote is A Discovery of Witches. But no matter what you pick I support you. :D

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    1. It's so hard right?! For the moment Harry Potter has won, but I have 2 weeks before Bout of Books, so I will see how it goes and if I'm ready to move onto the next *project* or take a break from this one by then :)

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  10. I highly recommend a reread of Harry Potter! (I don't really recommend a crazy marathon like I just did, though, unless you have a week to devote solely to HP.) It was so much fun to reread the whole series!

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    1. I've gone and started the first book and I'm so glad I did! It's been so long since I reread an all-time favorite book (or series) and now I can hardly believe I waited this long. These are favorites for a reason and I'm so happy to be reminded of that :)

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I'd love to hear what you think :)