BOTNS Books Podcast #89: Reading in Order

Aug 03

BOTNS Books Podcast #89: Reading in Order

By Michael Kindness Podcasts Add comments

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:11 — 15.0MB)

Our listeners share several ways to find books set in a specific location; We investigate series and trilogies and remember some of our favorites; and two books we can’t wait for you to read.

Books on the Nightstand is going on vacation! Ann is on vacation up in Maine this week, and I’m taking next week off to clean my basement (do I know how to live, or what?), so there will not be another new episode of the podcast until August 18. Never fear; we’ve lined up some guest blog posts from our friends at Random Acts of Reading, and we’ve discovered a relatively new book podcast that we think you’ll enjoy. Guys Can Read is a weekly podcast from Luke Navarro and Kevin McGill and it’s very informal and conversational, just like Books on the Nightstand. We urge you to check it out!

In episode 86, we read an email from a listener who wanted an easy way to find books set in a particular destination and we got several suggestions. Annette, the Random House rep for NYC pointed us to Idlewild Books, which is a travel store that also carries fiction and everything is organized by country or region. LibraryThing was also recommended several times, including the Reading Globally group and LibraryThing’s Common Knowledge search. Then of course, there’s your local library, both their online search, if available, and the librarians themselves.

Books in Series (7:10)

Several listeners have suggested we do an episode on series, so here it is. Some of the series we talk about include The Three Investigators (which Ann and I both remember fondly), Brian Jacques’ Redwall, Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next books and Alan Bradley’s Flavia DeLuce mysteries.

Another question we received was about trilogies. Why so often are there three books in a series? We have a couple theories, but nothing definitive. Ann checked Wikipedia and, while they don’t give a reason as to why three is better than two or four or more, there is some interesting information on the history of trilogies.

It also occurred to us that most series are either children’s books, mysteries or works of science fiction or fantasy. There must be some general fiction series out there that we’re missing. Tell us what we’ve overlooked and any other thoughts you have on series or trilogies. Do you wait until all the books in a series are out before you start it? Is three better than two or four? Let us know!

Two Books We Can’t Wait For You to Read (16:28)

While driving home the other day, I saw a sloppily-corrected typo on a billboard and it reminded about a new book that’s just out called The Great Typo Hunt by Jeff Deck and Benjamin Herson. These guys traveled across the country and corrected typos wherever and whenever they saw them. Sometimes they were thanked; sometimes – not so much. The project started out as a blog, which you can check out here. Ann is thrilled to be able to finally tell us about The Tower, The Zoo and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart, which will arrive in North American bookstores on August 10. Balthazar Jones is modern-day Beefeater who lives at the tower of London with his wife Hebe, and Mrs. Cook, the world’s oldest tortoise. This quirky novel (and there’s no better word to describe it) has already found a legion of admirers amongst booksellers and is perfect for fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato-Peel Pie Society and Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand.

Jill Green

Hello,

A few general fiction series came to mind while reading this blog entry. The Jan Karon Mitford series, the Ann Ross Miss Julia series and the Shopaholic series fit the general fiction category I think. I personally love to read a series because I am addicted to characters. It saddens me so to end a stand alone novel and never know what happens to the people who populate it. Thanks for the wonderful podcast.
Jill Green

Hello,

A few general fiction series came to mind while reading this blog entry. The Jan Karon Mitford series, the Ann Ross Miss Julia series and the Shopaholic series fit the general fiction category I think. I personally love to read a series because I am addicted to characters. It saddens me so to end a stand alone novel and never know what happens to the people who populate it. Thanks for the wonderful podcast.
Rick Askenase

One of my all time favorite series is also a trilogy and does NOT fit within children’s, sci fi or fantasy genres. The is by John Jakes and is “North and South”, “Love and War”, and “Heaven and Hell”- a series about the American civil war. The first two books were particularly excellent and were made into two TV miniseries starring Patrick Swayze. They tell the story of the Civil war (from about 10 years before and through it) through the lives of two men who meet at West Point (one from Pennsylvania and one from North Carolina), their families, loves, etc. They also interact with major historical figures like Lincoln, etc. Highly recommended.
Rick Askenase

One of my all time favorite series is also a trilogy and does NOT fit within children’s, sci fi or fantasy genres. The is by John Jakes and is “North and South”, “Love and War”, and “Heaven and Hell”- a series about the American civil war. The first two books were particularly excellent and were made into two TV miniseries starring Patrick Swayze. They tell the story of the Civil war (from about 10 years before and through it) through the lives of two men who meet at West Point (one from Pennsylvania and one from North Carolina), their families, loves, etc. They also interact with major historical figures like Lincoln, etc. Highly recommended.
Rachel M.

Just now getting to this week’s podcast, and I was so thrilled to hear you mention the children’s mystery series The Three Investigators!! As a child, I was a BIG Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and Encyclopedia Brown fan. But The Three Investigators were by far my favorite. Although I can’t put my finger on it now, I remember thinking there was something slightly more “grown-up” about the way the characters behaved that made me feel like I was growing up (if ever so slightly) in my reading tastes. Thank you for reminding me of this wonderful childhood memory!
Rachel M.

Just now getting to this week’s podcast, and I was so thrilled to hear you mention the children’s mystery series The Three Investigators!! As a child, I was a BIG Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and Encyclopedia Brown fan. But The Three Investigators were by far my favorite. Although I can’t put my finger on it now, I remember thinking there was something slightly more “grown-up” about the way the characters behaved that made me feel like I was growing up (if ever so slightly) in my reading tastes. Thank you for reminding me of this wonderful childhood memory!
http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Michael Kindness

Thanks for the series recommendations Jill and Rick. Ann and I KNEW there were a bunch we were forgetting!

Rachel – I have a feeling Three Investigators fans will start to come out of the woodwork!
http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Michael Kindness

Thanks for the series recommendations Jill and Rick. Ann and I KNEW there were a bunch we were forgetting!

Rachel – I have a feeling Three Investigators fans will start to come out of the woodwork!
Kerry Dustin

Some added information: “The Tower, the Zoo and the Tortise” sounded like something my mother would like, so I went looking for it and had no luck. It turns out that in the UK and Australia/NZ it’s actually called “Balthazar Jones and the Tower of London Zoo”.

I hope this helps anyone in those locations (like me) who are looking for it.
Kerry Dustin

Some added information: “The Tower, the Zoo and the Tortise” sounded like something my mother would like, so I went looking for it and had no luck. It turns out that in the UK and Australia/NZ it’s actually called “Balthazar Jones and the Tower of London Zoo”.

I hope this helps anyone in those locations (like me) who are looking for it.
Barbara L.

I have three series to recommend: “A Dance to the Music of Time” by Anthony Powell is a cycle of twelve novels following the lives of some English men and women from the ’20s through the ’70s; “The Studs Lonigan Trilogy” by James T. Farrell, which follows Irish-American Studs from adolescence through young adulthood on the South Side of Chicago pre-WWI through the Depression; and a double trilogy (is there a word for this?) by Olivia Manning, “The Balkan Trilogy” and “The Levant Trilogy”, which follow a young English couple living in the Balkans and the Levant (duh) during World War II. The Powell and Manning novels are great, but Studs Lonigan puts me to sleep – I still haven’t read the third book.
Barbara L.

I have three series to recommend: “A Dance to the Music of Time” by Anthony Powell is a cycle of twelve novels following the lives of some English men and women from the ’20s through the ’70s; “The Studs Lonigan Trilogy” by James T. Farrell, which follows Irish-American Studs from adolescence through young adulthood on the South Side of Chicago pre-WWI through the Depression; and a double trilogy (is there a word for this?) by Olivia Manning, “The Balkan Trilogy” and “The Levant Trilogy”, which follow a young English couple living in the Balkans and the Levant (duh) during World War II. The Powell and Manning novels are great, but Studs Lonigan puts me to sleep – I still haven’t read the third book.
Jessica B.

Hi guys! I just listened to your podcast and it brought me back to my first series ever read which was “Anne of Green Gables”. I remember finishing the entire set and being devastated that it was over because I wanted to know how things continued after for their children. Thank god there were the movies to keep me busy but I still had a longing for more information even though I think there were almost 10 books total. Thanks for bringing back those fond/heartbreaking memories and enjoy vacation!
Jessica B.

Hi guys! I just listened to your podcast and it brought me back to my first series ever read which was “Anne of Green Gables”. I remember finishing the entire set and being devastated that it was over because I wanted to know how things continued after for their children. Thank god there were the movies to keep me busy but I still had a longing for more information even though I think there were almost 10 books total. Thanks for bringing back those fond/heartbreaking memories and enjoy vacation!
http://age30books.blogspot.com Heather J.

There’s also the Patrick O’Brian books, the Aubrey-Maturin series – it starts with Master and Commander.

As for series reading, I’m one of those who likes to wait for the series to end before starting it. Part of that is the desire to live in the series until it’s over. Another part is that the complicated worldbuilding in most fantasy series’ make re-reading previous books a necessity if there’s more than a few months lapse between one publication date and the next. Then there’s the fear of what happened with Robert Jordan and his Wheel of Time series (although that one is in safe hands, what with Harriet Rigney and Brandon Sanderson working as a team).
http://age30books.blogspot.com Heather J.

There’s also the Patrick O’Brian books, the Aubrey-Maturin series – it starts with Master and Commander.

As for series reading, I’m one of those who likes to wait for the series to end before starting it. Part of that is the desire to live in the series until it’s over. Another part is that the complicated worldbuilding in most fantasy series’ make re-reading previous books a necessity if there’s more than a few months lapse between one publication date and the next. Then there’s the fear of what happened with Robert Jordan and his Wheel of Time series (although that one is in safe hands, what with Harriet Rigney and Brandon Sanderson working as a team).
Tim

I loved your show today. And I am so glad you mentioned Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators. I loved this books as a teen and read them all! I have been slowly buying used copies to rebuild my collection of hardback editions. I couldnt wait to read these when I was younger and thanks for talking about them on your show. I also wanted to comment on the holding all books in a series until they are all out. I am doing that with the Suzanne Collins books- Hunger Games. but I couldnt wait on THE STRAIN had to go ahead and read it. I love your show and cant wait each week. I have read many of the recommends you guys make and they have all been terrific.
Tim

I loved your show today. And I am so glad you mentioned Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators. I loved this books as a teen and read them all! I have been slowly buying used copies to rebuild my collection of hardback editions. I couldnt wait to read these when I was younger and thanks for talking about them on your show. I also wanted to comment on the holding all books in a series until they are all out. I am doing that with the Suzanne Collins books- Hunger Games. but I couldnt wait on THE STRAIN had to go ahead and read it. I love your show and cant wait each week. I have read many of the recommends you guys make and they have all been terrific.
http://www.bostonbibliophile.com Marie

Paul Scott’s RAJ QUARTET and its coda, the Booker Prize winner STAYING ON is a wonderful example of a literary-fiction series. Robertson Davies has several series as well.
http://www.bostonbibliophile.com Marie

Paul Scott’s RAJ QUARTET and its coda, the Booker Prize winner STAYING ON is a wonderful example of a literary-fiction series. Robertson Davies has several series as well.
http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Michael Kindness

thanks for sharing that bit of information Kerry. Title changes from country to country are rare, but they do happen!
http://www.booksonthenightstand.com Michael Kindness

thanks for sharing that bit of information Kerry. Title changes from country to country are rare, but they do happen!
Deb Baker

Another series: George MacDonald Fraser’s “Flashman.” Hard to describe but highly recommended.

As Rick mentioned John Jakes above, I’d just like to add his Bicentennial series from the mid-70s in which he tackled the American Revolution.

Mary Lee Settle has a series of literary/historical fiction but the name escapes me. Highly regarded but may not be in print.

I must mention the “Alexandria Quartet” by Lawrence Durrell. Literary fiction.
Deb Baker

Another series: George MacDonald Fraser’s “Flashman.” Hard to describe but highly recommended.

As Rick mentioned John Jakes above, I’d just like to add his Bicentennial series from the mid-70s in which he tackled the American Revolution.

Mary Lee Settle has a series of literary/historical fiction but the name escapes me. Highly regarded but may not be in print.

I must mention the “Alexandria Quartet” by Lawrence Durrell. Literary fiction.
Stacy

One of the series I loved when I was younger was the boxcar children series. There were several books in the series, I think at least 40 although the first in the series is a favorite. I grabbed it at a used bookstore recently.
Stacy

One of the series I loved when I was younger was the boxcar children series. There were several books in the series, I think at least 40 although the first in the series is a favorite. I grabbed it at a used bookstore recently.
Esther

I must thank you for bringing Librarything’s Common Knowledge search to my attention.
I am always bemoaning the fact that it so difficult find books about the Englsih Civil War. For some reason searching Google and Wikipedia doesn’t turn up many useful results.
After your podcast I went searching on Librarything and they turned up thousands of results: fiction, non-fiction even picture books for children.
Thank you.
Esther

I must thank you for bringing Librarything’s Common Knowledge search to my attention.
I am always bemoaning the fact that it so difficult find books about the Englsih Civil War. For some reason searching Google and Wikipedia doesn’t turn up many useful results.
After your podcast I went searching on Librarything and they turned up thousands of results: fiction, non-fiction even picture books for children.
Thank you.
Betsy Baisley

I’m so glad you mentioned the raj quartet. These were wonderful books and were beautifully brought to life with the “Jewel in the Crown” masterpiece theater show. So few people that I’ve spoken to about them have read them. I’ m glad to see I’m not alone!
Betsy Baisley

I’m so glad you mentioned the raj quartet. These were wonderful books and were beautifully brought to life with the “Jewel in the Crown” masterpiece theater show. So few people that I’ve spoken to about them have read them. I’ m glad to see I’m not alone!