Trying to decide on which book to read next...

I know what you mean about not wanting to read the more serious stuff. I go through phases like that too. Real life is serious enough, sometimes books are for escape! Janet E. is usually a fun read. Sometimes I like the Merlin type stories, but sometimes those are a little too involved for me. The more I talk about myself,the more I'm convinced I do have ADD. I rarely have the attention span for long or involved books.

Oh my stars - Mary Stewart. The first book I ever read as a 13 year old and loved was one I found in my aunt's book shelf. It was called Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart. I subsequently picked up a couple more of her titles from a seconhand book shop in Changi when I lived in Singapore for a couple of years, copyrighted in 1964 and thereabouts mind you. I'm astonished to find a kindred fan. I had not realised there was a Merlin Trilogy. I have The Crystal Cave and the Last Enchantment and The Wicked Day...there must be another. I love re-reading my favourite books (they're ALL favourites...lol) so guess what my next book will be?

Stewart's crowning achievement is the Merlin Trilogy. It is a literary romance style but does not fit the romance genre. It is quite successfully written in the first person. Also, as an author myself, who has published a first of a series, each novel stands by themselves, and would not strictly speaking, need to read them in order. In extreme contrast is Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," with is truly a 3 volume story and not in any way, shape, or form a trilogy. (And if one has not read "the Lord of the Rings" then by all means read the "Hobbit" first. Truly, "The Hobbit" is a prologue to "the Lord of the Rings.") Her following of millions did not want the story to end. The fourth book, "The Wicked Day" is that book. It is written in the typical third person. When I re-read I sometimes forego this last book.