Confessions of a Serial Reader – The Guilty Pleasures

For today’s purposes, let’s go with the Wikipedia definition of Guilty Pleasure:

A guilty pleasure is something one enjoys and considers pleasurable despite feeling guilt for enjoying it. The "guilt" involved is sometimes simply fear of others discovering one's lowbrow or otherwise embarrassing tastes.

Scanning my list of current series on FictFact reveals a few of these. I’ve always been a bit of a genre jumper in my reading. While I read primarily mysteries and suspense books, I also read plenty of historical fiction, general fiction and occasionally at least one or two of most genres. While I like to think of this as eclectic reading I readily admit that more than a few literary snobbish type would sneer down their noses at some of the books I read. They’d probably swoon at some of the series I return to again and again. My reaction to that is a big fat “So What”. If I enjoy a book or series I’m going to keep reading it. I like to have a bit of variety in my reading buffet. Here are a few series I enjoy and continue to toss into the mix occasionally just to poke at the literary snobs.

All of these are series that I would never read back to back or too close together but are books I like to pick up when I need something that’s a change of pace, or in some cases a light quick read between heaver books. Often it’s just because I enjoy returning to admittedly formulaic or predictable plots because I simply like the characters and feel like they’re old friends by now. Images and links are the most recent I've read from each series.

The Dirk Pitt series and The Kurt Austin series by Clive Cussler and a variety of co-authors:

As I said in my review of Polar Shift last week, these are the Saturday afternoon old movie adventure stories of my reading habits. After listening to the audio version of Polar Shift as read by Scott Brick I’m fairly certain that these will both be audio only series for me from now on.


The Cedar Cove series and The Blossom Street series by Debbie Macomber

Yes they’re light and predictable and overly sappy and everyone ultimately ends up happy, but they’re still enjoyable and comfy like a cup of tea and an afternoon chat with a friend you haven’t seen in several months. Macomber is ending the Cedar Cove with the latest book and it’s time. The Blossom Street series is a bit less enjoyable, but I do like the knitting tie in and have made one baby afghan from a pattern used in this series.


The #1 Ladies Detective Agency Series by Alexander McCall Smith


I probably wouldn’t like these if I read them too close together or in print, but once a year to have Lisette Lecat read to my while I’m driving is quite enjoyable.


The Eve Dallas Series by J.D. Robb

Roarke. ‘Nuff said.

(Well, except I do have to add that Delia Peabody is becoming more and more my favorite character as the series progresses. She cracks me up.)


The Alex Cross series and the Women’s Murder Club series by James Patterson and various co-authors

I know, I know. But when I’m having short attention span issues, I need a book that is fast paced, has short chapters and I can finish in a couple of days no matter how busy I am. Patterson is perfect for that. Besides, I like Alex Cross and most of the women in the Women’s Murder Club series.



Now it’s time for you to confess. What are your Guilty Pleasure series