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Sometimes I will drag out the reading of a book because I do not want the book to end. I have become attached to the characters and don't want to leave them.

I find I often read series because I want to see what will happen to the characters next. Long ago I read the Legacy: Arthurian Saga by Mary Stewart and loved how she built those characters of the Arthur Legend.

More recently I hated to finish The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. It was a long book, so I had "lived" with the characters for quite a while and hated to part with them. I must say though I thought the ending was well done.

Some authors master the art of the "cliffhanger" and make me want to continue reading their books. Edgar Rice Burroughs and his Barsoom books are a good example of this. I read four in the series because he is so good at cliffhangers. Stephenie Meyer who wrote the Twilight Series was also good at cliffhangers.

There are others but these are enough for now.

The Ross Poldark series was something that I hated to see come to an end. I enjoyed every minute of it.
The Raj Quartet by Paul Scott - I felt at the end of it that I had been on a tour of Indian history and knew the country well.
I also hated to see Mary Stewart's Merlin Trilogy end. It qualifies as my favorite among my favorites.

Individual books that I could have just had go on:
Crossing to Safety - Wallace Stegner is such an amazingly vivid writer.
East of Eden - Steinbeck's masterpiece that made me hate needing sleep.
Lonesome Dove - Though none of the other books in the series was as enthralling as this one. I could have just kept on crossing to Montana with Gus and Call for another thousand pages.

I was going to say East of Eden, too. It's that feeling of not wanting to leave the world of the book. I think it's particularly strong with longer epic novels or series, as in Lynn and Sara's examples. I'm sure I felt that way about the Little Women series when I was young, but that has faded. The only other one I can think of that made me feel that way more recently was maybe Middlemarch. You get so wrapped up in these people's lives.

But my feeling about East of Eden was so strong--almost like I was living in that family.

Two more great choices, Kathleen. I think you nailed the key: almost like I was living in that family. You have to become so involved in the story and characters that you feel you know them, as if they were real, and you want to see what happens with the unwritten portion of their lives.

I loved all of Miss Read's books and hated to see them end. I also loved Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman -- such a fun series! And "The Cat Who..." series by Lillian Jackson Braun was a favorite. My, this is bringing back a lot of old memories!

I felt this way about the books in Anthony Trollope's Barsetshire Chronicles. I loved each book and the central characters. It was a joy to live in their world through all six books.

I second all of Sara’s choices too! I am two books from finishing Poldark and I’m so sad about it. I haven’t read The Raj Quartet yet but it’s on my list!!

And of course, The Port William books from Wendell Berry, Jayber Crow and all of the membership.

And a modern series called the Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante that starts with My Brilliant Friend is another that left me wanting to start over.

Gone With the Wind is the first book that comes to mind when I think of this question. I wanted to know how and if Scarlett would get Rhett back!

The other book that comes to mind is Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. I was so involved in everyone's lives. Last but not least, I hate that the Harry Potter series had to end.

I second Edgar Rice Burroughs. I love the Princess of Mars and Tarzan series/Pelucidar. Such fun, adventurous reads!

I admit I did see Poldark on PBS before starting to read book 1 and I think that it did spoil the suspense a bit, which is why I would always read before watching. Does anyone else do that?

For me, I have to say North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell and the works of Jane Austen. There are 6 major novels, and I often wish there were more.

Sara wrote: "The Ross Poldark series was something that I hated to see come to an end. I enjoyed every minute of it.
The Raj Quartet by Paul Scott - I felt at the en..."

So wonderful to see someone loving The Raj Quartet. Paul Scott is criminally neglected nowadays. Incidentally Sara, have you read Staying On? It is a coda to the RQ and tells us what happened to a few characters after The Division of the Spoils. I like it too though not as much as the quartet.

I did read Staying On. I enjoyed it but it didn't measure up to the originals. I was amazed how well Scott managed to tell such a massive story and get all the points of view correct.

@Lynn. I love the Barsoom series. I'm up to the third book in the series and it is just a lot of fun. I'm looking to find more series like this. I've read a lot of Burroughs' works and have enjoyed everyone I've read.

The Never Ending Story.

Luffy Sempai wrote: "The Never Ending Story."

Did you ever see the 80s film that went with the book? The song is really good too.

Franky wrote: "Luffy Sempai wrote: "The Never Ending Story."

Did you ever see the 80s film that went with the book? The song is really good too.
"

Hi yes, I tried to watch the movie, but I just didn't it compelling. I wasn't enticed by the songs either. Sorry we don't have the same opinion about this story :/

Franky wrote: "Luffy Sempai wrote: "The Never Ending Story."

Did you ever see the 80s film that went with the book? The song is really good too."

Oh no. I have it in my head now. Never ending stoooooryyy. Limahl....
And the two colour print in the book.

Lonesome Dove. It took a couple hundred pages for me to get into the story, but once they hit the trial, I wanted it to never end.

There hasn't been a single Dickens that I didn't feel sad about putting down. I think Great Expectations is the one I really wanted to go forever. I wanted to keep in touch with Pip.

Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy. I was in love with all the characters. I have been waiting for a sequel from the moment I finished it.

Monkey: The Journey to the West#
as I said in my review:
"...I was genuinely sad towards the end when I realised that the gang's shenanigans were coming to a close and I wouldn't be in their company anymore."

Lorcan mentioned Dickens. I remember reading Dickens when I was in school and was so sad when Oliver Twist ended.

Last year I read Lord Valentine's Castle and it was definitely a great, fun adventure that I didn't want to end. Some great world building for sure.

Franky wrote: "Last year I read Lord Valentine's Castle and it was definitely a great, fun adventure that I didn't want to end. Some great world building for sure."

fyi there are two more books in that series

Darren wrote: "Franky wrote: "Last year I read Lord Valentine's Castle and it was definitely a great, fun adventure that I didn't want to end. Some great world building for sure."

fyi there are two..."

Darren, I had bought the second one right after reading. I'll have to read it this summer!