I have been slacking off a little on my blogging duties this week as I try to recover from all the fun last week. One last thanks to everyone who participated in Dog Days of Summer. I really appreciate it! Thankfully my work week this week wasn’t my work week last week (try saying that 5 times fast!) or I would have been the grouchiest woman on the planet. It’s true that you’re only given as much as you can handle. Hopefully by next week I won’t be able to handle a darn thing. LOL!
I wasn’t planning on posting tonight. I’m taking a little break after my busy Dog Days of Summer event last week. When I read a tweet by J_Kaye from J. Kaye’s Book Blog about books in a series, I became inspired. Jennsbookshelf from Jenn’s Bookshelves (Off topic: I love how she recently made the change from bookshelf to bookshelves – I would have to go from pile to piles myself. We all know that piles just aren’t pretty.) was lamenting the wait between Catching Fire and the third installment in that series. J_Kaye responded that she might wait until the series was complete before she began reading it. I have used that logic in the past with series like Harry Potter and Twilight. The thing is that I never actually get around to reading the series in the end. At this point I feel as though I’ve missed the Harry Potter boat and, perhaps due to all the hype and media frenzy, I don’t care about ever reading the Twilight series.
In general, I’m not a big reader of books in a series. As an adolescent I read a lot of them, though. There was Nancy Drew (duh!), Trixie Belden, the Bobsey Twins, and even Little House on the Prairie was a series of sorts. As an adult, not so much. I have read a few of the Stephanie Plum books but got a little bored after the 5th one and haven’t picked any more up. I love Philippa Gregory and I’ve owned her Wildacre series for almost 2 years, but the books remain exactly where I put them when I first brought them home. I’ve talked about it. I’ve triple dog dared myself to start it. I’ve reminded myself about all the scandalous news I’ve heard about incest, but it remains unread on my shelves. I think that had I known that The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was part of a series I might have passed over it while selecting my audio book that month. It’s fantastic and I’m glad that I’m not so prone to research before I read.
It’s not that I mind the anticipation of the next book in a series. It’s kind of exhilarating to impatiently wait for something – sort of like Christmas Eve. While I feel as though I can’t wait a moment longer for the big event, I miss the waiting when it’s all said and done. I think my issue has everything to do with a fear of commitment. I got married without a moment’s regret or hesitation, but picking up the first book in a set of X can give me a cold sweat. There is no way on earth I could picture myself sitting down to read an entire series back to back – Lisbeth Salander or not. I crave variety. I get restless. I fantasize about other characters. Once I’m unfaithful in my mind, it’s only a matter of time before I started smelling and then feeling up other books. It’s rather sick actually.
Even if I did pick up and start reading Harry Potter, Twilight, or any other completed series today, everyone is already 10 next big things down the road from me. No one will be as excited to talk about it as I would be. Part of the experience is the excitement of taking part in the conversation, don’t you think?
To sum it all up.
1) I fear the commitment of a literary series even though I’ll buy 5 stand alone novels the size of Gone with the Wind without batting an eyelash.
2) Putting off starting a series until it’s complete is like me giving the series a death sentence. In the end I’d rather be at home alone with a pint of Ben & Jerrys than show up to the party late and without a date. I’d just feel as though I was expected to clean up.
3) I may be Literate Housewife by day, but I’m Randy Reader by night ( I’m sorry you had to find out about it like this, Mom). It doesn’t matter how much I adore an author, I feel the need to have a go with them all. Thank goodness you can’t catch communicable diseases from hoping from one book to the other. How much do prophylactics cost these days anyway?
How about you? Do you actively read books in series? Do you read them as they go or do you wait until they’ve all been published? Would you ever treat your hairdresser the way you treat your favorite authors? Do tell.
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I love series, but my lousy memory means I forget so much between books that I think I miss out on a lot of the whole series experience. I should wait, but I also have no patience.
I get fanatically obsessed, and will rip through the whole series if I can! I love discovering them late, because then they are already all there, and even better, usually all there at the library and/or in paperback so my obsession doesn’t hurt me financially! But I know what you mean about Harry Potter. After book 4 I got waylaid, and then felt like I would have to start over in order to continue, and it just all seemed too much!
Randy Reader? LMAO! I feel exactly the same way about series. Triple Dog Dare? That sounds like a challenge if ever I heard one.
I’m not a big reader of series for much the same reasons. I even had the same reaction to Stephanie Plum, though I think I made it through 10 or 11 before I just stopped picking them up. One thing I’ve noticed is that it’s really rare for a writer to be able to keep the originality and excitement going over the long haul for the same characters.
I’ve always liked the idea of series but in reality don’t read many. Having worked in bookstores for the past ten years, Harry Potter and Twilight start to annoy you more than anything. I have read both before they got TOO huge. I had to stop at HP 4 due to the movies.
I have a habit of being turned off by books I can’t recommend and if it’s too huge, then I feel everyone has read it.
Series just aren’t written fast enough for me. If I like one, then I have to wait over a year maybe several years for another and then I forget.
There have been a few times I have been in a mood for a quick read and that is where series have com einto my life. I read the first 6 Sue Grafton mysteries in a month and then I read the first 3 Ghost Hunter books by Victoria Laurie.
But Robert Jordan will never be on my night stand because first, there is, what 12 of the now? and he is still not done and now dead. Sorry, not gonna happen.
I guess I am opinionated when it comes to series. hmm.
I adore series. There is very little as satisfying as reading through an entire huge series in a row. Saying that, I practically never do, at least not since I was a teen anyway. The commitment now puts me off, as I have so many books to read. Even when I start a series I love I’ll put off the next one, but I do get around to them eventually. I miss reading epic fantasy but I just feel I don’t have the time to commit to several 800 page books with all my review books etc. waiting for me.
I love Harry Potter. They are such fast and easy reads that I can now get through the entire series in about a week, if I don’t have much else going on. I’d recommend still trying there, but you’re not missing much with Twilight. =)
You are right, reading a series is like contemplating marriage (at least for me). However, some series beg to be read in order, and some don’t. The Stephanie Plum series don’t. Just keep them around for a pick me up. I agree a little of it goes a long way, but if you wait a month or two between each one, it will be like a breath of fresh air! Twilight? My PERSONAL opinion? Skip it. Others would disagree, but it didn’t add anything in my life but less time to read the good stuff. I don’t think your life would be complete however, without Harry Potter. Read them in order. It won’t take you all that long, seriously. They are addicting and fabulous.
I love series (but then…I write them!)
I don’t have a lot of time, so I think reading series reflects an inner laziness on my behalf–I go into these books already knowing some of the characters and the setting. I don’t have to work as hard to catch on.
Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
I do love series, but don’t always keep up with them. I think I love the familiarity of the characters when I crack up a new book. I chuckled when I read about Randy Reader!
I read a lot of series, sometimes in order, sometimes not. The only time I’ve waited for an entire series to come out (in paperback no less) before starting was when I was in Jr High/High School and reading David Eddings voraciously.
With that said, I rarely read books in a series back-to-back. Though I did with several books in the Stephanie Plum series and several books in Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series, because they hit the mood I was in perfectly.
I’m the same way–I rarely every read series. It just doesn’t interest me and I have no idea why. Even when I do read a series, such as the first two books in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series, I can NOT read them back to back (which is why I’ve only read two books from that series). Like you, I much prefer variety.
I’m not a huge fan of reading series books. The only way that I will read a series is if all the books have been published. For me, it is all about patience. I have none…that’s why I’m not too good with thrillers. I want my answers and I want them now!
Softdrink, I take the approach to forgetting or missing pits and pieces of anything – book, movie, TV show as I get what I want/slash need out of it. I might not pick up on every nuance, but I don’t miss what I miss. I don’t have much patience, but I like the sensation of being impatient. Who knows what that says about me. LOL!
Rhapsody, you fall into J. Kaye’s camp. I hadn’t thought about the cost factor or the library wait factor. If the rush has passed, you’re free to enjoy it at your own leisure. That means just as much as community interaction.
Lisa, I was a little punch drunk last night as you can tell. LOL! I Googled “Randy Reader” and no one has it out there. I couldn’t believe it, but that left it open for me to use last night. If I turn the other way in the face of a Triple Dog Dare, which no self-respecting person would ever do as a matter of pride, it’s never, ever going to happen.
King Rat, have you ever tackled The Lord of the Rings trilogy? I wonder if the type of series makes a difference? Although, I can also understand Kathy’s comment about series characters feeling familiar and comfortable. Sometime you need that. I know I could always go to Stephanie Plum #6 if I needed that.
Michelle, about the Robert Jordan series. I’d never heard of it before, but a dead author with an unfinished series is something I know I couldn’t start. I wouldn’t want to get to the end of what the original author wrote and have to deal with what the next author comes up with. The truth of the matter is that we need to be picky about our reading if for no other reason than to limit our choices. Granted, removing (mostly) serials from my reading still leaves more books than I could ever imagine reading with full access on a desert island and no job. We need to be discriminating to protect our sanity.
Meghan, you must love The Lord of the Rings then. I love getting into a good epic stand alone novel. Having more than one makes me non-committal. I didn’t mention this last night, but I have joined GalleySmith’s Harry Potter challenge, so I do plan on reading those between now and the end of July 2010.
Sandy, the last thing I need right now is to read a book – let alone a series – that makes me wish for that part of my life back. Twilight is a no go.
Elizabeth, Kathy and Jaime, you make great points in favor of reading serials. I hadn’t thought much about the comfort factor, just being in the mood, or how nice it can be sometimes not not have to feel like you need to get up to speed with what’s going on. They definitely have their place. My reading habits are changing all of the time. There may come a day where this Randy Reader decides to take up the cloth and take a vow of literary chastity. Yikes! That’s still a scary thought to me!
Stephanie, welcome to the Randy Readers club! It’s always good to know that you’re not alone out there.
Tracie, you are also in J. Kaye and Jenn’s camp. It does take a certain amount of patience to wait until the series in complete, though. If I really wanted to read The Hunger Games series (not sure of the official series title), this week would be a hard week to wait.
LOL!! That is one hilarious post. Love it! I too tend to be odd with series. I loved them in the past (I too was a Nancy Drew freak). But now…eh. I don’t know why. And I feel bad when I don’t complete the series. Like I left off Harry Potter after book four. I think that’s why I’ve put off reading The Hunger Games. I’m not going to buy it, too hard to hold it at the library, and it’s a series. Which means I’d have to read them ALL. AHH!
I like series books but sometimes don’t read them in order!
I don’t mind reading series, but I do have problems remembering the huge cast of characters, haha. Maybe that’s why I’ve more standalone books than series.
I really have to love an author or character to keep reading a series. There are just so many choices and so many authors to try. Then, when I hear about a great book, but it is the 2nd or 3rd one, I wonder do I have to read the first 2 first? I might be turned away by having to do that.
When it comes to authors, I do have some loyalty. If I form some attachment with one, I will read more from them and continue with them even if the subsequent books may not be as good as the first one that hooked me. That is rare, tho.
(I do have all the yellow, hard cover vintage Nancy Drew books–don’t know who will want them later.)
Oh I LOVE a good series! I like the security of it, knowing you always have a good book to turn to, familiar character to revisit. I’d say I actively read from about 10 series currently.
I love reading series, and I have to read them in order. I would say one thing though, I don’t like it when there doesn’t seem to be an ending in sight for a series. Surely there has to be some kind of story arc, and there needs to be some kind of ending in sight. Don’t just drag a series on and on just because it is selling well.
Having said that I am reading a couple of series that have more than 20 books in them, and so far I am loving them.
It does take a special author to be able to keep a series fresh over that kind of time frame though.
I love series! But I never am able to read a series that has been party to much hype! Take for example Twilight! i never read it.. till as recently as 2 months back! And I am STILL to read the next books. That is I am not overly fanatical about finishing a series as well!
The only series that i have waited and waited for is the Millennium series! i am waiting for Oct, that’s when the last book comes out!
You are right, i can’t find myself buying 5 books in a series either when i will go and buy 5 stand alone books! weird i know!hmm!
It’s never to late to jump onboard the Harry Potter boat! In about fifty years I have a feeling that admitting that you haven’t read HP will be a bit like admitting that you haven’t seen Gone With the Wind. I plan on waiting until the third installment comes out before I read Hunger Games and the others too. I’m kind of a start a series, end a series kind of girl. I’ve been known to sit down and read an entire series and hardly sleep at all until I’ve finished. I like stand alones but I prefer a good series where I can come back to my favorite characters… that said, I can’t stand waiting for the next to arrive though.
[...] is the result of a fluke. Many of you commented on my post I wrote earlier this month on being too unfaithful a reader to get into reading many fictional series. That post was prompted by a discussion that two book [...]