*~Can't Stop Reading~* discussion

Before you give up on it? Usually by the second or third book, I've made my decision.

I'm impatient, if the first book doesn't end with me wanting to carry on reading more then I won't buy the second :S

It depends how bad it is really I think. For example, I read the first Vampire Diaries book and hated it so much I haven't tried another, yet with the Cathy Hopkins series Truth Dare Kiss Promise I didn't really like the first book I read but a few months later tried another and actually came to love the series, even rereading the book I didn't like at first.

I agree with Hayley. If the first book isn't that great, or doesn't leave me wanting more, I won't bother with the second in the series.

I also find it interesting that there are fewer stand-alone books out there. Almost everything seems to be coming out as part of a series right now. Or maybe that's just me....

And there are a few books that I have picked up, thinking that they were going to be one-offs, only to have them end with the dreaded "To Be Continued..." *grrr*

Lindsay, I really hate when that happens - I pick up a book without wanting to invest my time & money in more than one and then find out there are loads more to it and the first book leaves you hanging :O

With regards to more series being out than stand-alones - I've noticed that too - it may be a case of people being unable to condense what they want to write into one book, readers are less willing to pick up new handbag breakers and if you write a series & it sells well then there's more income (yep, that's my cynical, money-loving side coming out!)

Too true! Money makes the world go around!!

I think it also depends oh how bad it is and the reason you don't like it. I find if it is the author's writing style or the set up of the book I am less likely to carry on than if it was the characters.

I agree with Nicolle on that

I usually hang in there until the bitter end, no matter how bad or how long. That being said, it may take me a year or two (or more) to get the series finished. Guess it's my series OCD.

Mmmm, don't think I would put myself through that. If I did I would probably come to loath reading as oppose to loving it.

I will try the first 2 books but usually not more than that if they're meh... If I really don't like the first book I won't even bother to continue on with the series.

I tend to have a short attention span for series in general. In fact I've started several and can think of only two I've finished. Harry Potter and Karen Moning's Fever series. I think the story and the characters have to be exceptional to keep me going. It's like my 401k. Easier to keep adding money when I'm vested. Easier to cash out when there ain't much money in the pot.

Depends on the book. Right now, I'm stuck with Riordan's. They stopped sucking me in. DreamHouse Kings, on the other hand, I hoovered like crack.

I think just the first book is enough. If you are eager to keep reading, then it's good, if not... don't waste more time!

I'm reading "The Hunger Games" and I wonder what will happen once I finish it...

Teresa wrote: "Depends on the book. Right now, I'm stuck with Riordan's. They stopped sucking me in. DreamHouse Kings, on the other hand, I hoovered like crack."

I have heard mixed reviews about Riordan's.

I am not that big on series. I get bored with the characters. I have read the first two in Hunger Games and will read Mockingjay because they are quick reads, but I usually do not go beyond three books in a series. I think that's enough.

The Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld was good, I liked it because it wasn't exactly the same in each book. It was all set in the same world but different characters and slight variations on the focus of the novels were fantastic.

Miz wrote: "It depends on the book and the series. I normally research the book/author/series first, so I've generally enjoyed most of the series that I have read. Then I've plundered through the series out of..."

I think personally I'm the same way. Some books I've never picked up the next in the series. Some I've disliked and still picked up the next. There needs to be elements that I think can improve. Like with a tv series I think.

If I ever write the book I want to I doubt it will be the first in a series. More because I don't think I would be able to continue the plots at the same strength as a one off. I really admire authors who can continue with the same story or characters and build stronger plots with each book or keep the level high still.

Tamara - that's so funny. You stopped at exactly the point in the Sookie series that I did! LOL!

I rarely give up on series, it has to be really really bad for me to give up on it. I usually just make myself read the rest just to say I did and so I know what happens.

Madeline wrote: "I rarely give up on series, it has to be really really bad for me to give up on it. I usually just make myself read the rest just to say I did and so I know what happens."

Doesn't it make you begrudge reading though?

no. Cause I know there are good series out there. and nothing can make me begrudge reading

what i do is i read the first book of a series and if i dont like it by the end i usually give up on it....

If the first book is no good, I normally won't give the series a second chance. That's how I was with the Twilight series and the Pepper Martin Mystery series.

After two. Sometimes you have to give the author time to set it up. Character development increases over time.after two books though, with all I want to read, I usually leave it alone.

I'm with Hayley. A book has to grab my attention and hold it by the first book. If it doesn't, I'm not bothering with the rest of the series. There were some times when I didn't finish the first book at all because it was so bad. No way I'm reading the next.

With many series I've read, the first book is pretty good. I usually judge the series by how well the second book is written. If the second book is boring and has lost its touch significantly, than I'll ditch the entire series.

Yes, it depends.
I've read The Hunger Games and I do not feel compelled to read Catching Fire and Mockingjay.
I will probably read it just so that when I go to the cinema to watch the movies I am not lost.
Though, I am not a fan.
With the Sevenwaters series, for example, everything is different. I love the series and I've read the first 3 books. I need to read the last 2 books but as the characters are not the same and I have so many other books to read, I am always delaying reading them.

It depends on how wound up I get in the story. The dark tower series by Stephen King has 7 books so far and I loved them all. The Harry Potter series as well.

Lucy wrote: "Yes, it depends.
I've read The Hunger Games and I do not feel compelled to read Catching Fire and Mockingjay.
I will probably read it just so that when I go to the cinema to watch the movies I am n..."

Totally agree with you about the Hunger Games!! I read the first one and wasn't drawn to the other 2, although I will probably read them eventually. As for other series, I have not read one I did not like. I do a lot of research on the author and what the series is about before I even start it. I read a lot of reviews and see what other people have to say about it too. If I'm going to put my time into something, it's going to be good & hold my attention. I do not find that the characters get boring in a series. I think it gives the author time to go into more depth about the character, why they are the way they are, and some of their background, not to mention the different obstacles they come across. They couldn't possibly fit all of that into one book if that's what they choose to do with their characters. If they tried, I'm sure it would either be a crazy long book or I'd be disappointed and felt like I was left hanging with more questions than answers! I love a good series!!

I'm having a hard time with A Song of Ice and Fire. At one point I was looking forward to the conclusion, imagining all sorts of wild and crazy things with dragons, etc. I stopped after the fourth chapter in the latest book--it holds no interest, seeing as George will probably not finish it in his lifetime.

Now, Wheel of Time, on the other hand, I almost gave up on, especially after Jordan died. When Sanderson was asked to finish and finally locked in on only three more books (I know, "only", it's 14 books long!), I read the whole dang thing up to the latest book. After all, starting with the Eye of the World, you kind of want to know what is going to happen.

I fear, though, the last phrase will be something like "There are no endings in the wheel of time, but it was an ending"

Usually, if I don't like the first book I won't read the rest of the series. If I feel ambivalent about the first I'll read the next couple books before deciding if it's worth my while. Maybe I should rethink that rule though. I love the Dresden Files series even though I didn't like the first book. In that case I received the first 6 books for Christmas one year (two 3-packs) so I had nothing to lose by trying the next books in the series. It wasn't until the third book that the series took off. If I had just purchased the first book on my own I never would have bothered with the rest.

I have issues with series. My husband LOVES series books and will religiously read every single book in a series (IN ORDER) and then start on the next series. I, on the other hand, tend to get bored with a series after the first two (sometimes three) books and have to take a break. (My only exception so far has been the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz) But if a series doesn't catch my attention in the first book, it is very unlikely that I will pick up another book in the series.

Agree

I know this sounds like a TOTAL waste of time, but once I start a series, I always finish it...maybe not right away but I'll eventually get through it.

It depends if I see potential in a series from my own enjoyment. I'm the same with TV shows. If there's a little spark in there I may read on and if nothing improves I'll just exit the series.

Me too, though annoyingly I usually remember a series I want to watch after the episode so I am always 2 or three episodes behind and just can't be bothered to catch up.

Length of a series for me depends on which direction it takes at the end of each book.

If I am not picked up on the book when i start it I don't read the rest, sometimes I love the first but then I get over the series and don't read the rest.

it depands why i don't like the book like if i don't like the characters there not going to change but if it is the plot then i might give the second a chance

It depend on the book. If I like it, I usually finish the whole series even if it is like HON.. And I'm the kind of person who prefers series books rather than one shots since there is a continuation to their story.

I've never read a series. Hmm, though maybe Shakespear's plays are a series. If they count, then I have given up more than once because I found them too hard. But I always went back and I am always glad when I have.

I can say that all of the best series I have read have taken 2 or 3 books before I really got into them. Terry Pratchett's Discworld took at least 5 books, but then every book after that is pure gold. Then you have stuff like Honor Harrington, where each novel is a different piece of a much larger whole. I just finished book 5 of that one, which was the first 5 start book, and so good that I like each subsequent book better. That happens a lot, too. Where I'm not overly impressed with the earlier stuff until I go back for a re-read.

personally I am VERY Picky when it comes to a long series , I ask around about them , read reviews , even sometimes try to find an online version since unfortunately the prices of one single book where I live isn't really that cheap , when I do pick up a long series though I sometimes give it until the second book but mostly it's the first one , if I couldn't get into the first book then I give op on it all together .

the series which I do give up on are mostly the crime solving ones since I simply hate it when I am half way through and I already know who did it .

I read a series until I finish all of the books. I am reading the Sookie Stackhouse Series. I love them so far. I will read them all.

If I start a series I will always try to finish it. I'm the same with stand alones, I will always finish a book. This usually works fine for me because I'm not very critical of books and so enjoy almost everything I read!

There are only two series that I stopped reading. I read the first 11 or so of Anita Blake, but I could not finish. It was getting too disgusting for me. I read the first book in Odd Thomas and it was okay but I didn't rave about it. Some series I lose steam on like the sookie books. But I will usually intermittently pick up the rest of the series.

On a side note there are a few series that I will read a few times if I really enjoy them. Like I have read the Harry Potter series about three times, The Chronicles of Narnia twice, and The Study series three times. I will always go back to Harry Potter. I have been reading/watching HP for about half of my life. I have a feeling he will be sticking around for quite some time.

I like to start a series, read a couple in it, then take a break with some standalones. I return to the series and pick up where I left off the next time the mood strikes me.