How Do You Read a Series?

6/15/2017

I am terrible at finishing series. I have so many series that I've started but never finished, even if there's only one more book to read. This might be because I can't get a hold of the next book, or it might be because the series didn't hold my attention enough to continue.

But very frequently, it's neither of these reasons. Case in point - 100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson. I loved that book, and my library has book two on its shelves. But did I check it out the next time I visited the library, or even the time after that? No, I didn't. One of those times, I even saw it on the shelf, yet decided not to check it out. The same thing happened with The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter. As soon as I finished it, I was dying to read the next book - yet chose not to get it from the library. I read that book a year ago, and I still haven't checked out the sequel. I have a feeling the same thing will happen with The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman. I just finished that book, and absolutely loved it. But will I get the next book from the library when I go in a couple of weeks? Past history shows that that's unlikely.

I can't figure out why this is. So I'm curious how you read a series. Do you devour all of the books as quickly as you can get them (assuming that all of the books have been published)? Do you space them out a little bit to savor the experience? Or do you let the series hang there for months or years until you get around to finishing it, if ever?

12 Comments

Meaghan Gerard link

6/15/2017 08:10:02 am

Could it be that you don't want it to end, and prefer knowing there is another unread installment out there?
I became obsessed with the Erast Fandorin books (originally in Russian) and eventually the publisher stopped putting them out in the US. I now have to order them from England (in fact I brought back 2 in my suitcase from the UK b/c I was so happy to find them). I have about 7 of them now but I've only read one. I think it's because I'm afraid of not having them to look forward to.

Julie @ Smiling Shelves link

6/18/2017 02:11:27 pm

I think that might be part of it. If it's a series I really love, why would I ever want it to end? And if reading those books means the end is closer, why would I want to do that?

That's just mean of a publisher to start publishing a series and then stop. I'm glad you have a source still, and can savor each one whenever you decide to read them. :)

Christine @Buckling Bookshelves link

6/15/2017 01:31:54 pm

I'm so erratic about series! I *want* to read series straight through when I'm really enjoying them, but very often I have other things to read -- obligations or just other books that catch my attention. So if I really like book #1, but then I know I really need to get started on a book club book, I'll switch gears and lose my momentum. Or I decide to pick up a library book instead because it's due soon...and again I lose my momentum. Other times, like with The Borrowers, I enjoyed the first book and want to continue on, but it doesn't feel urgent. It wasn't a book I *loved* and there wasn't a big cliffhanger or anything like that, so the subsequent books got put on the back burner.

It's very rare for me, but I read a YA mystery (The Naturals) for book club and it was such a quick and enjoyable read that I finished book 2 before we even had our meeting and started book 3. I'm fairly certain I will finish up book 3 and 4 this summer, but I have slowed down a bit and am wanting to pick up other things as well. So I typically have to balance that itch to finish something I like with the itch to move onto other things!

I really need to take a page out of your book and cool it on the library books for me in general and "check out" books from my own shelves. I don't know what it is about library books, but I always gravitate toward them first!

Julie @ Smiling Shelves link

6/18/2017 02:19:30 pm

Losing momentum and getting distracted by other books both contribute to my problem, I think. If I checked the entire series out of the library at the same time, I would probably have no problem finishing the whole thing before the due date. But I only check out one book, then go on to others and don't come back to the series (for a long time).

The shiny library books have been drawing me in again. . . I regularly visit two libraries, and I told myself I could check out one book from each. That should give me plenty of time to still read my own books, right? But one book has become two books. . .or more. I think I need an intervention! :)

Kailana link

6/15/2017 08:54:55 pm

I rarely finish series. lol When I manage to, it is a huge accomplishment!

Julie @ Smiling Shelves link

6/18/2017 02:12:19 pm

Same here! I feel like I used to be better at finishing series, but now I start so many different series that it's hard to come back to one. Too many books, not enough commitment. :)

Kathryn Tobias

6/15/2017 10:35:52 pm

I agree with Meaghan on some series - I just found out that Margaret Maron's last book (so she says) is the one I have on my bookshelf. I can't decide whether to read it and mourn the loss of the series or to save it like a chocolate Easter bunny for some time in the future. Sometimes I just get tired of the series, which is a bummer if I have more on the shelves. But I do read series in order and I usually only read one book in the series a year - otherwise, I tend to get sick of the series and then it's ruined for me.

Julie @ Smiling Shelves link

6/18/2017 02:14:53 pm

Good point - you certainly don't want to get sick of a series by bingeing it. There are so many books out there that I feel like reading a lot from one series could get frustrating because I can't experience all the other wonderful books on my shelves. I think I tend towards the savor-the-Easter-bunny style. I just seem to never end up eating the Easter bunny at all! :)

Sarah @ Pussreboots link

6/19/2017 05:48:20 pm

Often I end up starting in the middle of a series. I used to go for years between reading the books but recently I've started a new way. As soon as I post a review of a book in the series (which can be weeks after I've actually read it — but that's a different issue), I put the next in the series on hold at my library via their website.

Sometimes though a series just hits my fancy and I end up working through it steadily. Right now the audiobook versions of the Book Town Mysteries have my attention. In less than a month's time, I'm halfway through the third book.

Julie @ Smiling Shelves link

6/20/2017 02:09:27 pm

That sounds like a great plan, and a great way to keep moving through a series. Maybe I should give that a try! :)

Jenna @ Falling Letters link

6/27/2017 11:38:43 am

I don't generally read series, so I don't have any substantial observation to offer you. But, I can think of one series I started four years ago and never finished. I think I read four or five volumes of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency in the span of a year, then stopped picking them up. Not sure why...I think it was because I needed some 'light' reading then and those books fit my criteria? I think after a certain number of books I just lose interest, even if they were good books.

Julie @ Smiling Shelves link

7/5/2017 09:40:53 pm

That series is quite the commitment! Doesn't it have like 20 books or something? No shame in stopping after 5! :)

I agree that sometimes a series just hits a sweet spot, and when we don't need it anymore, we just set it aside. I try not to worry about finishing those series when that happens. :)

How Do You Read a Series?

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