How to read a book series: What are your habits?

[kittykat AKA Ms. Tortitude]

Timeless wrote: "Hahaha kittykat! Better late than never, right? Thanks!..."

IKR!

What series is it that you are stuck on? Which ones have you DNF'd? And what are you re-reading?

I don't re-read very often, and when I do it tends to be series' where I need to catch up. And I only have a handful that I'll re-read multiple times. There's too much other stuff out there that I want to get to, and sometimes I feel that I don't want to ruin a good thing by going over it again, because sometimes I don't know if I'll feel the same second time round!

Do other people here re-read whole series' often?

[Timeless]

Ugh, I’m stuck at Suzanne Wright’s “the Phoenix Pack” series. The first books were okay for me and I am in love with #4 and really liked #5 and #6. However, because I am clueless and ignorant, I just found out, that there is another series: “the Mercury Pack” series. Both kind of belong together.
So I already know the h/h and I really liked him before… I will skip the first chapter. Maybe I’ll get the flow then. If not, I’ll leave it be. It’s doesn’t really matter.

I DNF a whole bunch of series, because I don’t want the series to end. I always wanted to come back to read the last book or two whenever I’m having a bad time, but I never did. For example both Nalini Singh’s series (Guild Hunter and Psy-Changeling) and Amelia Hutchin’s Fae Chronicles are not finished or up to date and the list goes on and on. I should go back and finish them all.

My all-time favorite re-read since childhood is Astrid Lindgren’s “Die Brüder Löwenherz” (The Brothers Lionheart). Christmas, every year. (Sorry, if this doesn’t fit in here at all).

[kittykat AKA Ms. Tortitude]

Timeless wrote: "Ugh, I’m stuck at Suzanne Wright’s “the Phoenix Pack” series. The first books were okay for me and I am in love with #4 and really liked #5 and #6. However, because I am clueless and ignorant, I just found out, that there is another series: “the Mercury Pack” series. Both kind of belong together."

That's one author who is on my radar with those two series. Like usual I am waiting till it's complete to read it/them. A similar series that I did break my rule for was the Shifters Unbound series by Jennifer Ashley, but all the way to 11.75 was available when I got into it so I still had a great long binge. At this point I'm not sure if I should read book 12 yet or wait for more releases.


Timeless wrote: "...I DNF a whole bunch of series, because I don’t want the series to end...."

Oh, I'm the opposite. Will never (again!) start a series that seems to be never-ending. I've a few that I'm finding it hard to return to now they are complete (not because of lack of enjoyment, but because of all the standalones, and the completed series that I never started that are out there that are crying out my name!) and a few that I'm sure the author plans to continue for ever more with...


Timeless wrote: "... My all-time favorite re-read since childhood is Astrid Lindgren’s “Die Brüder Löwenherz” (The Brothers Lionheart). Christmas, every year...."

I loved all of her Pippi Longstocking books as a kid! I'd love to get my hands on them again as an adult. I think since discovering the wonders of digital books, the only older ones that I want to buy in hard copy are a select few of my fondest childhood favorites that I originally got from the kiddie library. I wonder what my opinion of them would be now?

[Timeless]

Oh you should give „The Brothers Lionheart“ a try. It is nothing like Pipi at all.
I first read it when I was twelve and I was shocked afterwards. I was left with so many different emotions and so many tears. This book is dearest to my heart and it made me a reader.

kittykat wrote: "Like usual I am waiting till it's complete to read it/them."
As I seem to be unable to finish a series, this isn’t a must for me. Although I hate it, when a series only have one or tow books released when I start reading it. It should have a couple more, so I at least get the feeling of binging.


I will definetly have a closer look at Jennifer Ashley’s series – maybe I need a break from the current one. Special times call for special measures.

[kittykat AKA Ms. Tortitude]

Timeless wrote: "Oh you should give „The Brothers Lionheart“ a try. It is nothing like Pipi at all. .."

I'll look it up.

Timeless wrote: "Oh you should give „The Brothers Lionheart“ a try. It is nothing like Pipi at all.
I will definetly have a closer look at Jennifer Ashley’s series – maybe I need a break from the current one. Special times call for special measures. "

Try this one...Damon’s Mountains Universe

It is a 'collection' of a number of what I am calling mini-series as they are all novella length (100-150 pages mostly) with some a bit shorter than that. There are a large variety of different shifter types, most of the men are 'common garden' not billionaires which is a huge bonus for me. There are also a handful of alpha females (another bonus) and a few characters with various illnesses or disabilities sprinkled in, yet another bonus. The only thing that would make it even better for me is more racial inclusivity, but you can't win 'em all. Some of the guys are assholes (most are not) and vice versa, some of the ladies are a bit timid (again most are not) and again vice versa, but overall there is a nice selection of different 'personalities' included.

They are also very formulaic but in a very comforting way I think because the characters are wonderful, the world and the metaplot which starts at book 1 is really interesting, there is loads of humor, quite a bit of angst, a lot of action and just generally an overall good, short time with each one. Also, even though there are loads of them, you can quite easily break it up into the smaller segments of each 'mini-series', but if you are interested I would read them in the right order, especially the early half, because of the overriding plot.

[Amyiw]

kittykat wrote:
"1. How many series do you guys actively have on the go currently? As in, ones that you are up to date with and are waiting on the next release to come out?

2. And do you tend to have the same habits with series across genres? Like do you approach romance, and fantasy and mystery series in the same way?

3. Do other people here re-read whole series' often? "

Great question on this subject...

1. 49+ -A lot, some I read the day they come out or some months later usually. I'm up on the last book (or last year if two came out in the same year sometimes) I counted 49 but probably missed a couple and also I combined a bunch of main series with spin offs (not always caught up with both but at least one). There are 11 that I used to read the next as soon (or within the year) of coming out and now several books have lapsed and I really don't plan to get back to anytime soon though you never know.

2. Yes and no. UF/PNR are my most read then, HR. Many of the HR can be read out of order so... if I'm reading while it is being publish, sure it is in order. The UF/PNR are much more in order but not always. Add in a couple of contemporary Romance, and Scifi and yes, they are read when a new one comes, at least somewhat soon after, within a year. I sometime save a last book until I have the next to read 2 at a time mainly in UF or scifi that are serial type series.

3. Yes. My favorites get reread offen. I sometimes will skip specific books just because I remember them well enough. Or I read just the last ones since I've reread the beginning many time. Every one in a while a favorite will get a complete read through or the favorite picks read through. This is mainly fantasy/paranormal series like Mercy Thompson or Kate Daniels. For HR I'll reread just a book out of a series here and there. So rereads are definitely different.

So here is my questions back.
How many series do you read the spin offs also? Or Do you like any Spin offs better than the original? Or do you have a favorite series of one series and find that you don't really like their other series much?

I love , not so much
I really like , not so much
Love , not so much
Love , not so much
Kind of Like , Not
One of the best , just OK, and next ones
Was great , not so good , But... really enjoying, , really liked the standalone spin offs , .
Loved , but haven't really loved the Crows. Not sure about the Badgers yet though the first two were good. Not as good.

[Timeless]

I haven’t read that many spin offs though. But I don’t think I have read that many series anyway. Just because I get stuck here and then… hahaha.
And I do have a problem with reading during the week. I easily end up reading all night and going straight to work in the morning without any sleep. I am no 20 anymore, where I would party all night, then go to lecture and still got good grades. Nah, I’m too old for that shit.
This is another reason why I re-read so many books.

[kittykat AKA Ms. Tortitude]

Amyiw wrote: "

1. 49+
2. Yes and no.
3. Yes. My favorites get reread offen.

So here is my questions back.
1) How many series do you read the spin offs also?
2) Do you like any Spin offs better than the original?
3) Do you have a favorite series of one series and find that you don't really like their other series much?
"


Oh, wow. I love your answers. So different to mine! To answer your questions;

1) I always check the listings on GR when I come across a series I'm interested in so if I figure out there is a spin-off then I will try to include them unless there is something about them that I don't like the sound of. And for some of them, if they interweave, timeline wise, with the main series I try to read them in the right order that way (like I did the Jeannine Frost Kat & Bones world). Unless they are a strict one series follows the others, I tend to just consider them all as one series, again like I did the Kat & Bones books, except the Ian books as they came so much later so I've not yet read them.

2) Sometimes, but there's so many that I haven't gotten to yet (including some of the ones you mentioned above) because I'm waiting for the series' to be completed, but of those I have read (or at least started) and can recall, I prefer;
(BTW These aren't all spin offs or set in the same 'world' some are just by the same author)
over Too much sex
over Ditto
over and (which really should just be called took 3 in the previous spin off)
over I dislike Adam and some of the Mercy plots that I've read have been a bit boring. Also Anna and Charles have so much more 'heart' to me
over which was WAY better than (again too much sex), but I loved all of them! I raved about the Pride series when I read and loved it in Jan this year, but I raved even more about the Honey Badgers recently... and I didn't think I could love SL any more than the Pride series, but the fact that the trilogy seemed to be one long story in three parts (rather than 3 separate stories of related characters), much more focussed on the sibling relationship and less on the romantic ones was a total winner for me.

Re Shelley Laurenston - I also just read the abandoned Hunting Season and thought all the (not very sexy!) sex got in the way of everything else I loved about it and am going to be picking up the Crows trilogy soon as it seems that it will be everything that I loved about HS without what I didn't. I do want to read her GA Aiken Dragon Kin, and that spin off, series too, but I'm going to save that till next year.

It's more complicated for me with TS Joyce's Damon’s Mountains Universe but there are various individual books within the different mini-series's within that world that I prefer over others because of the characters and particular plot points and in particular the last set was the weakest by far. My outstanding charcter is Willa the Worm Lady... but for the life of me I can't recall which book she is introduced in other than it is somewhere in the first half.

3) I'm not sure what you mean by this?

[kittykat AKA Ms. Tortitude]

Timeless wrote: "... I am no 20 anymore, where I would party all night, then go to lecture and still got good grades. Nah, I’m too old for that shit.
This is another reason why I re-read so many books."

Ha! I feel you there, lol!

Now the re-reads is where we differ. There are just too many unread books calling to me for me to re-read that many older ones, bearing in mind I read a lot of other genres too.

[Timeless]

kittykat wrote: "Now the re-reads is where we differ. There are just too many unread books calling to me for me to re-read that many older ones, bearing in mind I read a lot of other genres too."

Well, I re-read and "re-read for sleeping purposes". For sleeping purposes I read the same books over and over again. If I don’t feel like reading, I’m listening to the audio book until I fall asleep. When I wake up during the night, the audio book lulls me right back to sleep. And I have to know the book VERY well, so I don’t get caught up in the story again.

When I do the usual re-reads, I do this because I missed my favorite characters…

[kittykat AKA Ms. Tortitude]

Timeless wrote: "kittykat wrote: "Now the re-reads is where we differ. There are just too many unread books calling to me for me to re-read that many older ones, bearing in mind I read a lot of other genres too."

..."

Ok, comforts... I can understand that. 😊

[Amyiw]

kittykat wrote:
"Amyiw wrote: "...
3) Do you have a favorite series of one series and find that you don't really like their other series much?...

kittykat wrote: 3) I'm not sure what you mean by this?"

I think you answered though I wrote it wrong. it was Author. Do you have a favorite author of one series that you don't really like another one of there series. It is like me with Soulwood. I love Nell and I love the group. I really don't like Jane or her group so even though I might end up liking the book. I just push on because of friends and now because Soulwood intertwines a bit.

Also Seanan McGuire. I love her Incryptid but October Daye for me just doesn't do it. They are hit and miss as a storyline and the characters don't call to me.

[Amyiw]

kittykat wrote: "Timeless wrote:"Now the re-reads is where we differ. There are just too many unread books calling to me for me to re-read that many older ones, bearing in mind I read a lot of other genres too. "

I'm a rereader for sanity. I need my go to books for certain emotions and characters when that mood strikes and nothing looks appealing. If I didn't, I would probably watch a lot more TV and I just enjoy the reading too much. I find that I always find thing I missed or have forgotten during my rereads. Being able to guarantee a great read is also a big plus though I sometime will read just good books that have what I'm in the mood for.

[Chrissy]

I love rereading my favorite series over and over. Sometimes I reread in preparation for the next book in the series that's coming out, or sometimes just after I read the latest book (for example if there was a big plot twist and I want to look for hints towards it in earlier books). And then I have the kinds of favorites that I just want to revisit over and over simply because I miss spending time with that set of characters. And I almost always notice little details or connections that I've either forgotten or never noticed before. My most reread author is probably Kelley Armstrong, followed by Seanan McGuire.
And I love rereading in audio. I can't do audiobooks if I'm reading something for the first time because I end up being distracted and missing half a paragraph because I stopped listening. But if it's an old favorite that I know so well that it doesn't matter if I miss a few sentences, audiobooks are a lot of fun. And I love falling asleep while listening to some of my favorites on audio.

[kittykat AKA Ms. Tortitude]

Bump - self reminder for tomz

[M.L.]

I'm not patient enough to wait for all the books in a series to come out before diving in. I usually will read the individual books in a series as they come out. Then, I'll re-read all of them right before the final book is released. :)

[kittykat AKA Ms. Tortitude]

How many audio lovers here?

Personally, whilst I like the idea in theory, I'm not a big fan of audio for 2 main reasons.

1) I'm very particular about UK/US voices and much prefer the character of regional accents as opposed to 'proper' or what I rudely call 'plum in the mouth' accents. I find that most narrators over emphasise when they do 'accents' and over enunciate in general which grates me like nails on a chalkboard. I understand why it's done, but I hate it with a passion.

2) Unless I just listen, and not engage in other activities simultaneously (which kind of beats the purpose of audio for someone like me), I am going to miss most of what goes on. I far too often let my mind wander on twenty-five other things unless I read the words on the page myself.

I do listen to some audio; some non-fic (mostly memoirs) but that's a different ball game to me as I prefer the accents from the authors of those works which just gives more life to them for me. I also find a few non-fics that I want to try, because again they are narrated by the authors, or otherwise by people whose narration voices I can tolerate.

[Krystal]

For me it depends on the series. If it's like the Cassandra Clare books where there are different series' that branch off from another, it can sometimes get confusing. Like the characters are intermixed between them and it's hard to remember certain things at times. Also, if it's an older series where all the books are published, I like to read them all at once. Kind of like watching a TV series on Netflix or Hulu. You just continue to read them all. I started the Asylum series and I currently own the first two, and . There are 2 more that I need to get yet. When I do get them, I'll probably re-read the ones I have and then finish the other two. I also like Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series. I have the first 3 of that series as well. . One of my friends says she listens to a lot of audio books, but I agree. I dislike them. I don't even really like reading Apple or Nook books, I use them to fill in the time.

[Timeless]

kittykat wrote: "How many audio lovers here?"

oooh a BIG YES for audio books! However the narrator has to be good. Really good.
There is one narrator who appears to be older and is constantly trying to attach his fake teeth back to his gums by sucking on it. This is just HORRIBLE!! It made me so mad, I DNF.

As for the accents: I am German, so very often I don´t even recognize a bad impression of an accent – unless it´s supposed to be a German accent. (This is the only accent I can do pretty good myself :D :D :D)

[Amyiw]

Chrissy wrote: "And then I have the kinds of favorites that I just want to revisit over and over simply because I miss spending time with that set of characters. And I almost always notice little details or connections that I've either forgotten or never noticed before. "
Yes, I very much read to revisit characters and I always find things I've forgotten or missed.

kittykat wrote: "How many audio lovers here?

Personally, whilst I like the idea in theory, I'm not a big fan of audio for 2 main reasons...."

From Chrissy above
Chrissy wrote: "...And I love rereading in audio. I can't do audiobooks if I'm reading something for the first time because I end up being distracted and missing half a paragraph because I stopped listening. But if it's an old favorite that I know so well that it doesn't matter.."

My answer
I love many audios. The accents some narrators can do is great. With some I cannot stand them and have to go to the print version. Some go so slowly.... like BDB and I have to double time it and most go slower than I can stand so it is 1.5X normally.

If I do anything complicated, I have to put down the audio but... things like washing dishes, walking the neighborhood, any other none mentality, knitting or crocheting, etc... definitely don't miss much. More complicated books like, Never Home Alone: From Microbes to Millipedes, Camel Crickets, and Honeybees, the Natural History of Where We Live, non-fiction science based, I have to slow down to normal levels of speech.

Definitely agree with Chrissy that rereads of favorites are a lot easier done in audiobook.

[Chrissy]

Amyiw wrote: "I love many audios. The accents some narrators can do is great. With some I cannot stand them and have to go to the print version. Some go so slowly.... like BDB and I have to double time it and most go slower than I can stand so it is 1.5X normally."

That's another reason I don't really like audio for first time reads. Even if I speed them up, they're still slower than I would be if I was reading print/ebook. And if I'm reading something for the first time I'm too impatient to find out how the book ends to go at the pace of audio ;)
First time reads are always kind of sprints for me. I never skim anything, but I go as fast as I can while still able to take in every word. For rereads I like to take more of a meandering stroll, so audio works great then.

[Amyiw]

Chrissy wrote: "That's another reason I don't really like audio for first time reads. Even if I speed them up, they're still slower than I would be if I was reading print/ebook. And if I'm reading something for the first time I'm too impatient to find out how the book ends to go at the pace of audio ;)
First time reads are always kind of sprints..."

I have a friend that reads so fast that she cannot stand audiobooks just for that reason too. I general read a little over double time more or less depending on the reader's speed but it doesn't sound good usually at that speed so I slow it down to 1.5x unless I'm irritated with the book. LOL

I like to sink into my reading usually. My friend can't wait to find out what happens. I only have that with a book here and there and I will go to the end and read it if I'm that agitated. She says she doesn't hear the words in her head while reading, I do. All the books on speed reading say that you have to get the words out of your head. I've never been able to do that. It comes naturally to some like her. She also remembers details so much better than I do. We discuss the books and I'm always amazed. I think that is why I love rereading so much, to get the details. :-)

[Heather]

I don’t mind bouncing around from series if one is just moving to slow or not holding my interests at the time. The last thing I want to do is keep reading on just because I feel it’s a goal to finish it in complete order. If it’s just not doing it for me I will just move on and try again later when I have patience to finish it.

[kittykat AKA Ms. Tortitude]

The whole thing about listening to audiobooks at high speed perplexes me. I understand the need for hearing it at the same speed as you read with your eyes which is for most of us a lot faster than narration, but when the audios are sped up the narrators just sound so odd! I know some people even listen to them at 2 and even 3 times speed and that just boggles the mind. At those levels they sound like chipmunks!


Heather wrote: "I don’t mind bouncing around from series if one is just moving to slow or not holding my interests at the time. The last thing I want to do is keep reading on just because I feel it’s a goal to fin..."

Bouncing is the perfect way to describe it! Just the thought of it makes my head throb!!!

[Amyiw]

kittykat wrote: "The whole thing about listening to audiobooks at high speed perplexes me. I understand the need for hearing it at the same speed as you read with your eyes which is for most of us a lot faster than..."

I don't notice the sound difference until it is up at about, depends on the narrator, 1.8x or 2x. My hubby complains at over 1.2x but doesn't notice at 1.2x normally. At 1.5 I usually can hear the accents and nuances of voice, but if I speed more than that, I lose that enjoyment. Again depends on the reader for exact speed but usually 1.5x and it still sounds normal enough to me. If I'm not liking a book then the accents and inflections don't matter and I will go 2-2.5x just to get through it, or through a part that is irritating. (like a sexual assault or violence, or a battle scene that is dragging (Karen Chance).

I definitely bounce to whatever pulls me at the moment. Good way to describe it, I agree.

[kittykat AKA Ms. Tortitude]

For the few things that we all have in common; reading and in particular romance and fantasy, I find it wonderfully fascinating how very different our preferences and habits are. Makes me wish that I had been more purposeful in college and chosen something like psychology to help understand more about the human condition!

[Vannessa]

It's been really interesting reading all your different reading habits. I'm a bouncer and bounce from series to series, mostly because I do a lot of challenges here on Goodreads and the next book in the series often does not fit what I need to read for them. I also tend to switch off a bit if reading about the same characters for too long, so I have a long list of series and work my way through them and each time I go back it reignites my interest and love for the story lines and characters too.

I don't have many series I re-read - I don't have enough time to do that to be honest and would much rather read new-to-me books instead.