Weekly Tête-à-Tête - Anthologies

[Shanon]

This was brought up in another group I'm in but it made me curious... How do you read anthologies?? Do you read from front to back? Do you pick & choose which stories to read? Shortest to longest stories perhaps? Or do you have an all together different quirk when it comes to anthologies?



I don't read them that often, but when I do I pick and choose which stories to read. I'll read any that are part of a series I've read (or am reading as long as it's in order) or any stand-alones. I'm always hesitant to read shorts that are part of a series I haven't started because I HATE feeling lost as well as I don't want spoilers.

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ]

I pick and choose. I bought alot of used paranormal anthologies to get the Sookie Stackhouse short stories. I read in order, when I could. I then needed a "P" author or title for a challenge to read the month "April", so read a Vampire Files short story from P.N. Elrod. I loved it enough to order the omnibus editions of the Vampire Files stories to get me the first 6 novels in two volumes. Since I'm new to PN/PNR/UF I'm getting a feel for different authors and series by reading different short stories. See what I like and don't like. So I definetly skip around til I find something that interests me, or fits a challenge, etc.

[Melodie]

I usually read front to back, but if there happens to be a Sookie or a Harry Dresden story I'll read them first. If a story doesn't grab me within the first couple of pages and it's an author I haven't read before I'll sometimes skip them altogether.

[Carolyn F.]

I'll usually read the authors I know first and then go back and read the rest. Anthologies are how I was introduced to Patricia Briggs, Eileen Wilks and Sunny, which are some of my favorite authors.

[Julia]

I was going to say I read anthologies from front to back, of course. Especially when they're a collection of all Charles de Lint or Connie Willis or Charlaine Harris stories. Or I read a lot anthologies on themes: the Chicks 'n' Chained Male series by Esther Friesner is a hoot, so is her series of suburban fantasies Witch Way to the Mall? and I'm a sucker for anything edited by Terri Windling, BUT. With some of the uf anthologies I don't read the whole book, or I start reading each story and if I'm not grabbed in a few or five pages I go onto the next story.

[Sandy]

I read them front to back but if I totaly can't get interested in a story I'll skip it. I've found several new authors by reading anthologies.

[Angela]

Mostly I read front to back and that's how I've gotten into several series I'm into but sometimes if I bought the anthology specifically for a particular short I'll read that one first before I read front to back or if I know the short is part of series that I want to read I'll skip it and save it for later (to read in order with the series)

[Sarah]

I don't particularly care for anthologies. When I do read them, I pick and choose which stories to read and I definitely have to read them in series order.

[Literary Ames]

I don't buy anthologies any more, I borrow them. I read the authors I'm reading first and then the ones I recognise and then the rest if the other stories were good, if they weren't then I might not bother.

[Carolyn F.]

My problem is if I don't finish the whole book I can't count it on the 144 in 2010. So, I'm stuck with stinky books/stories. Sometimes it works out because I may not like it in the beginning but toward the end change my mind.

[Shanon]

I've been tempted to read shorts I don't want to for one reason or another because I'm doing the 144 in 2010 challenge as well. BUT I've been strong & skipped the stories anyways. I still count the pages.

[Julia]

To Carolyn and Shannon:

My problem is if I don't finish the whole book I can't count it on the 144 in 2010.

Why? You pick a lousy book or short story -- or you're in a lousy mood for a book -- and you've got to suffer through it? That's nuts.

I'm with Shannon, count it Carolyn! Life's too short to read books you hate or are indifferent to.

[Carolyn F.]

I feel like a cheat if I count it. Besides, I went and opened my trap giving my opinion that only books you completely read should count. Damn my big mouth!!!

[Julia]

Open your mouth, apologize and change your mind!

[Carolyn F.]

:)

[Terri]

I love anthologies. I can pick up and put down easily and I get to sample different authors

[Laura]

This is my first post, so, hello everyone! I'm with Terri, I've discovered some great authors through them -- Rachel Caine, Thomas Sniegoski, Faith Hunter, Kat Richardson... I read them front to back, I haven't bailed on a story, but I've definitely skimmed to get through it.

[Carolyn F.]

Me too Laura. Some I love, and others I trudge through, but I do try to finish each and every story.