Do you read a whole series before moving on to another series?

[Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog)]

For me it depends on how much I like a series, if I love it like I did the Black Dagger Brotherhood or Immortals After Dark and a few others I will read through all teh avaliable books one after the other until they stop and then wait (impatiently) for the next book to come out. If I don't mind a series I will just get the books and probably read other things inbetween. I susally have atleast 2 books going on at a time so I might start reading somethign else whilst reading that book as well, it all depends!

[*Mrs. Brightside*]

Wow. I normally jump through series, like Ill read one book in one series, and then go to this other series. But if I really like a series, Ill just read it straight through! (I read straight through most the time)

[Destiny]

I jump around to avoid getting bored with an author or his/her series.

[Courtney]

I'm definitely a jumper. I prefer to read a single series all the way through without interruption but that is very very rare ;) I don't mind jumping around. Especially if I'm jumping from a PNR series to something like a HR series. :) Keeps it exciting!

[Chandra]

I finish the series before starting another, otherwise I get too confused. And I have to read them in order, I can't skip a book in the series, cause the I get even more confused :S

[Samantha]

For me it depends on how much I like the series, if I have access to the entire series, and if I am involved in a challenge that requires me to read other books that are not part of the series.

[Fani *loves angst*]

I also move between series; I can't seem to read books in a row as I get bored by the same style over and over. The only times I've read a series in a row, is when it consists of 3 books max and they're so good I can't help myself, but even then it's a rare occurence.

[Wendy]

My reading of series completely depends on what type of series they are. For me they break into 3 different types:

1. Series where each book is about a different couple eg. BDB or Midnight breeds or lots of romantic suspense series.
These I will start the series by reading 2 or 3 then go on to read something else and then coming back to enjoy more - I like to prolong the gratification so-to-speak

2. Series where the same characters are featured but each book has its own complete ending eg. In death series, Nighthuntress, Mercy Thompson etc. These I will also prolong the gratification but once up to date with the series, I will drop anything else to read the newest 'episode'.

3. Lastly are the series where the characters' story is told over a finite number of books (usually only up to 5), where the entire series is building to a complete end. With these, I will wait until the ENTIRE series is out before I will read them... Instant gratification :) I have only found this quirk in myself in recent times of reading PNR - Vampire academy, Tairen soul for eg's I have read the first ones but refuse to read the rest until the last in the series comes out. Did this with Mortal instruments series and am bummed/excited to know a new one is coming out (bummed cos I will now re-read the entire series before reading the new one!!! - excited cos...well it's a fab series)

The other quirk that I have found in myself (only recently) and it pertains to monogamy in books... is I find the reason I don't like reading too many in a series of the first sort is because I am 'loyal' to the first couple... and find it hard to get into liking the 'secondary characters'. My co-workers think I am a freak (and I probably am!). I also can only read one book at a time as well. I like to completely see a story through from start to finish without any intrusion from other books.

Sorry - this started out as my 2c worth and you got about $2!

[Gemma]

I tend to jump around series if its really long, if there is only two or three books out, I will read teh full series back to back.

[AH]

There are few series that have kept my attention past books 3 or 4. In fact, I have been disappointed with books 3 or 4 in many series. There are some exceptions, of course, but I am always leery of that book 4.

I tend not to read my series all at once. I try to get books at the library so they might not always be available and I am weird in a sense that I never reserve books. I always go "on the hunt" for the titles on my to-read list. Some series that I love, I tend to savor because I do not want that series to end, so I will read them slowly.

Since I've joined Goodreads, I have noticed that I am now strategically planning out my reading so that there will not be too much time between book releases.

[Carolyn]

For me, it depends solely on the series. Black Dagger Brotherhood? Didn't discover it until earlier this year. Read straight through to the last one at that time and then when the next one came out a few months later, I set aside the book I was currently reading to read Lover Mine. Another series I read straight through was the Night Huntress series. And have re-read it straight through a few times since. But some series are so overwhelming in their number of books in it that I have to jump around or I will get tired of reading the same writing style over and over and over. Could just be me though.

[Sarah]

I basically jump on the closest book I can get my hands on. If it's not the 3rd book of the series I'm currently on, than most likly I'll get that book next.
After I'm finished with the book I'm holding....

[[deleted user]]

I'm such a dork that I become completely invested in the characters and can't look at another book until I'm through the series. That's also why I don't read series like BDB that have different characters taking the lead in each book.

[Regina]

It all depends on the series -- some pull me in and I consume them (like Sookie, Fever series, Highlander series, Black Dagger Brotherhood, Downside Ghosts, Outlander, Troubleshooters, Mercy Thompson, Kate Daniels, Alpha & Omega), others -- I pace myself and mix up books and series. Having a Kindle helps me with those series I have to finish -- I can buy a book and start reading it in a minute -- dangerous too!

[Danielle]

No way. I have so many series going on I can't keep them all straight.

[Cindy]

I try to read all the books that are out to buy in that series then i move to another one, but lately ive been jumping around series since some only have 2-3 books out of that series and i hope you all agree but sometimes the next book takes FOREVER to come out

[Caramelle]

I usually read an entire series (or at least catch up to the latest release) before moving on to another one.

However, when a series that im following releases another book, it totally depends on how I feel about the series that released the new book and what I feel about the current series I'm reading.

I either…
• Finish my current book and continue with the next book of the series, if I'm really liking the current series.
…or…
• Finish my current book and read the new released book, if its one of those books that it's a 'MUST READ RIGHT AWAY' or if i'm not enjoying my current series.

-----
One thing I can never do and totally surprised if other people do it, is when people read 2 or 3 books at a time! I get reading one book after another, whether it be the same series/genre/etc. But reading more than one book...that'll totally confuse me!

[Camille-Dhark Nytmhare]

I am definitely a series jumper. I cannot read the same series in a row.I barely let the story marinate before I am off to a different book. I try to read similar writing styles back to back. Because if I read a well written story and follow it with a simply written story, I sometimes feel the simple story is terrible. You know what I mean?? I read more than one book at a time. One book I read at work and the other at bedtime. Some book covers are too racy to bring into work. I am already accused of bringing porn novels into work by my idiot male co-workers.LOL! I don't like giving them ammunition.

[[deleted user]]

If the whole series is available, I like to read through them all at once so the plot and characters are fresh in my mind. If it isnt then I will jump between series and hope for the best at remembering when it is time to pick an old one up again.

[Fabiane]

I usually read all the series, with a few exceptions.

Sometimes I tire of the books, if there are more than five in the series. So I go on to read something else, and then come back.

[Gemma]

I am such a series jumper, but if a series grabs me I have been known to read the full series to catch up.

Memo to self. Need to do so with Sookie and the Signs of the Zodiac series.

[Irene]

Usually, I read the whole series through if I can. There have been a few authors I quit because I liked them at the beginning but then got tired of their stuff. One author I still like but it was intense so I had to take a break.
Since I have so many books right now, I've been getting picky and I've been dropping authors. I never used to do that.

[Aimee]

Newbie here; :) But, i wanted to add my input into this post. Because afterall, that i why i joined a group LOL. Currently, I am reading Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr. I am about 50 pages into the book and so far so good... Although, i must admit that i typically read through a series before moving onto another one.... The only exception is if i wasnt too thrilled with the first boo, then naturally i will move onto another series... :)

[Sandra]

I have started where I want to finish a series before jumping around, but I find it hard to do. I read seven of the Stackhouse novels, but was finding the writing style getting irritating. I find if it is just a few books so far I can read them all. I've wanted to start reading Laurell Hamilton and Christine Feehan, but they have so many in their series it would feel like forever to catch up.

[jD]

I used to jump around until I read Cat and Bones Night Huntress and Faefever. I now read straight through whatever is available in a series I like. I usually read three to four books a week so I still skip topics frequently.

[Crazy4more]

I can't help but finish the series one at a time until I'm waiting for the latest book, only then I'd stop and read the next installment, especially for BDB, NH and LOTU series. I haven't started on Highlanders and FEver yet, but I heard so many good things about it.

[Pansy]

I usually read straight through a series unless a book comes out to a series that I have been waiting on. Even if the series gets boring or predictable. There is usually some element or characters of the series that I really like. I stopped reading the ACRO series by Sydney Croft because it just was not that interesting to me. I am going to tackle Highlander series now. I will stop to read Sin Undone from the Demonica Series on the 20th. I cannot wait for that book.

[Melanie]

I tend to glom. Unless there are 96 books in a series :-). Generally I get in a mood and just want to see it through. This doesn't work with new books, of course, and it maes me crazy having to wait a whole year.... which is why I don't watch tv series until they are out in dvd. Then I can marathon them.

[[deleted user]]

Melanie wrote: "I tend to glom. Unless there are 96 books in a series :-). Generally I get in a mood and just want to see it through. This doesn't work with new books, of course, and it maes me crazy having to wai..."

Me too--I don't even have cable. I cannot stand waiting, have no patience and am totally self-indulgent. I think I would annoy myself if I were my own parent :)

[LilaBird]

I jump around like crazy because there are always way too many books that I want to read all at once. I'll read one in a series and love it, but I've been so excited to start this other series, that I wind up just jumping to that one instead of continuing in the first series. It takes A LOT longer to finish any series, but at least I have fun along the way. ;)

[marjorie]

okay I may be domb but I kind of don't get the question because how can you finish a series before starting another if the series your reading hasn't stopped coming out yet.

[[deleted user]]

The other quirk that I have found in myself (only recently) and it pertains to monogamy in books... is I find the reason I don't like reading too many in a series of the first sort is because I am 'loyal' to the first couple... and find it hard to get into liking the 'secondary characters'.

YES! Me too. I just posted a thread asking BDB fans to convince me otherwise--but I like to read about one protagonist throughout a series and not have many different people take that role in different books. Nice to know I'm not the only one :)

[Tracy T.]

I've discovered that even if I have all the books of one series, I still jump. There are very few series that hold my attention for back to back reading. Off the top of my head I can think of Fever, BDB, Night Huntress, and Dark Hunters series. I'm almost back to back for the Midnight Breeds series.

[Stephine]

I like to switch back and forth between two series or a series and single books so I don't get bored and I really try it and unless it's a horrible series, I do finish it.

[Kelly]

If I really enjoy a particular author and I can get my hands on all of books in a series I will read them all. Which drives my husband insane. He is not a fan of fiction. Since it is usually a year between books in a new series I might have multiple series going.

[Rachel]

i only read one book at a time, that way you can really get into the story. When im reading a series, i like to finish all the books in a row but i cant always get a hold of them at the right time so i read different books inbetween.

[Amy]

I usually have 3 or 4 books going at one time and read on them equally unless one is just so good I cant put it down. I do try to keep with a series if they are available.

[Kirttimukha]

I am usually participating in the challenges and 10 books a month is definitely a challenge for me, so I break up series and fit them into categories. I also find that I look forward to them more.

[Missyb]

Nairabell wrote: "I tend to read a series straight through, though I'll usually have read a least one or two before to see if I like them. Sometimes it'll just be 3 or 4 books, but every now and then I'll reread som..."

I'm with you, I have to read a whole series before moving on or I'll start confusing the characters. I started using little index cards to write the characters on when I was reading the Anita Blake series just to keep straight who belonged to who. These little cards also help when you read a series then have to wait a year to read the next book in the series.

[Missyb]

To help you catch back up with the characters when there is a break (a few months or a year) in a series, try writing the characters on index cards. You can write the names, what they are, who they belong to, or even a little synopsis of the end of the last book to help you pick up where you left off. I started doing this when I started reading the Anita Blake series. There were so many characters and I was getting confused as to who belonged to who so I wrote them down and just refered to my "cheat sheets" when I needed to.

[Missyb]

Sandra J wrote: "I usually have at least four or five books going at one time since I find that I'm often easily bored. All bets are off, however, if I find a book that grabs me from the start which I find extreme..."

My mom reads like that. Until she starts getting characters confused, then she puts all of them down and finishes one at a time. When a name appears in more then one of the books she is reading is when she has the most problems.

[Missyb]

Crazy4more wrote: "I hear you Nicky. That's why I have a couple series in the wing. I'm trying to catching with the Dark Hunter series, I'm on book 12 and I think there are 20 and counting...so I'm pretty happy whi..."

I think No Mercy is considered #20, but only if you combine the Dark Hunter and Dream Hunter series and Chronicles of Nick - Infinity. The whole numbering for these books is a little confusing. But they are good series. The Dream Hunter books are so so, Bad Moon Rising is a little disapointing, but Infinity is really good and makes you think about Archeron in a little different way.

[Nakia]

I will usually try to read an entire series before moving onto something else. There are times (like now) when I have three or four different series going at once because of waiting for books to be released, hunting them down in used book stores or searching for used copies online.

[Kasey]

I find it depends on the series for me. I usually have more than one book going at a time. I like to have one audiobook and one regular at least at a time. Sometimes I find I can't put a series down, but usually I'll read one or two books then read something different before picking up the next book.

[Literary Dreamer]

Evelyn wrote: "I'm such a dork that I become completely invested in the characters and can't look at another book until I'm through the series. That's also why I don't read series like BDB that have different cha..."

Argh, I totally agree! I get WAY too attached to characters (which is probably why I gravitate toward a fantastical genre where they tend to never die) and then I find it hard to pick up another book, even if I'm finished with the series.
Hence why my bookshelf is stocked with old favourites I tend to read over and over again - it's too hard to make friends with new characters when you have such awesome ones to begin with -_-"

[Kasey]

Literary Dreamer wrote: "Evelyn wrote: "I'm such a dork that I become completely invested in the characters and can't look at another book until I'm through the series. That's also why I don't read series like BDB that hav..."

I use to do that too. I get pretty attached to the characters still, but I've found I can appreciate some of the series with changing main characters. But they never seem to make the top of my list. I think it has to do with the fact that I just start to like the characters and then it's over. I recently tried out Katie MacAlister (Aisling Gray, Silver Dragons, etc) I kinda like that she gives each romance a few books and then moves to other characters in the series.

[Laura]

Yes, I do like to read a series in order straight through. No way my mind can remember all the characters and backstory if I jump around. So I read all the books currently published if I like a series.

I also don't wait until a series is finished before buying all of them. I'm way too impatient for that. Of course that means when a new book comes out in the series I may have forgotten some of the characters. But totally worth it for my favs. ;)

[Ronyell]

Usually, I jump around a series if the final book doesn't come out until later on and I really like to read something else if a particular book of a series doesn't come out till much later on. Also, if one of the books in a series is too long for me to read, then I usually take a break from the book and read it later on because there are so many other books I wanted to read and it's really hard for me to stay focused on one long book while there are so many other books out there to read.

[JESSICA]

I have to read a full Series. It's like an OCD thing. If the final book in the Series isn't out then I move to a new Series.

[Jennifer]

I usually try to read a series through before I start another but if the series is long I will break it up with a different book or series so that I don't get bored with it.