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

[BookJunkie]

If the first book in the series doesn't do it for me then I don't read the entire series, but if it's good usually go to the next one.

However, if I feel the series is going downhill, like a few popular ones I won't mention here, then I have no problem moving on to a new series.

[Grace]

I'd like to be able to read just one series at a time, but I've currently read only these out of these different series...






(the first two of this)

haha

[Emily]

If the series is really good, than YES! but if not, I stop rite away. :D

[Jenny]

For me it totally depends on the series.
Once I discover a series I tend to read all that is avaiable and then move onto another book.
The Fever series by Karen Marie Moning I had to wait until they were all out to read the whole series only because I was forgetting so much with the length of time between when the books came out. Now ones like Kelley Armstrong I will take each as they come out because you can read them as stand alone books. Others like Dark Hunters I have gone back more than once to reread the series when new books have come out. I find with that one because so many things happen at the same time that if I don't go back occasionaly that I end with things mixed up in my head.
When I discover series that have been out for a while I will try the first one to see if I like it before I get the rest of the series but for the most part I tend to read all that is all out.
I did that with Yasmine Galenorn's The Otherworld Series, I haven't got through them but I have them ready.
I am waiting to read the new Cassie Palmer book Hunt the Moon by Karen Chance. Now it has been long enough and I've read so much since I started the series I'm thinking in order to refresh my memory that I will go back and read the first four, I always find that when I do I will discover things that I missed the first time. To me books when I like them are like old friends and I get to go visit them again and reacquaint our friendship and find out what we missed since the last time I visited.
I know people that won't reread books, they tell me that once they have read it they can't go back and read it again.
Well each of us have our way of enjoying the books that we select to read and that what's make websites like Goodreads great, I can come and see what others who read the same kinds of books as I do thought of the ones that I'm thinking about read. Differences are a good thing.
So whether you read an entire series one after another or break it up it doesn't matter as long as you take the enjoyment that the author is trying to pass along and have fun.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Wow Jenny--people who won't re-read a book? That's just sad. Yes, you know the basics, but NO ONE ever catches everything in a story. Plus, as you grow and change, what you get out of a story changes too.

One example of this for me is The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. I first read it as a kid, and all that I got out of it at the time was that it was a rousing good adventure yarn. Then, I had to do a book for a report in English as a Senior in High School, and used that because it fit the criteria. (The course was "Protest Literature", for those who want to know) And that time I got something totally DIFFERENT out of it. Then I re-read it again in College and. . . yep, you guessed it, got something entirely DIFFERENT yet again. And when I got my first Personal Computer. . . Wow, did I get something even different out of it then. Of course--I also have to admit, I have been deeply in love with Mike from the book since the first time I read the book. And he's the reason for the re-read when I got my first PC. Because Mike was a self-aware computer.

[Missyb]

BookJunkie wrote: "If the first book in the series doesn't do it for me then I don't read the entire series, but if it's good usually go to the next one.

However, if I feel the series is going downhill, like a few ..."

sometimes we need to refresh our batteries, and leave a series for a few books then come back to it.

[Sandra J]

Ann aka Iftcan wrote: "Wow Jenny--people who won't re-read a book? That's just sad. Yes, you know the basics, but NO ONE ever catches everything in a story. Plus, as you grow and change, what you get out of a story ch..."

OMG, I loved that book! And I don't know if I loved Manny or Mike more. I don't know how many times I reread it. I feel a little sorry for people who don't reread. You're right when you said that you get more out of the book when you reread.

[Jenifer]

If it's a series that I like then I usually do read through but because I tend "feel" and "live" my books (anyone know what I mean?), I usually will take a break with a completely different type of book after every two or three in the series so I don't get completely swallowed up.

[Angela~twistedmind~]

Jenifer wrote: "If it's a series that I like then I usually do read through but because I tend "feel" and "live" my books (anyone know what I mean?), I usually will take a break with a completely different type of..."

You and I are exactly the same and totally different. :) I also get dragged into a book, especially a series, and the characters and worlds become real to me. But I have to read the entire series......at least what has been released......one right after the other. I absolutely hate waiting for the next book.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

I hate having to wait too. They need to come up with a way for our fav authors to just download their brains to computers or something so that we can get more books from them--and so that we never LOSE the author. I've had a few series ended abruptly because of the sudden passing of the author. Murder Boogies with Elvis was such an author. There was another author that I can't remember her name right now. She had a really great, light were-wolf story that was supposed to be the first in a series, only she died very suddenly right after it was published. So no more of that series. And I enjoyed that first book sssoooo much, I just know that the rest of the series would have been great too.

[Cassie]

Generally it's a no. It all depends on the book, really, and how much it draws me in. These types seem to really mess with my sleeping schedules until I've sufficiently read all there is to be read. Lately I just haven't been reading enough series that I've enjoyed to that extent, thus flopping back and forth.

Plus, a lot of series these days seem to have such cliffhanger/doesn't seem finished endings, that I'm in no rush to pick up the next if the series isn't done yet.

[Blaire]

If I really love a series and all the books are all already available then I might devour it straight away. But how many series are really complete? So I just read bits and pieces of everything and when a new book of a series comes out, I re-read the whole story to have the plot fresh in my mind but generally I just remember it. But I love re-reading so I do it anyway. It's interesting to see how everyone else reads. My sisters think I'm crazy to re-read books!

www.thepararomanceclub.blogspot.com

[Storm]

I'm horrible with reading series. I try and read the rest as soon as possible once I finish the first one because if I wait it will be years before I go back to it. I have started so many series. And it's not that they aren't really good, it's just that I forget and I get distracted with other books I'm reading.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

aaahhh yes Rose--the horrible "attack of the new book-itis." after all, so many books so little time.

[Angela~twistedmind~]

Ann aka Iftcan wrote: "I hate having to wait too. They need to come up with a way for our fav authors to just download their brains to computers or something so that we can get more books from them--and so that we never..."

I know what you mean about when the author of a series suddenly dies. In a completely different genre (medieval fantasy) I read The Wheel of Time series straight through from the 1st to the last one completed, oh, maybe 10-12 ginormous books. The author, Robert Jordan, died in the middle of continuing the saga. Someone else is finishing the book and, to my understanding, finishing the saga.

[[deleted user]]

It all depends on the book. Sometimes I will read a series straight through if it has major cliff-hangers, written well and an exciting plotline. But if I get bored easily I will read other books around it.

[Maryab]

Unlike most people, I can start a book from the middle of the series and I can take breaks in the series to read other books. If the author has done a good job, I really don't need to start at the beginning. JMO.

One time, I tried reading Bitten by Kelley Armstrong and just could not get into the book. I had the second, Stolen, with me at the same time. I read that book and loved it. I went back to Bitten and was able to read it. Guess what? I loved it. Not sure why that happened, but it did. She's one of my favorite authors.

Most people I talk to have to start at the beginning of a series. I understand. Each to their own. When I'm writing, I try to make my books stand alone, or at least add enough so the reader doesn't feel as if they missed something. I think that's important for any author, and as a reader, that's what I'd want.

Happy Holidays!

[Kimberly]

I am usually reading several books at a time and several series at a time. Some series I have read all the way through and it made the experience richer. Some series can be broken up and you can go back to them easily. I just love books and reading.

[[deleted user]]

No, and I wish I do. I've got like 10 series to read its not funny!

[Jacquel]

I read like 3 series at a time...I'm so impatient.

[[deleted user]]

If all the books from the series are out, I totally do, and totally annoys me, i wish i could do otherway, but i keep coming back to the same methods.

[Sarah]

I have to read a series all the way through. My big issue right this minute is that I have just finished a series and now I have to choose between 9 or 10 to start and I can't decide which one to read first!! So now I'm procrastinating and need to pick!

[Terri ♥ (aka Mrs. Christian Grey)]

If the series is really good, I will read straight through. But I don't have to.

[Teshii]

It depends. If the novels from the novels can be read alone. I don't really care where I start. Probably just read the one I want. But if the book is affect by the book before it. I suggest to start from the first book.

[Vivien]

Sometimes, i often got bored to any part of the book or rather got to find a book that piques my interest soo the latest book turns out to be a non-series(and FUNNY TOO) then I set to finish the first the started one. though this rarely happen on paranormal series i read, it still does to romance and contemporary books.

[Julianne]

I generally like to read the whole series before moving on to a new one. It's easy enough with young adult ones, but I haven't yet found an adult series that I love so much that I feel the drive to plow through the series. Like with Anita Blake - I really liked it but 20 books is a little daunting so I'm just going to read a few at a time and intersperse it with others. That being said I don't want to have too many series on the go. And I only read one book at a time but I usually have a ebook short story that I erad on my phone.

[Teresa]

Yes I do read only one series at a time.
Right now I am reading
This is the first book of this series.
Happy reading*
Teresa

[Melissa]

I usually bounce back and forth between a series and other books. It depends on the author and if the next book in the series is available. Some series are great and I have no problems going right into the next book. There are those authors that I sometimes feel I've read the book before because they sometimes feel like they write by formula if I go straight into the next book.
If its a trilogy instead of a long series then I want to read the next one right away.

[Maggie the Muskoka Library Mouse]

No. I generally read a couple series at a time. There are just so many good books out there, and not enough time to get through them all! :(

[CassieCruel]

Not ever, since I've started reading, especially current and on going series

[BookPusher D]

Usually I trad more than 1 at a time. Unless the world of the series is amazing, or the characters are awesome. If thst the case, I will read only that series till I am caught up. But usually that takes a week, maybe less, so once I am caught up I will read more than 1 series as each book is published.

[KK]

I tend to get immersed in a series and read all that are available before moving on to another series ( unless the series goes downhill significantly) I do not like to read more than one book at a time

[Richard]

While I enjoy returning to a series, unless I can get them all at once, I'm going to jump around until the next one comes out. Would go crazy otherwise! :)

[Dee]

I started off trying to read a complete series before moving onto the next, but this was subject to availability in the library. Once i had several series on the go it was dependent on release dates wanting to read it as soon as released. Now a days I have so many challenges on the go its impossible to finish one series before starting the next.

[Johanna]

I seem to be in the minority here, but I almost never read a series straight through... I might read 2 or 3 books in a row, but then I'm usually in the mood for something different.

[Sana]

I am reading like five series. The wait for the new releases drives me crazy so I need to read other books.

[Nicole]

If I'm really into a series, and especially if it's complete, then yes. I don't generally like to read more than one book at a time, and I feel that way towards a series.