How long does it take to quit a series? - Page 2

Lemurion · 08-09-2009, 11:59 AM

If I quit a book part way through - I don't continue the series. If a book disappoints me, but I do finish it, I'll try the next one but it's on probation.

I'll give a new series a maximum of two books to hook me, IF people are recommending it. Otherwise it's all up to the first book I read.

Xenophon · 08-09-2009, 01:22 PM

Assuming that we're talking about a series where I have read and liked the prior books...
For me it takes two lame books or one total stinker to get me to drop a series completely. A single "eh, whatever" book (or a lame one, of course) will move the series from my buy list to my library list, and a really good one can move it back to the buy list.

Xenophon

ShortNCuddlyAm · 08-09-2009, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chlorine

In a similar way, I've heard people say that the discworld series by Pratchett starts to be really good only from the 5th book or something (I read the first 3-4 books and found them enjoyable, but not enough to make me want and read the rest).

As far as Pratchett goes, his first books were good, they got better, then they went downhill a bit, then they've picked up again incredibly. In my opinion, obviously. I kept buying his stuff in the hopes it would get better again - which, thankfully, it did.

But there have been other series where I've just given up - the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, for example. Actually, all of McCall-Smith's ongoing stuff.

Quote:

So, in the case of a highly praised series, if you don't find the first book really enjoyable, will you try and give the next book a chance?

Nope.

bamboozled · 08-10-2009, 12:18 AM

I prefer to read series ... get immersed with the characters and the story. I like to read fantasy. I just started Farland's Runelords series. I have tried twice to get into the wheel of times series, but tend to crap out about book 4-5 (I've had friends tell me both sides on this one ... with most telling me to push through the middle). I do appreciate Jordan's descriptive ability, but I just get bogged down enough to pull over at that point in the story and haven't gone back.

I tend to give a series a book or two ... see if I feel like going on. Sometimes the plot goes off track or if it gets going in circles (repetitive) then I'll probably jump ship.

Someone said life is too short to read stuff we don't like... I agree. Now that I have a 4 year old and a pair of 21 month old twins. They keep me busy (I'm with them during the day while wifey works). So when I do find the time to get into a story, I don't want to waste that time.

Oh someone also just lent me a copy of the first Earthsea book ... so far so good.

I am recently just rediscovering joy in reading again ... hence the interest in a good ebook reader. Just having to save for one so it might be a while before I can get one.

Laine · 08-11-2009, 07:58 AM

I loved 1 of The Wheel of Time. Didn't enjoy 2 as much. Struggled a bit with 3 and gave up in the middle of 4.

If I don't enjoy a book these days I don't buy a follow up. There are too many ebooks on my sd card to worry about not finishing a series - or even any book.

Ea · 08-12-2009, 07:28 AM

I can't say I actively decide to stop reading a series, but if the books stop being interesting, then I'm just less likely to pick up the next book. If I've liked several books in the series, it will have build up "goodwill" - I will be more likely to several books a try. The more books I've liked, the more I would be likely to pick up a new one.

sherman · 08-12-2009, 08:20 AM

A series I eventually gave up on was Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series. I really enjoyed the first few, then the story started to seem to go on and on and on and.....

I think I got Chainfire out of the library and sort of skimmed through it, but finishing the series has been placed in the "can't be bothered - have better things to do with my time" category.

I guess the whole never-ending saga thing - one crisis after (yet) another crisis - started to really get to me. Basically I got to the stage where I was wondering to myself "will this story ever END???"

BenG · 08-12-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherman

I guess the whole never-ending saga thing - one crisis after (yet) another crisis - started to really get to me. Basically I got to the stage where I was wondering to myself "will this story ever END???"

Basically, they're fantasy soap operas.

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08-09-2009, 11:59 AM	#16
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	If I quit a book part way through - I don't continue the series. If a book disappoints me, but I do finish it, I'll try the next one but it's on probation. I'll give a new series a maximum of two books to hook me, IF people are recommending it. Otherwise it's all up to the first book I read.

08-09-2009, 01:22 PM	#17
Xenophon curmudgeon Posts: 1,481 Karma: 5748190 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Redwood City, CA USA Device: Kobo Aura HD, (ex)nook, (ex)PRS-700, (ex)PRS-500	Assuming that we're talking about a series where I have read and liked the prior books... For me it takes two lame books or one total stinker to get me to drop a series completely. A single "eh, whatever" book (or a lame one, of course) will move the series from my buy list to my library list, and a really good one can move it back to the buy list. Xenophon

08-10-2009, 12:18 AM	#19
bamboozled Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Lubbock, TX Device: Sony PRS-300, Compaq PPC	I prefer to read series ... get immersed with the characters and the story. I like to read fantasy. I just started Farland's Runelords series. I have tried twice to get into the wheel of times series, but tend to crap out about book 4-5 (I've had friends tell me both sides on this one ... with most telling me to push through the middle). I do appreciate Jordan's descriptive ability, but I just get bogged down enough to pull over at that point in the story and haven't gone back. I tend to give a series a book or two ... see if I feel like going on. Sometimes the plot goes off track or if it gets going in circles (repetitive) then I'll probably jump ship. Someone said life is too short to read stuff we don't like... I agree. Now that I have a 4 year old and a pair of 21 month old twins. They keep me busy (I'm with them during the day while wifey works). So when I do find the time to get into a story, I don't want to waste that time. Oh someone also just lent me a copy of the first Earthsea book ... so far so good. I am recently just rediscovering joy in reading again ... hence the interest in a good ebook reader. Just having to save for one so it might be a while before I can get one.

08-11-2009, 07:58 AM	#20
Laine Addict Posts: 341 Karma: 1162396 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cabramatta, Sydney, Australia Device: Aura H2O, Voyage	I loved 1 of The Wheel of Time. Didn't enjoy 2 as much. Struggled a bit with 3 and gave up in the middle of 4. If I don't enjoy a book these days I don't buy a follow up. There are too many ebooks on my sd card to worry about not finishing a series - or even any book.

08-12-2009, 07:28 AM	#21
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	I can't say I actively decide to stop reading a series, but if the books stop being interesting, then I'm just less likely to pick up the next book. If I've liked several books in the series, it will have build up "goodwill" - I will be more likely to several books a try. The more books I've liked, the more I would be likely to pick up a new one.

08-12-2009, 08:20 AM	#22
sherman Guru Posts: 856 Karma: 2676800 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Taranaki - NZ Device: Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Forma	A series I eventually gave up on was Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series. I really enjoyed the first few, then the story started to seem to go on and on and on and..... I think I got Chainfire out of the library and sort of skimmed through it, but finishing the series has been placed in the "can't be bothered - have better things to do with my time" category. I guess the whole never-ending saga thing - one crisis after (yet) another crisis - started to really get to me. Basically I got to the stage where I was wondering to myself "will this story ever END???"