Do you skip parts of book in a series?

din155 · 09-14-2012, 11:45 AM

Last week I was reading Changes from Harry Dressden series by Jim Butcher. I like the series and planning to re-read it after finishing the Ghost story. But I noticed that I skipped many parts in the book. Especially, where Harry starts thinking and talking to himself. Maybe it’s because I already know how he thinks and too eager to know the story than dwelling in his thoughts. I did it while reading previous books in the series as well. The funny part is that I don’t feel I missed anything. I remember doing the same while reading last book of the first law series by Joe Abercrombie. I am wondering if this happens with any of you as well when reading a series.

RainingLemur · 09-14-2012, 12:10 PM

I try not to. But, there have been a few times where I started a series somewhere in the middle and had to back-track to get the first few books.

I started the Dark Tower series with book #3 on mistake. It wasn't until I finished it and saw that the bookshelf held the other books out of order.

din155 · 09-14-2012, 12:28 PM

I generally don’t do this. Maybe I will take a break from back to back books in a series and read more standalone books for some time.

David Munch · 09-14-2012, 12:38 PM

Never. Either I like the series and read it from end to end, or I drop it after the first book. If I don't read it the way the author intended it to be read, I might not 'get it' and I feel it is kind of a waste.

The only thing I skip is poems in texts.

Apache · 09-14-2012, 02:34 PM

I generally like to read a series in chronological order.
I am currently reading Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/ Maturin Series. I was going to break up the series and read other books in between. I did that with the first two books in the series. Unfortunately, (maybe) I have read the next four back to back.

I do not skip sections of a book either.
Apache

cfrizz · 09-14-2012, 02:39 PM

I do skip over the recaps that are done to bring new readers up to speed. I don't need to read it in a 20 book series over & over again. I understand why they do it, but since I know the back story I don't have a problem with skipping it.

Barbara1955 · 09-14-2012, 02:43 PM

1st time I read cover to cover. But after that I skip. Also IF it been awhile since I read the series I will read cover to cover again.

foghat · 09-14-2012, 02:55 PM

I've done that once, with Plains of Passage by Jean Auel. She has a nasty habit of repeating herself. After skipping sections a few times and still finding stuff repeating, I gave up on the book and, thus, the rest of the series.

First and only time I've done that.

AlbertaCowboy · 09-14-2012, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Munch

The only thing I skip is poems in texts.

That's about it for me too, especially when the poems are in a language that I don't understand (like Elvish or Entish).

vxf · 09-14-2012, 03:34 PM

I have never skipped any parts of a book. Well... fiction, at least. Textbooks, I might read selectively.

I do give up on books, if I think they are not... fun. And I have given up on series before (The Wheel of Time, comes to mind). But no, skipping.... no.

DianNC · 09-14-2012, 05:31 PM

No, I'm too paranoid about missing something important. Plus, I'd fret and the fretting would affect my concentration.

banjobama · 09-15-2012, 01:43 AM

I usually read everything, since I read books in between series books I like having a recap. But I will also skip poems and skim dream sequences.

David Munch · 09-15-2012, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlbertaCowboy

That's about it for me too, especially when the poems are in a language that I don't understand (like Elvish or Entish).

I first read that as "elvish or english" and thought "me too!"! Then "hey, wait a minute.."...

Apache · 09-15-2012, 11:55 AM

It is hard for me to skip sections of a book. When I read I do not see the text, pages or my surroundings. One reason I can not walk and read. I would fall into a man hole or get run over.

It is similar to watching a movie from inside my head. Maybe that is why I prefer to read rather than go to movies. No sticky floors, screaming kids or over priced candy.

Apache

BeccaPrice · 09-15-2012, 12:01 PM

I periodically re-read Lois Bujold's Vorkosigan books - but there are parts of Mirror Dance that I just can't re-read... too painful (oddly, it's not Mark's torture,but Mark's attempt to rescue the clones that I find painful). I generally skip most of the Dinner Party scene in A Civil Campaign as well. I just hate watching beloved characters make asses of themselves.

09-14-2012, 11:45 AM	#1
din155 Guru Posts: 880 Karma: 7556602 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: UK Device: Kindle PW, Win 10 thinkpad 8in	Do you skip parts of book in a series? Last week I was reading Changes from Harry Dressden series by Jim Butcher. I like the series and planning to re-read it after finishing the Ghost story. But I noticed that I skipped many parts in the book. Especially, where Harry starts thinking and talking to himself. Maybe it’s because I already know how he thinks and too eager to know the story than dwelling in his thoughts. I did it while reading previous books in the series as well. The funny part is that I don’t feel I missed anything. I remember doing the same while reading last book of the first law series by Joe Abercrombie. I am wondering if this happens with any of you as well when reading a series.

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09-14-2012, 12:10 PM	#2
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	I try not to. But, there have been a few times where I started a series somewhere in the middle and had to back-track to get the first few books. I started the Dark Tower series with book #3 on mistake. It wasn't until I finished it and saw that the bookshelf held the other books out of order.

09-14-2012, 12:28 PM	#3
din155 Guru Posts: 880 Karma: 7556602 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: UK Device: Kindle PW, Win 10 thinkpad 8in	I generally don’t do this. Maybe I will take a break from back to back books in a series and read more standalone books for some time.

09-14-2012, 12:38 PM	#4
David Munch Scholar Posts: 1,012 Karma: 3999312 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kobo Libra H2O + iPad Air 4	Never. Either I like the series and read it from end to end, or I drop it after the first book. If I don't read it the way the author intended it to be read, I might not 'get it' and I feel it is kind of a waste. The only thing I skip is poems in texts.

09-14-2012, 02:34 PM	#5
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,306 Karma: 90981752 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	I generally like to read a series in chronological order. I am currently reading Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/ Maturin Series. I was going to break up the series and read other books in between. I did that with the first two books in the series. Unfortunately, (maybe) I have read the next four back to back. I do not skip sections of a book either. Apache

09-14-2012, 02:39 PM	#6
cfrizz Wizard Posts: 1,579 Karma: 36389706 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Quincy, MA Device: Samsung 54A, Kobo Libra H2O, Samsung S6 Lite	I do skip over the recaps that are done to bring new readers up to speed. I don't need to read it in a 20 book series over & over again. I understand why they do it, but since I know the back story I don't have a problem with skipping it.

09-14-2012, 02:43 PM	#7
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	1st time I read cover to cover. But after that I skip. Also IF it been awhile since I read the series I will read cover to cover again.

09-14-2012, 02:55 PM	#8
foghat Evangelist Posts: 464 Karma: 1006520 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Alberta, Canada Device: Kindle PW3	I've done that once, with Plains of Passage by Jean Auel. She has a nasty habit of repeating herself. After skipping sections a few times and still finding stuff repeating, I gave up on the book and, thus, the rest of the series. First and only time I've done that.

09-14-2012, 03:34 PM	#10
vxf Guru Posts: 944 Karma: 1490348 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Norman, OK Device: Sony PRS 350, 900, 950; Kindles (ALL of them!); Kobo Aura One	I have never skipped any parts of a book. Well... fiction, at least. Textbooks, I might read selectively. I do give up on books, if I think they are not... fun. And I have given up on series before (The Wheel of Time, comes to mind). But no, skipping.... no.

09-14-2012, 05:31 PM	#11
DianNC Banned Posts: 1,431 Karma: 5222495 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: Nook Color, Entourage Pocket Edge, iPod Touch 5th Gen	No, I'm too paranoid about missing something important. Plus, I'd fret and the fretting would affect my concentration.

09-15-2012, 01:43 AM	#12
banjobama Busy Read'n Posts: 980 Karma: 5039283 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Auburn, WA Device: Pocketbook Touch Lux 5	I usually read everything, since I read books in between series books I like having a recap. But I will also skip poems and skim dream sequences.

09-15-2012, 11:55 AM	#14
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,306 Karma: 90981752 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	It is hard for me to skip sections of a book. When I read I do not see the text, pages or my surroundings. One reason I can not walk and read. I would fall into a man hole or get run over. It is similar to watching a movie from inside my head. Maybe that is why I prefer to read rather than go to movies. No sticky floors, screaming kids or over priced candy. Apache

09-15-2012, 12:01 PM	#15
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	I periodically re-read Lois Bujold's Vorkosigan books - but there are parts of Mirror Dance that I just can't re-read... too painful (oddly, it's not Mark's torture,but Mark's attempt to rescue the clones that I find painful). I generally skip most of the Dinner Party scene in A Civil Campaign as well. I just hate watching beloved characters make asses of themselves.