Register Guidelines E-Books Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Go Back   MobileRead Forums > E-Book General > Reading Recommendations

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 08-07-2009, 02:54 PM   #1
LDBoblo
Wizard
LDBoblo exercises by bench pressing the entire Harry Potter series in hardcoverLDBoblo exercises by bench pressing the entire Harry Potter series in hardcoverLDBoblo exercises by bench pressing the entire Harry Potter series in hardcoverLDBoblo exercises by bench pressing the entire Harry Potter series in hardcoverLDBoblo exercises by bench pressing the entire Harry Potter series in hardcoverLDBoblo exercises by bench pressing the entire Harry Potter series in hardcoverLDBoblo exercises by bench pressing the entire Harry Potter series in hardcoverLDBoblo exercises by bench pressing the entire Harry Potter series in hardcoverLDBoblo exercises by bench pressing the entire Harry Potter series in hardcoverLDBoblo exercises by bench pressing the entire Harry Potter series in hardcoverLDBoblo exercises by bench pressing the entire Harry Potter series in hardcover
 
Posts: 1,385
Karma: 16056
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Asia
Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Sony PRS-505
How long does it take to quit a series?

Since this has been happening to me a bit lately, I'm a little curious what other people think about this.

Let's say you get started on a novel series. You read the first book or three and decide to "subscribe" to it (i.e. follow it to the end). Then you run across a book in the series that flat-out disappoints you. You can continue on and hope things get better, or you can decide to not waste your time.

Question then is...what kind of criteria do you apply before actually quitting the series? How much benefit of the doubt do you give? How many lesser novels will you read in sequence before you decide to give up on it?

I'm sure it depends on several factors. So for you, what does it depend on? If you've ever quit a series (I don't mean quitting after hating the first book!), how quickly did you decide to drop it? Did you later decide to return to it and give it another try? How long was your "cool-down" period?

I don't know if this thread has any functional value, but it's just a bit of curiosity on my part.

Thanks!
LDBoblo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2009, 03:52 PM   #2
ficbot
Wizard
ficbot ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.ficbot ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.ficbot ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.ficbot ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.ficbot ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.ficbot ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.ficbot ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.ficbot ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.ficbot ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.ficbot ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.ficbot ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Posts: 2,409
Karma: 4132096
Join Date: Sep 2008
Device: Kindle Paperwhite/iOS Kindle App
The Jonathan Kellerman before his most recent one was terrible. I had followed his series all the way through and was so disappointed with it. His characters got to a sort of fat cat middle aged middle class affluent complacency and the case in the book was a cold case so it lacked immediacy and dramatic tension. I was so disappointed! I was glad to read his next one and find it much improved, back to the formula that worked.

Patricia Cornwell, otoh, I have given up on. Ever since she switched to third person in a move to go more 'literary' the books have not been the same, and when she got flack for killing off a beloved character, she brought him back later in a contrived way that undermined all of the other character's growth from the grieving process of losing him. After a misstep like this, I can't go back and combining that with the other problem, I am done with this series.
ficbot is offline   Reply With Quote
Advert
Old 08-07-2009, 04:57 PM   #3
DixieGal
Hi There!
DixieGal ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DixieGal ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DixieGal ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DixieGal ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DixieGal ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DixieGal ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DixieGal ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DixieGal ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DixieGal ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DixieGal ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.DixieGal ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
DixieGal's Avatar
 
Posts: 7,473
Karma: 2930523
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Ft Lauderdale
Device: iPad
If I don't like it, I delete it. Life's too short to waste reading things I don't like.
DixieGal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2009, 05:05 PM   #4
BlackVoid
Evangelist
BlackVoid ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.BlackVoid ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.BlackVoid ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.BlackVoid ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.BlackVoid ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.BlackVoid ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.BlackVoid ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.BlackVoid ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.BlackVoid ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.BlackVoid ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.BlackVoid ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Posts: 415
Karma: 510423
Join Date: Nov 2006
Device: Sony PRS-505
I am with Dixiegirl.

If its a series, most likely I just skim through the book..... Read the parts where important things happen. By book 3-4 I skipped 2 of the plotlines Lost Fleet series.
BlackVoid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2009, 05:20 PM   #5
FizzyWater
You kids get off my lawn!
FizzyWater ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.FizzyWater ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.FizzyWater ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.FizzyWater ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.FizzyWater ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.FizzyWater ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.FizzyWater ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.FizzyWater ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.FizzyWater ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.FizzyWater ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.FizzyWater ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
FizzyWater's Avatar
 
Posts: 4,220
Karma: 73492664
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Device: Oasis 2 and Libra H2O and half a dozen older models I can't let go of
Generally, it takes 2-3 stinkers before I totally give up...and I may still borrow another 1 or 2 before I just give up reading the series altogether.

The Cornwell series ficbot was talking about had been going downhill IMHO for a few books before that last WTF action...and it's the last one I've read.

I got fed up with Brockmann's series about 8 books ago now, but I still pick them up if they're on the 100% micropay rebate at Fictionwise. I haven't decided if it's the writing or just that my tastes have changed.

On the other hand, I'm entirely frustrated with what Evanovich has done with her Stephanie Plum series...but I keep reading them FROM THE LIBRARY. I won't pay for it, but I just can't let it go.
FizzyWater is offline   Reply With Quote
Advert
Old 08-08-2009, 12:45 AM   #6
texasnightowl
Guru
texasnightowl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.texasnightowl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.texasnightowl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.texasnightowl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.texasnightowl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.texasnightowl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.texasnightowl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.texasnightowl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.texasnightowl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.texasnightowl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.texasnightowl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Posts: 699
Karma: 1001556
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Texas
Device: Oasis 3, K4B(NT), K3/KK
Quote:
Originally Posted by FizzyWater View Post
On the other hand, I'm entirely frustrated with what Evanovich has done with her Stephanie Plum series...but I keep reading them FROM THE LIBRARY. I won't pay for it, but I just can't let it go.
I can honestly say I'm done with the Plum books. I have 1-14 in hardback. I am not tempted at all to buy 15 which came out in June. In fact, 1-14 are in sacks to be taken to Goodwill this weekend. Done, done, done. Didn't really enjoy 13 or 14 at all. I kinda liked 12...but it was because of Ranger. I just wanted Evanovich to write Stephanie as growing up a teensy, tiny little bit and so far it hasn't happened. So I'm giving up.


I'm mostly over the Dirk Pitt series by Clive Cussler and/or his son. I used to enjoy them but then it really bothered me that he resurrected Loren's father to walk her down the aisle. Especially considering that he was dead, dead, dead in the book that Pitt and Loren met. I'll let some things go, but I kinda expect an author to keep track of dead people. I had other issues with that book too. That one was a few years ago now though. I'm considering picking one up to try.


I started the Brockmann books too. Kinda liked them but didn't love. I really, really don't understand why so many people love Sam Starret (sp?). I could really do without him.

I am still reading the J.D. Robb "In Death" series. That's at 30 some books right now?

I am still reading the J.A. Jance "Joanna Brady" series. I think that is around a dozen or so.

I don't even know what other series I'm reading right now.
texasnightowl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-08-2009, 01:58 AM   #7
Stitchawl
Opsimath
Stitchawl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Stitchawl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Stitchawl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Stitchawl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Stitchawl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Stitchawl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Stitchawl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Stitchawl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Stitchawl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Stitchawl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Stitchawl ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Stitchawl's Avatar
 
Posts: 12,344
Karma: 187123287
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand
Device: Sony PRS-650, iPhone 5, Kobo Glo, Sony PRS-350, iPad, Samsung Galaxy
Cornwell went down the tubes, as did Jonathan Kellerman, but only after a lot of great reading. I was able to read Norman's 'Gor' series for about 7-8 books, but then he got too involved with slavery as the natural order...

However, I was able to read 93 of the 125+ "Destroyer" series, a delightful tongue-in-cheek send-up of the martial arts super-hero. I'll always look forward (I hope) to the next John Sanford although this last one was not quite as gripping as all the others in the 'Prey' series.

I'm hoping Parker's 'Spenser' or 'Jesse Stone' series will continue. They are perfect for 4 hour plane trips! Total immersion/finish in one read.

Stitchawl
Stitchawl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-08-2009, 03:29 AM   #8
Sweetpea
Grand Sorcerer
Sweetpea ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Sweetpea ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Sweetpea ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Sweetpea ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Sweetpea ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Sweetpea ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Sweetpea ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Sweetpea ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Sweetpea ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Sweetpea ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Sweetpea ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Sweetpea's Avatar
 
Posts: 9,707
Karma: 32763414
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Krewerd
Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Hmm, can't remember I ever stopped a series yet. But it would take more than one "flat" book to do. Everybody can make a mistake or just doesn't really have a clue what that next book has to say. But if the entire series goes down (in style, or quality), I think I'd just stop reading it until I got really bored and didn't have anything else to read. (which would be about never...)
Sweetpea is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-08-2009, 03:47 AM   #9
JanG
Groupie
JanG got an A in P-Chem.JanG got an A in P-Chem.JanG got an A in P-Chem.JanG got an A in P-Chem.JanG got an A in P-Chem.JanG got an A in P-Chem.JanG got an A in P-Chem.JanG got an A in P-Chem.JanG got an A in P-Chem.JanG got an A in P-Chem.JanG got an A in P-Chem.
 
Posts: 156
Karma: 6266
Join Date: Apr 2009
Device: Laptop; Kobo Clara
Janet Evanovich's Plum series has definitely waned. 1 to 12 were good and then it went downhill. 13 and 14 read almost as if someone else wrote them, but 15 sounded more like Janet. Although the series should be classed as humour (young teen humour at that) rather than 'thriller/mystery'.

I prefer the in-between books with Diesel, although starting next year, he's getting his own series.

J.D. Robb's series is just getting better and better, I don't think I'll ever tire of Eve and Roarke.

Sherrilyn Kenyon is another author whose series goes from strength to strength. Her Dark Hunter series continues to be a good read.

J.R. Ward is another who manages to keep a series going. Even though book 6 was a little weak in my opinion, book 7 'Lover Avenged' showed that Ward is back on form.

Just my two cents worth.

--JanG.
JanG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-08-2009, 04:00 AM   #10
nomesque
Snooty Bestselling Author
nomesque ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nomesque ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nomesque ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nomesque ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nomesque ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nomesque ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nomesque ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nomesque ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nomesque ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nomesque ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.nomesque ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
nomesque's Avatar
 
Posts: 1,485
Karma: 1000000
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Ipswich, QLD, Australia
Device: PRS-650
If I can't be bothered rereading the previous books in the series before getting the new one... it's time to quit. Like Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series - too much flippin' effort!
nomesque is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-08-2009, 06:14 PM   #11
tech_au
Oz Bookworm
tech_au has a spectacular aura abouttech_au has a spectacular aura abouttech_au has a spectacular aura abouttech_au has a spectacular aura abouttech_au has a spectacular aura abouttech_au has a spectacular aura abouttech_au has a spectacular aura abouttech_au has a spectacular aura abouttech_au has a spectacular aura abouttech_au has a spectacular aura abouttech_au has a spectacular aura about
 
tech_au's Avatar
 
Posts: 516
Karma: 4056
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Australia
Device: Sony PRS 505,PRS 650
Quote:
Originally Posted by nomesque View Post
If I can't be bothered rereading the previous books in the series before getting the new one... it's time to quit. Like Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series - too much flippin' effort!
I know what you mean about the Wheel of Time. I gave up after book 4.
I am facing the "should I quit the series dilemma" with Karen Traviss' WessHar series. I've just finished reading Book 3 which was quite dull, whereas Book 1 and 2 were quite good. Should I read Book 4 or quit now as the series is up to Book 6.
tech_au is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2009, 06:51 AM   #12
chlorine
Addict
chlorine rocks like Gibraltar!chlorine rocks like Gibraltar!chlorine rocks like Gibraltar!chlorine rocks like Gibraltar!chlorine rocks like Gibraltar!chlorine rocks like Gibraltar!chlorine rocks like Gibraltar!chlorine rocks like Gibraltar!chlorine rocks like Gibraltar!chlorine rocks like Gibraltar!chlorine rocks like Gibraltar!
 
chlorine's Avatar
 
Posts: 276
Karma: 100000
Join Date: Jan 2009
Device: Kindle paperwhite 2
On a related note, how much books are you ready to try to _get into_ a series?

Most of my friends were engrossed in George R. R. Martin's series at some time. I read the first book and didn't really like it, and they told me it got way better after the first book.

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).

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?
chlorine is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2009, 07:34 AM   #13
Over
Wizard
Over ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Over ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Over ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Over ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Over ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Over ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Over ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Over ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Over ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Over ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Over ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Over's Avatar
 
Posts: 1,462
Karma: 6061516
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Cascais, Portugal
Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2", OnePlus 6
So far I didn't abandon any series, but maybe that's because I've very selective about what I read.

But I'm thinking about abandoning the Wheel of Time series. I liked the books, but when I found out that the author was dieing (and is now dead), I stopped reading the series any further, afraid that it would end as an incomplete series. So I've only read the first 2 or 3 books. Yes, I can't even remember properly if I read 2 or 3 books. So Brandon Sanderson, an author I like, is finishing the series. Great! But that would mean re-reading the first 2-3 books again. I'm a slow reader, so that would take a really long time for me. Plus, I'm not a re-reader, which makes that task even less encouraging.

I'm looking for the possibility of reading summaries of the first books instead of re-reading them. If there are any.
Over is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2009, 07:37 AM   #14
Over
Wizard
Over ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Over ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Over ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Over ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Over ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Over ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Over ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Over ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Over ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Over ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.Over ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
Over's Avatar
 
Posts: 1,462
Karma: 6061516
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Cascais, Portugal
Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2", OnePlus 6
Quote:
Originally Posted by chlorine View Post
On a related note, how much books are you ready to try to _get into_ a series?

Most of my friends were engrossed in George R. R. Martin's series at some time. I read the first book and didn't really like it, and they told me it got way better after the first book.

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).

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?

I won't. So much to read, so little time, why waste mine? I think any author should grab us from book #1. To grab us doesn't mean the book has to be perfect or without faults, though. But certainly it has to be enjoyable!
Over is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2009, 07:38 AM   #15
JSWolf
Resident Curmudgeon
JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.JSWolf ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
JSWolf's Avatar
 
Posts: 73,514
Karma: 126422064
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts
Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3
Discworld is another series that just doesn't stop being very good.
JSWolf is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
I've quit using the SD card ZenEngineer Sony Reader 10 07-31-2009 09:32 AM
Moejoe's quit smoking! vivaldirules Lounge 121 06-25-2009 11:03 AM
How to you quit calibre DaleDe Calibre 4 02-02-2009 05:24 PM
Quit from SysTray Not Working? NigelS Calibre 2 12-18-2008 12:26 PM
Hello- I finally quit lurking ! Wheezie Introduce Yourself 10 10-22-2008 02:41 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:28 AM.


MobileRead.com is a privately owned, operated and funded community.