So with all of the
new wave of books coming out that are the end to trilogies/series, it's really
got me thinking: I suck at completing
series. Seriously, I can probably list off a handful (less than ten?) of series
that I've actually completed. No joke. And I've compiled a list of reasons as
to why I never get to finish series, because I really truly want to. I
sometimes get the tugging in the back of my brain, and it's nagging me,
constantly whispering, "Don't you want to know what happens to _____ in
the end?" I always read the first book in the series… and then I never
read the rest. And it's not like the first book is so horrible that I don't
want to know what happens after--because frankly, there are a lot of books
where I want to know what happens next. Without further ado, here are my
thoughts on why I don't finish reading series.
It seems like it's
mostly the debuts, but I love starting a
new series. There's the sense of a fresh, new start and meeting new characters
that is just fascinating. And I usually end up enjoying the first installment.
So reason number is… I have to wait too long for
the sequel. This seems to be a common issue among all readers. WE NEED
THE NEXT BOOK, NOW. Whether it be left on a cliffhanger or not, we like to know
what happens next! Maybe I'm just impatient, but I'm curious. And it's not even
just that I'm curious, I also start forgetting what happened and all of the little details.
Most of the time, what happens for me is that when a sequel comes out, I get really pumped to read it. But then… I get a
little wary of picking the book up again because I'm like, "Wait, what was
the main character's name again..? AWK." And then I'm thinking, hmm, I'll
just put it off. Because honestly, I have a hard time enjoying books when I
have no idea who so-and-so is, or what a dadada is. AND THEN I NEVER GET TO
FINISH THE SERIES.
And oh, I've tried
to remedy this. My thoughts consist of: I'll
re-read the first book in the series, and it will jog my memory. The
problem is, who has time for re-reads anymore? There's always review books and
the books that's hot at the moment, there just isn't time to read a book that you've already read! So of course, this
detracts my need to read a sequel that
I've seriously been anticipating. I honestly don't remember when I re-read a
book (besides Harry Potter). I've thought about series long and hard for awhile
now. Should I not start series until they are
completely done? But then I have to wait for SUCH a long time for all
three to be out, and by then, ERRRbody's already read them and I'll be so
behind. And plus, there's always that situation where I read a full series and
there's that ONE AUTHOR who decides to add more books to the
supposed-to-be-done series. Dilemmas, dilemmas.
Of course, I've
still been reading the first books in series because I want to. Recently, after I finish reading a book and I write the review, I write a summary and a bullet point list of spoilers for myself. It sounds COMPLETELY dorky, but it really
helps me rethink the entire book through, and maybe next time when the sequel
for a particular book comes out, I can refer to my notes that I took after
immediately completing book one.
I guess my main
issue with not completing series is that I forget what happened in the previous
books, and then I'm too lazy to jog my memory. But tell me:
Do you tend to finish series? Do you read them
immediately after the release date, or do you read them all at once, once
they're all published? Do you have any strategies to help remember what
happened in the previous books? Or do you just go into the sequel, hoping that
it will jog your memory immediately? Should I wait patiently for entire series
to come out to read them? Talk to me, people! <3
In case you're
curious, here are just some of the series/sequels that I haven't finished
(a.k.a, your chance to slap me silly for not finishing these)
- The Chemical Garden Trilogy (Fever, Sever)
- Angel Trilogy (Angel Burn)
- Hex Hall Trilogy (Spellbound)
- Revenants Trilogy (Until I Die)
- Across the Universe Trilogy (A Million Suns, Shades of Earth
- Unearthly Trilogy (Hallowed, Boundless)
- Divergent Trilogy (INSURGENT….)
- Angelfire Trilogy (Wings of the Wicked, Shadows in the Silence)
- Hush, Hush Saga (Finale)
- Mara Dyer Trilogy (The Evolution of Mara Dyer)
(You get the idea.
*hides in corner*)
Happy discussing (and reading series!),
Jen xx
Posts
I tend to complete the series I start, unless based on the plot, I don't want to read a certain book like with historical romance books. But with YA novels, I tend to buy the sequel as soon as they come out. Generally I still remember what happened in the previous book, but not all the details!
ReplyDeleteAh, I'm the same with Across the Universe, read the first one but then completely forgot about the series because of so many other books coming out, i liked ATU but its sci-fi and I have to be in a special state of mind to read sci-fi (my least favorite genre)
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your thoughts about your trouble's with reading series. Its a hassle to re-read so i love re-caps in series and I always keep up with the series i love (Lying game, Elementals, Bloodlines, Blood of Eden) because I love the characters so much, I can't think of not reading them as soon as the new book comes out. I'm not going to wait years for more Sydrian scenes. (I agree with not wanting to wait for the long time till the series is over)
Love this topic Jen and I enjoyed reading your thoughts!!!!
you are so right.. I wish there would be a summary made of a couple of pages in each sequel highlighting what happened in the previous book.. a year is way too long.. especially for us book reviewers who read over 100 books per year! I also haven't read fever and sever, and also haven't read Finale.. I recently just read Hallowed and hoping to pick up Boundless to finish that series. I even finished the Delirium trilogy last month. I told myself i'm not allowed to start any more series before being up to date or finishing 2 series. This way I can reduce the overall number of pending series. OMG, you should definitely read The Evolution of Mara Dyer.. it also took me 4 months to pick it up, even though I preordered it, but I LOVED IT. I did however google a recap of the unbecoming of mara dyer before starting the book. I think our problem is that we read the first book, then get all excited for the sequel, but when it's out, we are so overwhelmed with other books that we go like.. its better to just wait for the THIRD and final one so we don't have to endure another year long wait.. then BAM you are TWO BOOKS BEHIND and can't seem to catch up fast enough!
ReplyDeletegreat post!!
- Juhina @ Maji Bookshelf
OMG JEN AS IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED UNEARTHLY. AND YOU HAVEN'T READ INSURGENT? HOW COULD YOU?
ReplyDeleteI understand what you mean about waiting ages for the sequel though (like a whole freaking year omg) and forgetting what happens.
But for me, I LIVE for series/sequels!
Now that Unearthly has finished I think you should read the last 2 - the ending was epic :D
Revenants is pretty decent, maybe read Until I Die once If I Should Die comes out?
For me, I usually have a pretty good idea of what happens in the previous book. And for series like Covenant and Under the Never Sky I re-read my favourite parts of the previous book!
Finish those series girl!
Hush, Hush Saga (Finale)
ReplyDeleteMara Dyer Trilogy (The Evolution of Mara Dyer)
- they were fantastic in my opinion.
I just got Hallowed so I can't really voice my opinion on that but yesterday I finished Nightshade #3 and since that part of the series is over I had a hard time deciding what to read next. I have tons of first books on my shelf and I wanted to start The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten, Moira Young's dystopian series, um.. Tiger's Curse etc but I thought to myself - all the books in those series aren't out yet and if I read them now, I won't remember anything when I pick up the sequel. THAT'S the main reason I don't finish a series right away. + I wanted to pick up A Million Suns yesterday but then thought.. I don't remember and as you said, I really don't remember what happened in the first book and I don't have time to re-read the first one. I only re-read books that are really my favorite - Vampire Academy series, some NA books like Slammed, Point of Retreat, The Sea of Tranquility etc. Harry Potter LOL. I think I'm going to use that system you have with writing spoilers for myself - that's a great tip. I hope you finish all of the series you have listed in this post and really like them :-) Glad that someone feels the same way I do lol.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI also need to complete the Divergent trilogy. I liked it all though it didn't meet my expectations. I'm pretty rubbish at completing them unless it really intrests me. Great Topic.
Oh gosh, same here Jen. I'm so bad at finishing a series, but my problem seems to be the final book. I don't know exactly why, but I seem to always put them off. I think it has to do with the fact that I don't want the story to end... So, I just kind of don't read it... It's a super bad habit, but I just can't seem to help it! I haven't finished The Chemical Garden Trilogy, Across the Universe Trilogy, Mara Dyer Trilogy, or the Revenants Trilogy either. Plus, a lot of other series. But, OMG! I cannot believe you haven't gotten to Insurgent yet!
ReplyDeleteWell, hopefully both of us can work on fixing this bad habit.
I am HORRIBLE at finishing series/trilogies. Like really really bad. I think I can count in 2 hands the number of series I actually did finish. It's that bad. And it's not because I can't remember what happened. I just read Dark Triumph like a week ago and I couldn't remember what had happened in Grave Mercy but I read it anyway and it came back to me (this is actually not usual with me, the not remembering but). I think the problem is there are just sooo many books out there that for me the series needs to be freaking amazing for me to stick with it, and it seems I'm very hard to please in that respect lol. Some that I have finished/kept up with: Hunger Games, Mara Dyer (you REALLY need to read this one), Hollows, Harry Potter (doesn't really count though :P), Fever, IAD, Under the Never Sky, and I can't think of anymore.
ReplyDeleteBut yeah, you are not alone! xD
Urgh I know what you mean; it just got even WORSE when I started getting ARCs. It is PAINFUL having to wait even longer than usual for books and so, you kind of just move on? There are some books I die for and then I get them and they stay there for ages before I start; it sucks!
ReplyDeleteThese are all such good points! I have a hyperactive memory that is usually jogged when I pick up the next book in a series, but there are inevitably those details that are fuzzy in my brain.
ReplyDeleteIf plot and character recollection are a problem for you, I'd definitely say binge reading is a go! Don't feel bad about being behind; that just means there will be more people with whom you can converse/gush/rant, depending on how much you like the novel.
Oh, and you must finish the Unearthly trilogy!
Great post! I suck at finishing series too. There are so many trilogies and series that I have started - and enjoyed - but haven't got around to finishing. The main reason is laziness and it seems a lot to commit to and then I end up putting off the series forever.
ReplyDeleteAnother reason why I hate finishing series is because I don't want the story to end. When reaching the end of Clockwork Princess, I nearly died! No more Will Herondale! I keep telling myself that I'll reread - but, like you said, who has the time?
I hope we both complete our unfinished series soon. I need to complete Delirium, Noughts & Crosses, The Mortal Instruments, Percy Jackson and Hush, Hush. Thanks for sharing, Jen! :)
I know that Amber from Down the Rabbit Hole has a feature called Happy Ever Endings that's designed to recap the events of books so you're up to speed when the next book comes out. It's here:
ReplyDeletehttp://amberinblunderland.blogspot.com/2011/10/happily-ever-endings-list.html
I hatehatehate it when authors finish a series and then suddenly "unfinish." It drives me nuts. I can't think of a single example where this has been done well.
I used to be soooo particular about finishing a series that I had started on but I'm finding lately I just have no interest or time, I'm not sure whether its because there are so many new amazing books coming out to read or I just get impatient and end up forgetting the first book in the series when there is usually a whole year to wait for the sequel; except of course if it is a series I am absolutely obsessed with (although there is only a handful now).
ReplyDeleteAn awesome post! I love quite a few of the series you have listed :-)
JEN! HI!!! First of all, this is such a great post. Secondly, I'M BACK! <3 I've missed you guys so much, and I can't wait to get back to commenting and visiting your lovely blog. BEV!!!!! OMG girlie how are you?!! It's been forever since I've last talked to you and I miss you so much. :'( Do you have those horrible things called exams??? Mine just finished! XD Anyway, tweet me or something, cause otherwise, not to sound stalkarish or anything, but I'll come after you.........
ReplyDeleteBack to the post: OMG, I completely get what you're saying. Us being teenagers with highly busy and stressful lives, and especially, living in such a fast-moving world, it is SO HARD to find time to hunt down that next book in the series. Honestly, I end up just picking up a new read to save me time. BUT SERIOUSLY! You have to read The Evolution of Mara Dyer! And Insurgent and the Hallowed series are super interesting as well. I'm actually guilty of not having read any of the other sequels you've mentioned, so let's sulk together, eh? ;) Fabulous post!!! <3 xx
This is totally me Jen! More and more I've been starting series and not finishing because, like you, I love meeting new characters and spending time in new worlds and then I choose to start a different series rather than continuing on. Most of it is due to the fact that I've forgotten a lot of what happened in the first book, so I'm typically a touch confused for the first several chapters while I get things sorted, and I hate being confused. Sure, I could re-read, but like you said, who has time for that? Not me. There are of course a large number of series that I have finished or cannot wait for the next installment, but I also have an equally long list of series I'm way behind on. Awesome:)
ReplyDeletelol, amazing post sweetie. <3 I so understand you, though. Just this year there have been many last books in a series I have loved coming out.. yet I can't bring myself to read them :p Hopefully soon. Maybe. I just wish it wasn't a whole year between the books :( #sadface. Many of those books you mentioned are amazing, though, and I hope you will get to read them all soon :D
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting on my blog. <3
Love, Carina @ Carina's Books
I have a hard time with series because I don't like re-reading books (who does have time?) and I forget so much. The only way I can TRULY enjoy a full series is to read them all within weeks of each other if not one after another. Otherwise I lose the connection I built with the characters you know.
ReplyDeleteGreat discussion, doll!
It's quite the dilemma, it's true! I am never sure what the best route is - wait for all the books in the series to be out or read them as they're released so you don't have to wait YEARS. I guess it depends on what review opportunities I get. If I get the chance to review the first and/or second book, then I will read them as they are released. Otherwise, they often get put off until later (unless the hype is just TOO MUCH to handle and I absolutely have to read the series NOW - Shadow and Bone, I'm looking at you).
ReplyDeleteHere's something I like to do to help with remembering what has happened in previous books (I like your method, too): I don't have time for a physical reread either, but I can usually make time while working out/doing chores/working at my mundane job to listen to the audiobook version of the previous book. Now, I'm usually not so great with audiobooks because I get easily distracted and then don't know what the heck is happening with the story, but it's MUCH easier for me to follow an audiobook if it's a story I have read before and I remember many of the major details. I don't know, not sure if it would work for anyone else, but it works for me as a great recap!
On a side note, you haven't read Insurgent yet?! You must be the only one left! haha. Now that one you will definitely need a recap of Divergent for because Veronica Roth launches straight into the story with no recap whatsoever of her own.
JEN! This post is FREAKISHLY like being in my own head. There isn't a single thing here that I don't agree with! And guess what? With the exception of the Hex Hall trilogy and Insurgent, ALL of the series that you have mentioned there are unfinished ones for me, too. It's not that I even disliked the first few books or anything... I just haven't gotten around to finishing them... And now, I'm not even sure I ever will. It's definitely mostly the long waits between books for me. I forget things SO quickly (it's a wonder that I even manage to run a book blog!), that by the time the sequel is released, I will have lost a lot of that initial enthusiasm. And waiting for all of the books to come out is difficult too. Plus reading something after everyone else kind of takes the fun out of it. :D
ReplyDeleteAwesome post!
AGREED! I remember I read The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima and only liked it, but I planned to continue the series. Until I didn't. And although the series is supposed to be excellent, I am too lazy to go back and re-read The Demon King - which is a SHAME. I lose lists whenever I write down summaries of books and I have no time to re-read. It's why I'm making an effort to not start series this year unless I'm continuing a series or am 100% sure I love the author SO MUCH I'll actually re-read the book. Anyway, lovely post, Jen! Oh, the woes of us readers...!
ReplyDeleteI love this post Jen because your thoughts echo mine! I still need to finish up some of the series' that I've started but I haven't because like you, I can't remember the details of the last book and I don't have time for re-reads. I've found something that helps, although it is expensive: audiobooks. If you can't remember the previous books you can re-read by audio. I've been doing this with Die for Me. I have the last book in the series for review but I needed to catch up so I'm doing it with audiobooks. I have an hour long commute back and forth to work so I can refresh and catch up without cutting into my reading time. Great post, Jen!! :)
ReplyDeleteI agree, like, 17000% with you, Jen! I am SO bad at finishing series. I even purchase the next book but then don't read them. I think I've been slowly focusing towards standalones nowadays, with the exception of a few series that I just need to read. I always completely forget what happens in the previous book, even if I liked it. I mean, I understand WHY the wait between books is so long, but it doesn't make it any less annoying! While I was reading The Evolution of Mara Dyer, I was confused half the time because I remembered nothing from book one. And oh my gosh, there are so many series I've yet to finish... Hex Hall, Unearthly, Across the Universe, Chemical Garden... But you HAVE to read Insurgent!
ReplyDeleteGosh, yeah, that's a problem! I'm horrible at finishing series, as well. I mean, I don't really mind if it's trilogies. For example,I read Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver and don't even own the rest of the trilogy. In that case, though, I know it's only two more books and whenever I'm in the mood, I'll just go and pick them up. My problem is longer series like the Vampire Academy books. Seriously, I love those books, but I've started the series 1.5 years ago and I'm still only halfway through. And, of course, there's that spinn-off that I'm dying to read, too. Another problem of mine is that I start a million new series and trilogies and then have all those first books on my shelves and it literally makes me aggressive looking at all those series I should actually complete before starting the next one. What helped me a lot was going on a really strict book buying ban for the last two months. I just didn't buy any new books at all and also didn't care about the new releases that I was dying to read, but simply focused on everything that was on my shelf. I think if I continue to do this in May, I'll finally be at a point where I have caught up with all the unread sequels and can buy and read new releases and series I've wanted to start for a while without that nagging voice in my head telling me I'll never know how Rose from the VA ended up or if the world ended in Dan Well's Fragments :) If you come up with a solution for the series problem that's not as radical as mine, let me know! Not buying books is getting depressing and starting to hurt me physically :D
ReplyDelete