Let's take a look at just my recent reading. I am rereading Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Technically, this is a large series. I have never read on in it, but one day may plan to. Then, I finally am reading A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. It's a great book, but there are three sequels out now and a fourth out in a few days. For the Once Upon a Time challenge, I finished The Tawny Man Trilogy by Robin Hobb. Then, I turned around and started The Farseer Trilogy by her. I had intended to read this trilogy in a row, but I can't locate my copy of the second book. So, I am stalled. Oh, yes, and I am also reading Dune by Frank Herbert, which is the first in a series. My friend said she read it and wasn't inspired to read on in the series, but we will see what happens.
With this in mind, I really want to finish some series to alleviate stress. In my vlog the other day I held up The Charnel Prince by Gregory Keyes. This is the second book in his series. I also held up the third book in The Black Jewels Trilogy. Yes, I am aware that this is one of those series that started off as a trilogy and is now a series, but I would at least like to finish the original trilogy that has been on the go pretty much as long as I have been blogging. I didn't hold the book up, but another book I really want to read is the final book in Sara Douglass' recent trilogy. I was so excited about it, but still haven't read it. I just know that when I finish, I am going to want to go back and read her other books finally.
I also have resumed using the library a bit. I had been slacking off as of late, but I requested the sequel to Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. I also meant to buy that, but still haven't. I requested the sequel to Shiver and her other series I requested Ballad.
The thing is I would also like to read on in Jack Whyte's Camulod Series, read more Terry Goodkind, finally get back to reading Naomi Novik, read the last two books in Melissa Marr's series, finish Kelley Armstrong's young adult trilogy so I can read her new book, read some more Charles de Lint, read some more of the Morganville Vampire series by Rachel Caine, read the sequel to Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones, get back to Dragonlance, and the list goes on and on. I will probably only get to some of this over the rest of the year and then I will likely start even more series in the process. It is just on-going, and yes, it stresses me out to have so many started and not finished projects.
What do you think about series/trilogies?
I too have noticed the glut of series lately, I think I did a blog post on it last month maybe.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like everything I pick up is part of a series! Rothfuss's Kingkiller Chronicles (trilogy??), much the same Robin Hobb you mentioned, Dune (altho the 1st book is a just fine stand alone), new stuff from Andrew Mayer, Jasper Kent, Ben Aaronovitch, Matthew Hughes, Sam Sykes, Joe Abercrombie, Scott Lynch, George R R Martin, the list never ends. Not to mention I'm slowly working my way through Steven Brust's ongoing Draegera series and I just ordered the first Dresden book.
Makes me wonder if publishers will even accept stand alones anymore. :(
I used to be compulsive about reading series in order but have just plain given up on that. It seems like some series go on too long.
ReplyDeleteI'm a sucker for a good series. The first one I started was Sue Grafton's ABC Mysteries when I was in high school in the 90s. Like you it seems like everything I read is part of a series, but I love it. However, I don't always keep track so I'm a mess when it comes to knowing what I've read and what I haven't lol. Maybe I'll start another obsessive Excel spreadsheet for series =)
ReplyDeleteI have always loved series because if the characters are good I don't want to leave them!...HOWEVER.. I have found that I am dropping some of them. It is true that as you get older your memory isn't what it used to be and some books are taking sooooo long to come out that I have lost interest in them! I didn't think that would ever happen! Ther are some I am still reading but I guess I just keep retain all of them...it's better for me to find "old series" so that all of the books are out!
ReplyDeleteI am still reading Pern (the newest one just out) and the Nicholas Flamel series, I really like Michael Scotts writing. and a few others...i am panicked that since I read both of Patrick Rothfuss books that book 3 will take a few years to come out and I will never get to read it! Those 2 books are way to big to reread so that I can read the 3rd lol..so cross your finders it comes out quicker!! lol
I like reading trilogies and such, but I don't like open-ended series -- the kind where the author just writes book after book with the same lead character (usually in the mystery genre)...I always end up getting tired with the character after a while, and drop out...
ReplyDeleteI must love series because it seems like I end up reading so many of them these days. Even when I pick up a random book that sounds interesting it inevitably ends up being part of a series. I agree, it can definitely get exhausting. I'm knee deep in quite a few (nowhere near as many as you though :P) and I have so many books on my TBR that are the first books in good sounding series that I haven't started yet. It's true though, it seems like these days EVERYTHING is part of a frickin' series! Even light fluffy books I've picked up to clear my palette are part of light fluffy series (usually with cliff hanger endings which really defeats their light fluffy purpose). Sometimes I get overwhelmed and rebel by reading a non-fiction book or a biography. Or my personal favourite - some sort of music related list book. I'm to that point right now. I'm on a fiction hiatus for a bit. Maybe that's what you need? Even for one book - I know how you like to feel like you are getting things accomplished so an extended break may be bad for you.
ReplyDeleteI've never been a series lover but it seems one has to be now-a-days to tolerate reading anything since there hardly seems to be very many stand-alones anymore :P
ReplyDeleteI don't mind trilogies. I think trilogies are just perfect in length. But anything more than, say, 4 books I usually give up, unless the series is really exciting.
--Sharry
As long as I feel like the author seems to have a plan... like there is a definite ENDING in the future, my stress is alleviated haha
ReplyDeleteI am sort of getting saturated with series too. Although, for my series, it seems to take the authors FOREVER to come with the next book so not too bad in the stress department for me. However, with YA books, too many series. I almost wont even start a YA book that I know is a series. I did use the word 'almost'. ;) It is a trend,I think. I also think that many books would be just fine as a stand alone. Anyway, I am with you about the being series overload, but yet, I am starting another epic series with The Way of Kings. Ha.
ReplyDelete**redhead: I am glad to hear that Dune is a fine standalone book because I think it will remain the only one I read unless it picks up a bit more...
ReplyDelete**bermudaonion: I read series out of order all the time, too. Especially when I am reading them through the library and one is missing...
**Kristina: I am a mess when it comes to what series I have read, too.
**Pat: I will cross my fingers that the next Rothfuss is out very soon!! I want to know what happens myself!
**TheBookGirl: If you like variety, you may like Kelley Armstrong... If you haven't read her all ready. She follows different characters throughout her series.
**Vanessa: The thing is I have so many started and then there are all the ones I could start... I have plenty on my TBR and more I wouldn't mind reaidng!
**Sharry: I get bored with long series, too. It is a huge compliment to an author when I can say I am either finished or caught up with a series. Otherwise, I am better with a trilogy or less...
ibeeeg: At least you can space it out, then! There are series I am waiting for, too, but that doesn't happen as much as I would like...
I don't think I have ever seen anyone mention Jack Whyte--blogwise anyway! Not that I've read the books, but I have the first three or so--they look so good! Were the books you read hard going? Lots of history I imagine. I have also read the first three of Diana Gabaldon's books--enjoyed them but not sure I'll keep going--such heavy, long books--but Jamie is very tempting! I think I read more mysteries, which are sort of series that can be longstanding. And it does feel overwhelming when you read a variety of them--so many books!
ReplyDeleteI must admit that I'm not very good with series. When I finish a book, I'd want to go read something else and maybe come back to the series when I feel like it. The only few series that I've finished is Harry Potter and the Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray. I haven't even finished the Twilight series yet, still need to read Breaking Dawn.
ReplyDeleteLooking at my reading habits, I think I prefer stand-alones. :)
**Danielle: I really liked the few that I have read... I fizzled out on them and have had a hard time getting back to them. They were very in-depth books, but that was not necessarily a bad thing at all! I have only read the one Gabaldon. I am not sure if I will ever read more from her.
ReplyDelete**josette: I have a lot of unfinished series/trilogies. Maybe if I was better organized I would finish one once in a while, but who can really say... You aren't missing anything with Breaking Dawn. That book drove me crazy! That's just me, though. :)
I am not a big fan of series. I initially was exposed to them with Robert Jordan. I was reading the books as they were released and one day I just decided that I was done. I was so sick of reading an enormous door stop of a book only to know that by the time the next one came out I would have forgotten many of the minute details of the previous one. And as big of a re-reader as I am I am not one who is prone to re-read a chunkster book.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind a trilogy. The three act arc is natural in stories and so it works well across a trilogy. To me trilogies give the best of both worlds. They mean that you'll be able to spend some more times with characters and in a universe that you liked in the first book but also you know the story has a definite end and you don't have to commit decades of reading/waiting to it.
Most of my favorite books, the ones I go back to time and again, are single volume stories. Sure, when I love the characters I would sometimes like to see more of them, but there is also something very precious about knowing that this is all that I get.
With my series dislike I'm surprised I finally gave in and started reading Martin and that I am willing to dive in at the beginning with the Way of Kings books.
Ah well, there is something to be said about being able to discuss a book with a bunch of friends.
**Carl: I prefer trilogies, too. Many of the series I have started I have never managed to finish... The few times I do manage them I am very proud of myself. :)
ReplyDeleteI loved Robin Hobb's Farseer and Tawny Man trilogies. Only read Diana Gabaldon's first, and although I enjoyed it, I didn't care to go any further with that series. You've given me some new authors to explore!
ReplyDelete**jenclair: I have only managed to read the one Gabaldon myself. I might read on one of these days, but not a huge rush for it... I would rather read more Robin Hobb. :)
ReplyDeleteYou know that I am a sucker for a series, and just can't seem to help but to add more and more to my list! There are a few that have dropped by the wayside, but I always intend to get back to them one day.
ReplyDeleteBy the way - hurry up and read the Black jewels trilogy! I am sure I started reading them after you!
**Marg: Most everything I read nowadays is part of a series. It is hard to avoid them!
ReplyDeletelol I am pretty sure you started reading The Black Jewels trilogy after me, too. For some reason I don't love it like other people do, but I will finish it. :)
I have seen a lot of books released as the first of a trilogy or a series lately. I wonder why that is. To sell more books maybe? I don't mind when I read a book that's the first in the series and love it so much I have to read the rest and then I wait patiently for them to be released. What stresses me out is the idea of starting a series that already has a lot of books. That's daunting. But I really want to read Outlander at some point.
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