I found myself reading more and more stand-alone books. Growing up, I read a lot of series but as I started college and my career, this has drastically tapered off. I’m guessing it’s a combination of books I’m interested in being stand alone but I think it’s more that I’m terrible at finishing series.
I noticed this last week on WWW Wednesday when a commenter mentioned finishing Elena Ferrante’s The Neopolitans series. Even though I’d read the first book and enjoyed it, I didn’t feel any desire to pick up the second book. I noticed that I’ve done this with several books. Nancy E. Turner’s Sarah Angus Pine series, Brad Meltzer’s Culper Ring series, and Louise Penny’s Armand Gamache series are just a few examples since I started this blog. I’ve read the first book of all three of these series and enjoyed it, but I have no idea when, if ever, I’ll finish the series.
I think part of this is due to how I structure what I’ll read next. I’m faithful to my TBR to a fault. I always try to read what I’ve been waiting for the longest time to start. That means that if I read a book and enjoy it enough to want to read the second in the series, I’ll add the second but it goes to the bottom of my list so it will be a while before I get to it. This really spaces out my time between books and makes it easy to be less excited about the second book in a series. There are times I’ve forgone my strict TBR like when I binge-read Veronica Roth’s Divergent series, but this isn’t the norm.
I think the other reason is that I reason with myself that even though I liked the book and I’d probably enjoy the sequel, I’d probably like to read another book more, so I might as well forgo the series and start on something completely different. This happens to me more than you’d think. I won’t even put the book on the bottom of my TBR and I’ll continue as if there’s not more to know about the awesome story I already started and really liked. I’ve found myself thinking of the book months later and only then adding the next in the series to my TBR. I found myself doing that with George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire and with Ruth Downie’s Medicus series earlier this year. I’m now in the middle of both series and do plan on reading more of them… eventually.
How about you, reader? Do you have an easy time finishing a series or do you struggle as much as I do? If you struggle, what makes you put it off?
Until next time, write on!
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Taking On a World of Words 
I have one book to go in my Wild West Steampunk Superhero Saga. 😉
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Nice! Good luck finishing it and happy reading!
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Although I’m awful at continuing some series (there are a number I can think of that I’ve been in the midst of for many years), lately I’ve been pretty good at staying on track with Discworld or the new Star Wars books. The only thing I’m compelled to do for some reason is to read something else in between. I don’t entirely understand it, but I don’t like the idea of the same series in succession, unless the time investment is short. I am compelled to mix things up a little or it bothers me.
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Sometimes you need to get out of a world for a little bit, it makes sense to me. I know when I’ve binge read a series, I almost forget that other literary universes exist! Happy reading.
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I don’t necessarily have trouble finishing a series once I start them, but I do space out the books. However, I do find myself very cautious about starting series. There have been books I’ve picked off the shelf because they looked interesting, but immediately put back when I discover they are apart of a series. I feel series are something I have to commit to, and I don’t want to get bogged down with too many of them.
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I understand the commitment feeling! I tend to shy away from series for the same reason. Sometimes it’s easier to be done with characters at the end of one book. Happy reading!
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I’m the same way! I hesitate to even read the first book in a series because I know I won’t read the rest of them! Like you, I’m excited to read different stories. I’ll add the others to my TBR if I’m interested but like you, it goes to the bottom of my list!
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Glad I’m not the only one! It’s a big commitment to read a series. I’m more likely to read a super long book, haha. Happy reading!
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